La Gitana: Galina's birthday epiphany

The orchestral pieces by Helmesberger, Bizet and Falla mentioned in my previous post have more in common than their presence on this year’s internationally televised New Year’s concerts. All are examples of what could crudely be termed “fake Gypsy music,” in which non-Roma composers of yesteryear attempted to enter into the spirit of the Roma culture or give an impression of the "Roma sound." Here’s another example, in which the Viennese violin virtuoso Fritz Kriesler (1875-1962) performs his La Gitana. He may have based the piece on “an 18th century Arabo-Spanish Gypsy song.” At least that’s what he claimed to have done. But Kriesler also claimed to have “discovered” existing pieces by 18^th century composers, only to later reveal that he himself had composed them. Listen to La Gitana here. 

Among the many outstanding musicians who have emerged from the Roma of Hungary – where this ethnic group continues to make up as much as 20% of the population (according to unofficial estimates) – are the violinist Janos Bihari (1764-1827) and his descendents.  One of these is Roby Lakatos, born a mere 200 years later. Lakatos has earned his place as the new “King of the Gypsy Violinists," a title bestowed on Bihari by admiring composer friends Beethoven and Liszt, who also borrowed Bihari's tunes. Sarasate did too - think Zigeunerweisen. Hear what happens here when Lakatos and his ensemble interpret a Hungarian Dance by non-Hungarian composer Johannes Brahms. As his website biography states (in the third-person),

[w]hen Roby Lakatos mixes the so-called "classical music" with the magic of the Hungarian-gypsy vitality, it does not turn into a disrespectful attitude toward the higher cultural heritage, but it more reflects the deep tradition rooted in the cultural heritage of the Gypsy people and offers new, refreshing pleasures to the listener and music lover.

Bahiri/Lakatos: Any family resemblance is purely (non-)coincidental

In Bulgaria, the Roma make up as much as 10% of the population. Among non-Roma Bulgarian musicians who wish they were Roma is another Bulgarian concertmaster, Galina Koycheva, who has led the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio since 2005. The combination of a dark complexion and impassioned violinistic virtuosity has led many to assume she is. And her rendition of the opening cadenza from the Tango Tzigane Jalousie by Danish composer Jacob Gade (more “fake Gypsy” music here) almost had us fooled. Galina is also the violinist of the Ardenza Trio and the ethno-rock group Lot Lorien. In "Dream" you'll hear how Lot Lorien brings Bulgarian folk music into the 21^st century. Listen/watch here.

'Veche e pechena': Galina Koycheva in action with the SO of BNR

As of today, Galina Koycheva is no longer shy of 30. She shares her birthdate with the German romantic composer Max Bruch (1838-1920), whose unavoidable Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor she has been able to avoid until just recently, when she had an epiphany an realized it's one of her favorite pieces! Here’s the third movement with one of Galina's favorite violinists, David Oistrakh, as soloist.  

Za mnogo godini Galya!