Expressing pain through song: Roma halgató could well be added to Czech heritage list
The distinctive Roma music genre halgató, known for its slow, mournful songs, could soon be added to Czechia‘s list of intangible cultural heritage. Both musicians and academics are seeking official recognition for the genre, which they describe as an important part of Roma identity passed down through generations.
“The halgató you just heard is called ‘I Went from the Camp in the Evening.’ It is a halgató song that has been passed down in a Roma family from their grandmother, who was in a concentration camp during the Second World War,” says ethnomusicologist Petr Nuska of the Institute of Ethnology at the Czech Academy of Sciences.
“Halgató songs are drawn-out and sad. They are mostly sung by women, often at the point of emotional exhaustion, as the singer shares a personal injustice that occured to them with the world. It may be the death of a loved one, poverty, hunger, infidelity and so on,” Nuska describes.
The songs often accompany Roma through life’s events and are performed with deep emotional commitment. Originating in 19th-century Hungary, the genre remains alive today in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, where it could now be added to the Czech list of intangible cultural heritage. Terezie Řánková of the Regional Centre for Folk Culture, which manages entries on the heritage list, explained:
“We are at the very first stage of our joint efforts. The Roma community has expressed an interest in raising the profile of, and gaining recognition for, their cultural expression.”
Among those supporting the effort are both academics and musicians. Miroslav Zima, director of the Brno-based organisation DROM, is neither and highlights the universal appeal of the genre:
“Halgató as a Roma musical form interests me, I’m curious about it. I’ve never sung myself, I only listen to it. I like it and so I’m interested in it.”
According to Řánková, in order for halgató to be included on the intangible cultural heritage list, it must meet several criteria:
“It is crucial that the tradition forms part of the community’s identity and is important to the community itself. It is also necessary that the cultural expression is passed down from generation to generation. All nominations must also set out specific measures that will help safeguard and develop the element in the future.”
Halgató definitely seems to be on the right track and could be added to the Czech Culture Ministry’s list as early as next year. Its inclusion will, hopefully, bring greater visibility to the often heart-breaking Roma songs.
