Russian Romani musicians are known for their influence on theater stages as well as for their violin and seven-string guitar playing. Legends of vocal music, such as Stepanida Soldatova (1787-1822), have been famous for their masterful interpretations of Russian songs.
A lesser-known treasure, however, lies within the lyrics of countless songs composed in Russian Romani dialects, with or without Russian-language snippets mixed in. Many of them are a testament to the fundamental roles played by family and community in Romani cultures.
Below are three translated examples of stanzas in Romani that have become part of the folk repertoire.
Ту сан забайкальско, Ром сибирско,
Аль росийско романо чаво,
Рикирпэ при обществе достойно,
На мангав мэ больше ничего
Tu san zabaykalsko Rom sibirsko
Al rasiysko romano chavo
Rikirpe pri obshchestve dostoyno
Na mangav me bolshe nyichevo
Whether you’re Romani from the Zabaykalsky Region, or from Siberia
Or one of the Russian Roma
Just carry yourself with dignity in the community
I ask for no more than this
(From the song “Dobryi den, Romale” – Good Day to You, Roma)
Паньч чавэ дадэстэ, паньч илэн дадэсте
Подыхтя про свэто ёв, о джиипэн пхаро
Бут о дром прасталас ёв, шеро ёв на ракья
Ваш э пэскри семьится, джиипэн ёв на дыкхя
...
Ой, даёри мири, ваш тукэ гилы мири
Ваш тукэ, трэ чавэ сарэ отдена джиипэн
Panch chave, dadeste, panch ilen, dadeste
Podyxtia pro sveto yov, o djiipen pxaro
But o drom prastalas yov, shero yov na rakia
Vash e peskri siemitsia djiipen yov na dikhya
...
Oy, dayori miri, vash tuke gili miri
Vash tuke tre chave sare otdena djiipen
Our father has five children, our father has five hearts
He has looked around the world, and his life has been difficult
Traveling down many roads, he did not find himself
He placed his family above his own life
...
Oh, my dear mother, for you I sing this song
All your children would give their lives for you
(From the song “Panch Chave” – Five Children)
О дад скомандовал: Нашен палэ пшалэстэ
Пхэнэнти лэскэ кэ пшал кхэрэ явя!
Два братца молодца, два братца облынэпэ
И зарундлэ яда родна дуй пшала
O dad skomandoval: Nashen pale pshaleste
Phenetyi leske ke pshal khere yavya
Dva bratsa maladtsa, dva bratsa oblinepe
I zarundle yada radna duy pshala
The father commanded: Run after your brother
Tell him that his brother has come home!
Two young men, the brothers embraced
And wept together, those two beloved brothers
(From the song “Dikhav sune” – I Dream)
Rights held by: Petra Gelbart | Licensed by: Petra Gelbart | Licensed under: CC-BY-NC 3.0 Germany | Provided by: RomArchive