ICR Romanian Cultural Institute London

Fanfara Savale @ Exhibition Road Music Day

The Romanian Cultural Institute in London supports the concert of Romanian brass band, Fanfara Savale, at the Exhibition Road Music Day.

The Exhibition Road Music Day is a unique free festival of live music. Over 70 exhilarating performances by both professional and amateur musicians will bring the Exhibition Road alive. It will showcase an incredible range of sounds and styles celebrating the diversity of international culture.

A tiny Eastern Romanian village called "Zece Prajini", where any male can play at least one brass instrument, probably has the largest number of bands in Europe. This is the place where the Fanfare Savale (pronounced Shavale) gypsy brass band comes from. It would be difficult to trace their vast musical heritage back in time as they have been playing music ever since they can remember. The gift of music and the instruments are passed from one generation to the next.
Such traditions have been preserved for centuries in the region, but the Fanfare Savale came up with an innovative sound: a combination of ancient Gypsy music at breathtaking speed – up to 200 beats per minute – and music from the wider Balkan area. The rhythm is fabulous, and the musicians are adept at various music styles. Although most of them can barely read notes, they can play any tune having heard it just once.

The Fanfare Savale boasts an impressive musical CV which includes recordings in Germany and live performances in world, folk or rock music clubs throughout Europe, in Hungary, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, Spain or Slovakia.

Their debut album was recorded at the back end of 2003 in just four days. Called Speed Brass of the Gypsies it includes 20 songs. Some are Romanian classics, some are traditional gypsy, but all are special and incredibly fast!

I very much liked it; I had never seen that kind of fanfare: very much different of the traditional fanfares we have here! The ambiance was very good: many people dancing. I think this music is very powerful and gives the envy to dance. The musician seemed to be very happy to play and I think that is good.
David Pichonnaz, Montreux Jazz Festival Foundation – Switzerland

If you would like to listen to their music, check out the Institute of Contemporary Arts bookshop where we spotted their CD.

When: 21 June 2007, 9.15 pm
Where: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Free entry.