In a new collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas String Quartet have released their first album, ROMANI: The Untold Story. Dallas String Quartet, also referred to as DSQ or DSQ Electric, is a Billboard charting American classical crossover ensemble founded in 2007 by composer and violist Ion Zanca. A fusion of contemporary classical and pop music, DSQ is referred to as “Bach meets Bon Jovi” and is compared to artists like Lindsey Stirling, Vitamin String Quartet, Brooklyn Duo and 2Cellos. Their new album with the London Symphony Orchestra, ROMANI: The Untold Story is a powerful musical journey, composed by DSQ founder and Romani musician Ion Zanca, highlights the overlooked history and suffering of the Romani people during the Holocaust, while also celebrating their enduring spirit and rich musical heritage.
The album unfolds in five evocative chapters, each song meticulously crafted to unveil the Romani people’s untold story, from the brewing conflict of World War II to the post-war resilience and cultural revival. The opening track “Brewing Conflict” transports listeners to a small European town on the brink of war, where a Romani family senses the growing threat, soundtracked by immense, ominous strings. Inspired by letters from Romani soldiers in the Romanian army during WWII, the second chapter “Letters of Pain”, intertwines soulful melodies interlaced within emotive orchestration with the Romanian national anthem. It echoes the soldiers’ anguish and the pain of their families, who faced deportation and death.
Amid the horrors of war, the third chapter “Key of Heaven” offers a sense of spiritual resilience, with rising strings building in rich layers dynamically. Reflecting the suppression of Romani culture in post-war Spain, the album's fourth chapter "Sangre Gitana" pays homage to the birth of flamenco music with its incorporation of potent guitars and engaging percussion. Featuring Romani musicians Jorge Pardo, George Miu, José Cortés “El Pirata,” and others, this track contains melancholic, vivid strings and drifting guitars.
The final and perhaps most vibrant chapter “Rhapsody for the Romani" is a tribute to Zanca’s father and celebration of life and joy in the face of adversity. It incorporates recordings of the music that Mircea Zanca played throughout his life, infusing this post-war chapter within vital, heartfelt strings, with infectious percussion building beneath.
ROMANI: The Untold Story is an impactful journey through emotive songs that tells the history and suffering of the Romani people during the Holocaust, inspired by Ion Zanca's visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, during which he discovered a harrowing chapter of his own heritage. A poignant modern classical release, which had debuted at #1 on the Billboard classical albums and #3 for classical crossover albums, ROMANI: The Untold Story highlights an overlooked tragedy in history with its rich compositions.
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