The Traditional Songs of the Finnish Roma

There is no universal Roma music in the world. In Finland, the traditional music of Finnish Roma can easily be recognised both via repertoire and interpretation style that differs from non-Romani performances. Music has always played a central role in the cultural heritage of the Finnish Romani population. Singing has been important to Roma, especially since a great number of people were illiterate and the oral song tradition was the only way of preserving the old stories and passing them on to generations to come. The starting point for this book is to introduce the traditional songs of the Finnish Roma. This study is rooted in my long-term interest in the music of the Roma people. Twenty five years will have soon passed since my first fieldwork on Finnish Romani music and musical culture. My occasional work with Romani artists working in Finnish popular music has also enriched not only my personal musical identity but also my understanding of the multiple meanings of Finnish Romani music.