Romani Chords: Uncovering Romani Practice for Harmonic Accompaniment with Sonic, Visual and Ethnographic Analysis

The RomChords project explores the unique phenomenon of Romani chords, a distinctive harmonic accompaniment used by Romani musicians in Slovakia. Romani music is celebrated worldwide for its cultural richness and diversity, yet certain musical practices, like Romani chords, remain underexplored. These chords are central to the Romani musical tradition, often distinguishing it from the music of surrounding non-Romani communities. Despite their significance, Romani chords have not been thoroughly studied, leaving a gap in our understanding of Romani musical expression and its broader cultural impact.

The project’s objectives are threefold: first, to collect interdisciplinary data on Romani chords through sonic, visual, and ethnographic methods; second, to perform a transdisciplinary analysis using computational musicology and social science methods; and third, to integrate this knowledge into a museum exhibition to engage both the professional community and the general public. The project aims to highlight the Romani approach to harmonic accompaniment, challenge the dominance of Western music theory, and promote a deeper appreciation of Romani cultural heritage.

Scientifically, the project will enrich the fields of (ethno)musicology, anthropology, and Romani studies by providing new insights into Romani musical practices. Societally, it will foster public awareness and appreciation of Romani culture, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse European cultural landscape. The project’s findings will be communicated through various channels, including conferences, open-access publications, and a multimedia museum exhibition, ensuring that the results are accessible to both academic audiences and the wider public. By bridging academia and the creative industries, RomChords also opens pathways for further collaborations and applications in areas such as music education and cultural heritage preservation.

Ultimately, RomChords aims to not only document and analyse a unique musical tradition but also to challenge prevailing narratives and support the integration of social sciences and humanities in addressing cultural diversity and inclusion in Europe.