This is the first album devoted exclusively to this long-established ethnic minority in Poland.
The Gypsies are a peculiar people, maintaining their age-old nomadic liefstyle in the center of civilized Europe.  It is now thought that the European Roma Gypsies originally came from India. They probably arrived in Poland at the beginning of the 15th century.  Their occupations were smithery and divination. After this first influx of Gypsies into Poland, new groups moved into the southern regions of the former Polish-Lithuanian Republic in the 1860's.  Wagons drawn by horses came from the Carpathians, carrying Gypsies in rich and colorful clothes who spoke a dialect different from that of the first group.  The newcomers belonged to two great tribes - the Khelderari (Khelderasha - tinkers from Romania and Hungary) and the Lovari (horse traders from Transylvania). Later, the Khelderasha absorbed other smaller ethnic groups.
The Polish Gypsies now belong to four main groups which differ in dialect, lifestyle and customs: the Lowland Gypsies - Polska Roma, the Upland Gypsies - Bergitka Roma, the Khelderasha and the Lovari.
The Gypsies no longer travel across the country in wagons - the last one made its journey in 1964. Wandering in wagons was prohibited and the Gypsies were forced to settle and assimilate. Still, despite the forcible settlement and changes, they have preserved their separate identity, speech and customs to our day.  
The recordings included on this disc represent only one of the four historical Gypsy groups in Poland - the Bergitka Roma, the Gypsies from the mountain region in southern Poland who are perhaps the oldest Gypsy group in the country.  Two different Gypsy ensembles are featured - Kale Bala (Black Hair) and Kale Jahka.  Both groups have performed throughout Europe.
An English-Polish booklet is included with details about both groups and Gypsy history.
Compact disc, 27 selections.... $16