Songs of a Russian Gypsy

Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble

In this Monitor recording, the Russian Roma chanteuse Alya Yunakovskaya (better known by her stage name, Alya Yuno) performs fourteen of her favorite Russian songs that tell of the lives of the Roma (Gypsy) people in that region. She is accompanied by Sasha Polinoff’s ensemble, which plays traditional Russian folk instruments including the balalaika and domra. Liner notes include brief information about Alya and her songs with lyrics in the original Russian.

*Content Advisory: While some Roma have and continue to use “Gypsy” as a self-identifier, many consider the term offensive or a racial slur. Romani people are a minoritized ethnic group in Europe who have been persecuted for centuries, and the term “Gypsy” has been used in violent and racist ways. For more information, please see these resources from the European Roma Rights Centre, RomArchive, and Amnesty International.

- Anna Kate Cannon, 2021–22 Dumbarton Oaks Fellow at SFR, and Dr. Adriana Helbig, professor of Music at the University of Pittsburgh, contributed to the research and writing for this statement.

For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

101	Lyotsa Pyesnya (Song of the Gypsy) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:05
102	Kolyechko (The Ring) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:43
103	Chto Mnye Gore (No Sorrow for Me) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	01:45
104	Tolko Raz Byvayut V Zhizni Vstryechi (Only Once in a Lifetime) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:10
105	Kak Stranno (How Strange) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	01:56
106	Dvye Gitary (Two Guitars) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:28
107	Tvoyi Glaza Zyelyonyie (Your Green Eyes) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:51
201	Ekh, Dorogi (The Roads) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:39
202	Svyetit Mesyats (The Moon Is Shining) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:04
203	Vyernis! (Come Back) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:40
204	Fanariki (The Street Lamps) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:03
205	Do Svidanya (Farewell) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:11
206	Biryuzovyie Kolechki (The Tuquoise Rings) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	01:42
207	Dvye Slyezinki (Two Little Tears) Alya with Sasha Polinoff and His Ensemble	02:19

Catalog

Songs of a Russian Gypsy

Track Listing

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