Performing sorrow

This chapter analyzes the slow “sorrowful” (de jale) tunes that Roma often associate with crying. Three musical parameters characterize this repertoire: (1) the rhythmic and temporal structure (irregular aksak or unmeasured rhythm); (2) the slight asynchronies between the melody and the harmonic accompaniment, which creates a swinging effect; and (3) the complex elaboration of the melodic line, in particular the addition of ornaments and passing notes to create an effect that is known locally as “sweetness.” The analysis is supported by empirical measurements of timing durations, obtained by tracking the musician’s bow’s movements with motion capture techniques.