Romani people originated in India and migrated to Europe 1000 years ago. Their music has had significant influence on European classical and jazz genres. Gypsy jazz emerged in the 1930s-1950s from Romani guitarists in Paris, led by guitarist Django Reinhardt. Considered one of the greatest guitarists, Reinhardt formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France and pioneered the Gypsy jazz style characterized by altered chord shapes, chromaticism, and embellishments that give music a minor feel. Gypsy jazz features the guitar and violin as lead instruments along with clarinet, mandolin, and accordion.

1. Romani Music and the Origins of
Gypsy Jazz

2. Romani Origins
• Originated in India
• Migrated to Europe 1000
years ago
• Sasanian king hired 1000 lute
players who wasted all that
he had given them.
Consequentially, he sent
them wandering around the
world.

3. Romani Music
• Romani music plays an important role in Central and Eastern European
countries and has influenced European classical composers such as Franz
Lizst and Johannes Brahms
• Many famous classical musicians such as Hungarian pianist Georges Cziffra
are Romani
• Early violins and guitars are said to have originated from the Romani
• Romani brass bands
• The distinctive sound of Romani music
strongly influenced bolero, jazz, and
flamenco in Europe
• “Gypsy jazz” is still widely practiced
today

4. Django Reinhardt
• Belgium-born French guitarist of Romani ethnicity
• Regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time and was
the first important European jazz musician to make major
contributions to the development of the guitar genre
• Most popular compositions have become jazz standards – Minor
Swing, Daphne, Belleville, Djangology, Swing 42, and Nuages
• Strongly influenced by Louis Armstrong
• Formed the Quintette du Hot Club de France with violinist Stéphane
Grappelli

5. The Birth of Gypsy Jazz
 Reinhardt worked in musette
ensembles around Paris with a
group of Romani guitarists in the
1930’s through the 1950’s
 Musette style waltz is an
important component in Gypsy jazz
repertoire
• Dark, chromatic sounds contrast with uptempo,
spirited performance style
• 1930’s swing articulation

6. Instrumentation
• The original Quintette did not have a drummer, which
facilitated the use of the acoustic guitar as a lead
instrument
• Guitar and violin are the main solo instruments
• Clarinet, mandolin, and accordion are often used
• Rhythm guitar played with a percussive technique called “la
pompe”
• Upright bass

7. Harmony
• Barre chords are not acceptable – Reinhardt’s altered
chord shapes are what characterizes the Gypsy jazz
style
• Reharmonization is aimed at giving a piece a minor feel
even if a song is in a major key
• Chromaticism via mordents and trills
• Embellishments include tremolo, string bends,
pizzicato, ghost notes, harmonics, octaves, double
stops, and glissando
• Commonly used scales include the chromatic scale,
melodic minor scale, dorian mode, and diminished
scale