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Songs of a Macedonian Gypsy

Esma Redžepova and Usnija Jašarova with The Steve Teodosievski and Nasko Džorlev Ensembles
Songs of a Macedonian Gypsy

The Romani people developed a unique style of music over many centuries of migration, picking up and transforming elements from a wide range of countries and cultures. This is apparent in Songs of a Macedonian Gypsy (CD Version), in which two female singers, some instrumentalists, and occasionally two male singers perform Gypsy folk songs and dances from Macedonia. The music borrows from Middle Eastern, Turkish, and European styles (to name a few) as singers convey themes of love, marriage, and sorrow in a Romani language as well as in Macedonian. This is the original version of the recording Songs of Macedonian Gypsy, which was reissued by Monitor on CD as MON71496, with additional tracks but omitting track 8, “Sikou Horespe Mazi Mou (Get Up and Dance).”

*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. We encourage you to learn more about Roma history and culture, and the continued fight for Roma rights. 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
Da Me Molat Ne Se Ženam (I Won't Get Married) n/a 01:55  
102
Buda Dikljum (I Have Seen Much) Esma Redzepova 03:02  
103
Ah, Devla (Oh, My God) Esma Redzepova 03:25  
104
Soborsko Oro (Macedonian Hora) Eugen Farkaš Folk Ensemble 02:34  
105
Me Suneste Aljan (Sweet Dreams) Nasko Dzorlev Ensemble 02:54  
106
Davaj, Davaj Čičo (The Tip) Nasko Dzorlev Ensemble with Jovanka Ivanovska and Slavica Pavlovic 02:36  
201
Ušti, Ušti Baba (Get up, Father) Nasko Dzorlev Ensemble with Jovanka Ivanovska and Slavica Pavlovic 03:24  
202
Džulo, Džulo Nasko Dzoriev Ensemble with Usnija Jasarova 03:29  
203
Sikou Hórespe Mazi Mou (Get up and Dance) Nasko Dzoriev Ensemble with Usnija Jasarova 04:12  
204
Uštili Čaj Rano Sabajle (The Young Bride) Nasko Dzoriev Ensemble with Usnija Jasarova 03:19  
205
Pjesma I Devojka (The Song and the Girl) Esma Redzepova with the Stevo Teodosievski Ensemble 03:53  
206
Ačiljum Čorori (Unhappy Loneliness) Nasko Dzoriev Ensemble with Usnija Jasarova 04:13