Gypsy Memories

Title

Gypsy Memories

Subject

Romanies Music

Description

The song book, Gypsy Memories, is compiled with songs as played by Harry Horlick and his A&P Gypsies. Born in Kiev, Russia Horlick was a violinist who performed in various venues until he was drafted into the Russian army during WWI. When he was freed from the war, Horlick moved to New York and began performing in cafes with a small six piece ensemble. Horlick’s group began to be sponsored by the A&P food store chain after its radio debut in the early ‘20s. A&P agreed to fund the band’s weekly radio show, leading to the creation and success of The A&P Gypsies. Horlick’s group hosted the most popular instrumental music program on air from 1924 to the 1930s, specializing in Gypsy music Horlick learned while traveling around eastern Europe. Sources categorize the group’s music in many ways including classical, semi-classical, folk and gypsy-inspired genres. The inconsistency in how the group’s music is categorized was most likely an intentional tool used by Horlick to boost his music’s popularity. Ethnomusicologist, Barbara Lange explains that maintaining a flexible public image is a fundamental tool Rom use in the U.S to cross ethnic boundaries and increase popularity. The group’s use of “impression management” allowed them to create a vague yet unique sound, which was favored by ethnically mixed audiences throughout the US.

Creator

Songs as played by Harry Horlick and his A & P Gypsies
Stone, Gregory

Source

Songs compiled and arranged for voice and piano by Gregory Stone

Publisher

Edward B. Marks Music Corporation
Radio City, NY

Date

Copyright 1936

Contributor

Rae Friedman

Rights

International copyright secured, All rights reserved

Format

Bound songbook 42 pages ; 30 cm

Language

Russian
English

Type

Print

Identifier

https://storiedpeople.oberlincollegelibrary.org/items/show/1
https://storiedpeople.oberlincollegelibrary.org/files/original/a7f5a1ff59720452fbe7bdae55e77bd9.jpg

Coverage

Sheet music to be played by a pianist and singer

Files

a7f5a1ff59720452fbe7bdae55e77bd9.jpg

Collection



Citation

Songs as played by Harry Horlick and his A & P Gypsies and Stone, Gregory, “Gypsy Memories,” A Storied People, accessed March 28, 2024, https://astoriedpeople.oberlincollegelibrary.org/items/show/77.