These Songs Tell About Our Life, You See ― Music, Identity and Gender in Finnish Romani Music

Based on intensive fieldwork among the Finnish Roma, the Kaale, between 1995 and 2015, this book explores their traditional songs. It presents an introduction to the subject of traditional Romani music and offers different interpretations of how the Roma themselves produce meaning for the songs. Performing the music is not a repetition of heritage – instead, the meanings of the songs are aimed at different contexts of everyday life in various musical practices. They not only maintain a community spirit, but also underline gender identity or create a boundary with the majority population.

Kai Aberg is Adjunct Professor of the Study of Traditional Music at the Department of Finnish Language and Cultural Research, University of Eastern Finland. His special research interests are Finnish Romani music and music culture.