Sokolovsky gypsy choir explained

The Sokolovsky gypsy choir (Russian "Соколовский хор") was founded by Count Orlov-Chesmensky in the 1770s who called on Ivan Sokolov, leader of the Roma among his serfs, to perform at his estate outside Moscow.^[1] The enslaved Roma people were granted their freedom in 1807, and Sokolov became the first in a dynasty of Roma choir leaders. The choir performed at the prestigious Yar restaurant in Moscow ("Соколовский хор у Яра"). When his descendant Grigory Sokolov died leadership passed to Nikolai Shishkin.^[2]

Leaders of the choir

• Ivan Trofimovich Sokolov (Иван Трофимович Соколов 1740s-1807) patriarch and founder of the choir.
• Ilya Sokolov (Илья Соколов)
• Grigory Sokolov
• Nikolai Shishkin

Notes and References

1. Rosamund Bartlett - 2010 "The first Russian gypsy choir was formed in the 1770s by Count Orlov-Chesmensky, who brought together some of his gypsyserfs from the family of Ivan Sokolov ..
2. http://arkasha-severnij.narod.ru/sokolovskaja_gitara.html ЛЕГЕНДА О СОКОЛОВСКОЙ ГИТАРЕ (старинная цыганская легенда)