Panna Cinka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Panna C(z)inka or Panna Cinková (1711(?), Sajógömör (now Gemer, Kingdom of Hungary (now Slovakia) -1772) was a famous Romani violinist. C(z)inka Panna is her name in Hungary and Panna Cinková in Slovakia.
Cinka was born in Sajógömör (now Gemer), in modern-day Slovakia, to a Romani family of musicians. She studied music in Rozsnyó and married a Romani musician-blacksmith. Legends claim that she played violin at the age of 9.
After 1725 Cinka formed a music band with her husband and brothers-in-law. She designed a uniform of sorts for the band. She became famous for her skill with a violin. She played first violin in this ensemble. The band toured abroad and was invited to perform in noble houses. She also gave birth to 4 sons and one daughter.
Cinka Panna died in 1772 and was buried on February 5 in Gemer. Her grave has not survived but future poets gave her an epithet "The Gypsy sappho".
Her father and brothers are said to be the authors of the Rákóczi March etc. Many Hungarian writers and composers - such as Mór Jókai, Zoltán Kodály, and Endre Dózsa - adopted her as the character of their works.
 |
This Hungarian biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This article on a musician who plays a bowed-string instrument is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This Roma-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
