Phase 2, Ward 8, Celebrating Roma Culture
If you have any more I can play with or even just listen in, it would be an honour. I live for this music!
As part of Glasgow Life’s Creative Communities Artists in Residence programme for Ward 8, Southside Central, Ando Glaso Collective explored Roma cultural heritage in Glasgow’s Southside. Working with 6 musicians from Slovak, Czech, Romanian, Polish, and Hungarian backgrounds, the project unfolded largely online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Participants engaged in one-to-one sessions, sharing musical traditions and collaboratively developing two original compositions.
The first piece reimagined the Slovak Roma song Muro Shavo, intertwining it with Romanian melodies. The second fusion of Balkan and Central European Roma songs reflected the group's diverse heritage. As restrictions eased, the collective met in person to finalise recordings, culminating in a public performance at the Rum Shack on International Roma Day, April 8.
Despite lockdowns, the project maintained momentum, with showcases at Celtic Connections enhancing the group's confidence and visibility.
Ando Glaso Collective continued work developed in Phase 2 during Phase 3, strengthening relationships and creating connections.
A special thanks to community partners, supporters and contributors: OPA! | Slovak, Czech and Romanian and Roma communities | Euros 2020 Fan Zone Cultural Programme.
