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They are called by many different names in as many different regions – sometimes “calo” in Spain, or “Sinto” in Germany and France, or “Nawar” in Israel and Egypt.
The gypsies or Roma originally came from North Central India. They started migrating around 300 BC where they reached Persia and then onwards to Europe. The term “gypsy” came about around 1400 when these dark-skinned strangers were thought to have come from Egypt. For hundreds of years, the Roma have continued their traditional ways which isolated them from the gadjé , or non-Roma, and have practiced rituals and their own law courts which could be very strict. The ultimate punishment was to be branded “unclean” and banished from the community. Over the centuries the Roma have managed to survive on their wits and their skills – dealing in horse trading, metal working, fortune telling, begging, and of course their music. Because they were nomadic, Roma served as wandering minstrels and entertainers. Very often their songs were high pitched and the vocal line declamatory, as in telling a story. Audiences have now grown to associate gypsy music with wild violin playing, daring improvisations, and dizzying tones from the accordion. Here at the Rainforest World Music Festival this year will be ACQUARAGIA DROM – a group of four musicians that will swirl Mediterranean saltarellos and tammuriatas from the Sinti tribe. They will sing melodies that have been in these communities for a very long time, mixed, in typical adapting gypsy style, with the rhythms of the caravans today. This will be a very special treat as the music that they will bring is unknown even in parts of Europe. Much of the music that the Roma play is for wedding and traditional feasts. While treated as outcasts at most times, at these occasions, they are the stars and the authorities and are considered everybody’s best friend. ACQUARAGIA DROM will be programmed to be on, what has been described to be, one of the most magical stages in the world. This will be the smaller Stage Two, as it is affectionately called, that is sited just off to one side of the bigger main stage at the Sarawak Cultural Village, the venue for the festival. The Rainforest World Music Festival which is organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board is in its 8th year in 2005. Malaysia Airlines MAS is the official carrier being and it is also sponsored by Unilever, Heineken Music, fRoots, Biaramas, Rainforest Tea and Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia. Sarawak and other Malaysian groups will be performing together with bands from as many different parts of the world that the organizers will programme for each year. This year, there will be TUKU KAME from Sarawak, PETRONA MARTINEZ from Colombia, YELEMBA D’ABIDJAN of the Ivory Coast, FLORENCIO MESS AND THE KEK’CHI STRINGS from Belize, the CHULALORNKORN UNIVERSITY ENSEMBLE from Thailand, NAMGAR from Buryatia, FAIZ ALI FAIZ from Pakistan, THE OLD SPICE BOYS from Australia, SARAWAN from Kurdestan and SHANNON from Poland. The weekend of the festival will fall from the 8th to the 10th of July. Informal workshops will run over the three afternoons and an average of 6 bands will be performing each night at the festival site. Tickets for this year are daily passes and are already out on sale priced at RM60.00 per day and will be valid for both workshops as well as the evening show. Children aged 3 – 12 years old can obtain tickets at RM30.00 per day. Free admittance would be extended to children aged 2 and below. Tickets can be obtained from the Visitors' Information Centres in Kuching, Miri and Sibu, the Sarawak Cultural Village, and Sarawak Tourism Board or call Rudy at 082-423600 or e-mail: rudy@sarawaktourism.com Packages are also available from several tour agencies and hotels. Check out the website at www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com for more information and contact numbers. There will be a controlled number of tickets sold for each night. It would be advisable to try and get the tickets early. One could also buy tickets at the gate provided it hasn’t been sold out for the night. Do ring the Sarawak Tourism Board to check for availability of tickets if you are planning to get them last minute. ACQUARAGIA DROM will be Erasmo Treglia on violin, jew's harp and ciaramella which is a traditional oboe, Elia Ciricillo on vocals, guitar, tambourine and dance, Rita Tumminia on accordeon, dance and Paolo Rocca on clarinets. They, with their songs and dances, will be on Stage Two. Don’t miss them.
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