“Songs of Pain”

This article explores urban Romani song in southern Romania and how ethnicity and gender inform the repertoire and style of two 20th-century female vocalists: Romica Puceanu and Gabi Luncǎ. Both established their renown during the communist period, initially at in-group weddings in addition to family and other social gatherings and eventually at Romanian venues as well. Numerous songs that they performed were also issued on recordings. Puceanu and Luncă were best-known for their quintessentially Romani song genres and style of singing: muzica lăutărească (“lǎutar music” – the music of Romani musicians), namely, cântece lăutăreşti (“lăutar songs”) or “songs of pain.” Cântece lăutăreşti are often characterized by a slow, heartfelt style and express anguish, suffering, and longing. How did ethnicity and gender inform the artistry of Puceanu and Luncă? Which themes in their song repertoires were they drawn to, and how did the lyrics and style of the songs that they sang reflect their roles as female Romani performers not only surrounded by a majority society that had enslaved Roma for centuries and in which anti-Romani racism was (and still is) widespread, but also within a patriarchal society and male-dominated profession? I examine how Puceanu and Luncă became icons of muzica lăutărească in a world dominated by men. I argue that as vocalists who were both Roma and women, they found nuanced ways to express ethnic and gendered identity through song.