Gypsy Employment
There is a wide spectrum of gypsy employments from the sale of goods not made by the travelers, the offer of services, seasonal labor, and the provision of goods and services produced largely by the gypsies. It was not always clear in which category a particular employment should be placed (Mayall, 1988). For example, fairground entertaining could be described as both a seasonal employment and a service; the gypsies made some of the pegs and baskets while others were bought from a wholesaler; and the link between hawking items and fortune telling was such that the offer of goods and a particular service went hand in hand at times. 

A further separation of labor can be made by adding the division between the various types of employment according to gender. The men were at various times in occupations that could be under any of the aforementioned categories, but it was common for women to be employed only in the service or craft trades (Mayall, 1988). In general, the men manufactured craft items while it was the responsibility of the women to take on the role of selling, or hawking, items or services door to door.

The music of the gypsy was well known and followed by many gypsies and non-gypsies. The chief characteristic of the music played by the gypsies bore the freedom, richness, variety and versatility of its rhythms. These characteristics constantly changed, intertwined, intersected, and superseded each other. The music of the gypsy orchestras included the violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, and cimbalom (McDowell, 1970). Gypsy orchestra music also was recorded to have lead troops into battle at times. According to McDowell, real gypsy folk music used no instruments. Instead stamping feet, clicking tongues, the tapping of spoons, and the rapping of knuckles on tables accompanied real gypsy singers according to McDowell. 

Jails play an important role in the creation and performance of gypsy folk music. Because gypsies were often caught stealing, they often found themselves in jails where they would exchange songs and compose new ones.

Christina E. Wells
Copyright © 2003 by University of North Texas. All rights reserved.
Revised: 13 Nov 2003 16:22:13 -0600



Table of Contents

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) A Touch of History

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Gypsy Women

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Gypsies by Name

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Chronology

WB01158_.GIF (255 bytes) Digital Bibliography


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