International Symposium: ROMANI AND SINTI MUSICIANS BETWEEN THE STATE, MARKET AND SOCIETY
The international interdisciplinary symposium is a part of the Nights in Ljubljana Old Town International Festival and, like every year, scholarly presentations and discussions are beautifully complemented by thematically related concert performances on several open-air stages.
This symposium is a part of the research project Romani Musicians in Slovenia: Social Status, Cultural Practices, and Interactions (J6-50204) and brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines to share their perspectives on specific aspects of Romani and Sinti musicianship world-wide. Individual papers, panels, round tables, and film projections also offer insights into musical ideas and practices of other related groups, such as Ashkalis and (Balkan) Egyptians. The symposium provides a rare opportunity for learning about these musicians and their interactions in diverse regions and time periods, performing diverse genres and repertoires for their audiences. At the same time, it also provides a valuable insight into the current state of research, with a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches.
The symposium is open to the general public.
PROGRAM BOOKLET WITH SUMMARIES
Saturday, 23 August, 2025 / Sobota, 23. avgust 2025
Topic of the Day / Tema dneva: Romani and Sinti Musicians and the Music Market / Romski in sintski glasbeniki in glasbenice ter glasbeni trg
Venue / lokacija: City Museum Ljubljana / Mestni muzej Ljubljana, Gosposka ulica 15, Ljubljana
09:30–10:30 Session 8 / Sekcija 8
Chair / Predsedujoča: Mojca Piškor
1. Jelka Vukobratović: Romani Musicians in the Interwar Yugoslav Record Industry / Romski glasbeniki in glasbenice v medvojni jugoslovanski diskografski industriji
2. Marija Dumnić Vilotijević: Representations of “Gypsyness” in Yugoslav Discographic Market from 1960s to 1990s / Reprezentacije »ciganskosti« na jugoslovanskem diskografskem trgu od šestdesetih do devetdesetih let 20. stoletja
3. Julijana Baštić, Mark Forry: “‘Who’s Playing?’ ‘Some Gypsies’”: The Journey of Romani Tambura Recording and Broadcast Artists from Invisibility to Recognition in the 20th Century / » ‘Kdo igra?’ ‘Neki Cigani’«: Pot romskih tamburaških posnetih in medijsko izpostavljenih umetnikov od nevidnosti do priznanja v 20. stoletju
10:45–12:15 Session 9 / Sekcija 9
Chair / Predsedujoča: Jana Ambrózová
1. Margaret H. Beissinger: Gendered Roles among Romani Musicians in Southern Romania: Occupational Strategies of Female Performers / Spolno pogojene vloge med romskimi glasbeniki in glasbenicami v južni Romuniji: Poklicne strategije glasbenic
2. Zuzana Jurková: Romani Musicians in the Czech Lands in the Beginning of the 21st Century / Romski glasbeniki in glasbenice na Češkem na začetku 21. stoletja
3. Kai Viljami Åberg: Romani Music and Musicians in Finland: Persistence and Change in the Public Image of Local Romani Musicians / Romska glasba ter glasbeniki in glasbenice na Finskem: vztrajnost in spremembe v javni podobi lokalnih romskih glasbenikov in glasbenic
Venue / lokacija: Faculty of Arts / Filozofska fakulteta, Aškerčeva 2, Ljubljana
13:30–14:10: Film Screening and Discussion / Projekcija filma z razpravo: Hazel Marsh, Lisa Smith, Esbjörn Wettermark, Tiffany Hore: “A Basket Full of Eggs”: A Romani Film and Music Archives Project / »Košarica, polna jajc«: projekt Romskega filmskega in glasbenega arhiva
14:15–15:30: Roundtable / Okrogla miza
The Position and Precarity of Women Musicians in Romani Contexts and Interactions / Položaj in prekarnost glasbenic v romskih kontekstih in interakcijah.
Udeleženci / Participants: Bajsa Arifovska, Nina Brasseur, Sara Brizani, Laura Vučak, Darja Žalik
Moderator / Povezovalka: Alma Bejtullahu
16:15–16:30 Presentation / Predstavitev:
Presentation of the new executives of the ICTMD Study Group on Music and Minorities / Predstavitev novih vodstvenih članov Študijske skupine ICTMD za glasbo in manjšine
Evening / Večer:
Open-air concerts at Nights in Ljubljana Old Town International Festival / Koncerti na prostem v sklopu Mednarodnega festivala Noči v stari Ljubljani
Venue / lokacija: Novi trg, Ljubljana
19:30 Lana Trotovšek and Emars String Orchestra: Amaro Trajo – Our Story in Strings / Lana Trotovšek in Godalni orkester Emars: Amaro Trajo – Naša zgodba v strunah (Slovenia / Slovenija)
20.45 Romano Drom (Hungary / Madžarska)
22.15 Imer Traja Brizani & Amala (Slovenia / Slovenija)
Venue / lokacija: Gornji trg, Ljubljana
20:00 Swingatan (Slovenia / Slovenija)
21.45 Bajsa Arifovska feat. Harmelogic (North Macedonia, Slovenia / Severna Makedonija, Slovenija)
In cooperation with: Dept.of Musicology at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana, Zveza Romov Slovenije, Inštitut za romske študije, izobraževanje in kulturo, Romski akademski Klub, the Cultural and Ethnomusicological Society Folk Slovenija.
