Taraf de Haïdouks

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Taraf de Haïdouks, whose name translates as “band of brigands,” are a village band of Romani lautari (traditional musicians) from the small Romanian village of Clejani, southwest of Bucharest. A dozen instrumentalists and singers range in age from 20 to 78, their self-titled Nonesuch Records US debut culls material from their three previous European releases. This compilation was assembled, in part, by David Harrington of Kronos Quartet.

Description

Taraf de Haïdouks, whose name translates as “band of brigands,” are a village band of Romani lautari (traditional musicians) from the small Romanian village of Clejani, southwest of the capital city of Bucharest. A dozen instrumentalists and singers ranging in age from 20 to 78, the group had never performed outside of their region before being discovered by Stepháne Karo and Michel Winter, two young Belgian music fans who fell in love with their music during a trip to Romania in 1990.

Shortly after their visit, Karo & Winter organized a few concerts for the group in Belgium, and introduced the band to Crammed Discs, who signed them and released their first recording at the end of 1991 entitled Musique des Tsiganes de Roumanie. The recording introduced Western listeners to the rich musical world of the Romanian Gypsies, which includes medieval ballads, Turkish-flavored dance tunes from the Balkans, and characteristic vocal inflections reminiscent of the Romani people’s origins in the Indian sub-continent.

The album was hailed by the media and immediately topped the European World Music Chart. It also inaugurated a touring schedule that has continued for the last eight years, including a first round of US dates one year ago. Taraf became the first real village band to tour widely and take western Europe by storm, equally at home on the concert stage or at all-night busking sessions at local bars or on the streets.

In 1992 Taraf de Haïdouks played a prominent part in the French/Romani director Tony Gatlif’s acclaimed film Latcho Drom, which won awards at the Cannes Festival. The second album by Taraf de Haidouks, entitled Honourable Brigands, Magic Horses and Evil Eye, was recorded in Romania in 1994. Voted Best World Music Album in 1995 by the German Critics Association, it inspired the French director Guy Demoy to produce a documentary on the band for the French-German TV channel ARTE.

Taraf’s most recent recording Dumbala Dumba, was recorded in Clejani and Bucharest at the end of 1997 and produced by Karo, Winter and Crammed Discs producer Vincent Kenis.

Between recordings and tours throughout the Western world, the members of the Taraf return to their village of Clejani and their traditional lifestyle. They live by and for their music, which punctuates all the important events of the village’s social life: christenings, weddings, burials, harvests, etc. The invigorating music of Taraf de Haïdouks is a mix of local styles and flavors representing the richness of the Romanian folk tradition ranging from haunting heartland ballads to dizzying fiddle dances. Performing on violin, accordian, cymbalum, upright bass and vocals, the older members contribute soul and experience, the younger ones speed and energy.

Their self-titled Nonesuch Records US debut culls material from all three European releases. This compilation was assembled by David Harrington of Kronos Quartet and David Bither of Nonesuch Records.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
All tracks produced by Stéphane Karo and Vincent Kenis
Musical direction: Stéphane Karo
Executive production for Crammed Discs: Hanna Gorjaczkowska and Marc Hollander

Design by John Gall
Cover Photograph by Klaus Reimer
Back cover photograph by Maria Dawlat
Booklet cover and interior photographs by Youri Lenquette, except for page 3 by Tony Gatliff, © K.G Production

Compiled by David Bither and David Harrington from the Taraf de Haïdouks albums: Musique des Tziganes de Roumanie, Honourable Brigands, Magic Horses and Evil Eye, and Dumbala Dumba

Nonesuch Selection Number

79554

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
FormatRestrictions

This album is available from Nonesuch in the United States and Canada only.

ns_album_artistid
111
ns_album_id
298
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
Taraf de Haïdouks
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Ion Manole, vocals, violin (1, 4, 9)
Marin “Marius” Manole, accordion (1, 2, 4, 11, 12)
Marin a lu Mincoi, small cymbalum (1, 8)
Viorel a lu Murgoi, double bass (1, 5, 7, 9, 12)
Anghel “Caliu” Georghe, violin (2, 9, 11, 12)
Constantin “Costică” Lautaru, violin (2, 5, 12)
Ionel “Ionița” Manole, accordion (2, 5, 9, 12)
Ionică Tanase, small cymbalum (2), double bass (3, 11), cymbalum (12)
Marinel Sandu, large cymbalum (2), cymbalum (3, 5, 11, 12)
Nicolae Neacșu, violin (3,7), vocals (3)
Marin “Tsagoi” Sandu, accordion (3, 7)
Dimitru “Cacurică” Baicu, Valachian cymbalum (4, 10), vocals (9, 10)
Ion Fălcaru, flute (5, 9, 11), double bass (8)
Napoleon, percussion, vocals (6)
Nadia, Mioara, Dăuța, Fratuianu, dancers (6)
Dinu, small cymbalum (7)
Viorica Rudăreasa, vocals (8)
Marin a lu Petre, accordion (8, 9)
Ilie Lorga, vocals (9)
Paul “Pășalan” Giuclea, vocals (9)

Tracks 4, 10, and 11 arranged by Sapo Perapaskero. All other tracks written by Sapo Perapaskero.

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597955422BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
603497137664
  • 79554

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  • About This Album

    Taraf de Haïdouks, whose name translates as “band of brigands,” are a village band of Romani lautari (traditional musicians) from the small Romanian village of Clejani, southwest of the capital city of Bucharest. A dozen instrumentalists and singers ranging in age from 20 to 78, the group had never performed outside of their region before being discovered by Stepháne Karo and Michel Winter, two young Belgian music fans who fell in love with their music during a trip to Romania in 1990.

    Shortly after their visit, Karo & Winter organized a few concerts for the group in Belgium, and introduced the band to Crammed Discs, who signed them and released their first recording at the end of 1991 entitled Musique des Tsiganes de Roumanie. The recording introduced Western listeners to the rich musical world of the Romanian Gypsies, which includes medieval ballads, Turkish-flavored dance tunes from the Balkans, and characteristic vocal inflections reminiscent of the Romani people’s origins in the Indian sub-continent.

    The album was hailed by the media and immediately topped the European World Music Chart. It also inaugurated a touring schedule that has continued for the last eight years, including a first round of US dates one year ago. Taraf became the first real village band to tour widely and take western Europe by storm, equally at home on the concert stage or at all-night busking sessions at local bars or on the streets.

    In 1992 Taraf de Haïdouks played a prominent part in the French/Romani director Tony Gatlif’s acclaimed film Latcho Drom, which won awards at the Cannes Festival. The second album by Taraf de Haidouks, entitled Honourable Brigands, Magic Horses and Evil Eye, was recorded in Romania in 1994. Voted Best World Music Album in 1995 by the German Critics Association, it inspired the French director Guy Demoy to produce a documentary on the band for the French-German TV channel ARTE.

    Taraf’s most recent recording Dumbala Dumba, was recorded in Clejani and Bucharest at the end of 1997 and produced by Karo, Winter and Crammed Discs producer Vincent Kenis.

    Between recordings and tours throughout the Western world, the members of the Taraf return to their village of Clejani and their traditional lifestyle. They live by and for their music, which punctuates all the important events of the village’s social life: christenings, weddings, burials, harvests, etc. The invigorating music of Taraf de Haïdouks is a mix of local styles and flavors representing the richness of the Romanian folk tradition ranging from haunting heartland ballads to dizzying fiddle dances. Performing on violin, accordian, cymbalum, upright bass and vocals, the older members contribute soul and experience, the younger ones speed and energy.

    Their self-titled Nonesuch Records US debut culls material from all three European releases. This compilation was assembled by David Harrington of Kronos Quartet and David Bither of Nonesuch Records.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Ion Manole, vocals, violin (1, 4, 9)
    Marin “Marius” Manole, accordion (1, 2, 4, 11, 12)
    Marin a lu Mincoi, small cymbalum (1, 8)
    Viorel a lu Murgoi, double bass (1, 5, 7, 9, 12)
    Anghel “Caliu” Georghe, violin (2, 9, 11, 12)
    Constantin “Costică” Lautaru, violin (2, 5, 12)
    Ionel “Ionița” Manole, accordion (2, 5, 9, 12)
    Ionică Tanase, small cymbalum (2), double bass (3, 11), cymbalum (12)
    Marinel Sandu, large cymbalum (2), cymbalum (3, 5, 11, 12)
    Nicolae Neacșu, violin (3,7), vocals (3)
    Marin “Tsagoi” Sandu, accordion (3, 7)
    Dimitru “Cacurică” Baicu, Valachian cymbalum (4, 10), vocals (9, 10)
    Ion Fălcaru, flute (5, 9, 11), double bass (8)
    Napoleon, percussion, vocals (6)
    Nadia, Mioara, Dăuța, Fratuianu, dancers (6)
    Dinu, small cymbalum (7)
    Viorica Rudăreasa, vocals (8)
    Marin a lu Petre, accordion (8, 9)
    Ilie Lorga, vocals (9)
    Paul “Pășalan” Giuclea, vocals (9)

    Tracks 4, 10, and 11 arranged by Sapo Perapaskero. All other tracks written by Sapo Perapaskero.

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    All tracks produced by Stéphane Karo and Vincent Kenis
    Musical direction: Stéphane Karo
    Executive production for Crammed Discs: Hanna Gorjaczkowska and Marc Hollander

    Design by John Gall
    Cover Photograph by Klaus Reimer
    Back cover photograph by Maria Dawlat
    Booklet cover and interior photographs by Youri Lenquette, except for page 3 by Tony Gatliff, © K.G Production

    Compiled by David Bither and David Harrington from the Taraf de Haïdouks albums: Musique des Tziganes de Roumanie, Honourable Brigands, Magic Horses and Evil Eye, and Dumbala Dumba

  • Format Availability

    This album is available from Nonesuch in the United States and Canada only.