Karaim Music Map

This is the first full album of Karaim music, ever, apparently. The Karaim are a diasporic community of contentious origin, but usually Jewish religion, residing across Eastern Europe and the Baltic and who form the smallest ethnic minority in Poland, numbering perhaps fewer than 200 there. Karolina Cicha is a polyglot Polish musician described as ‘a specialist in discovering the sonic and textural richness of minority cultures’ and has created this contemporary interpretation of songs with the cooperation of the Association of Polish Karaites.

The essential elements of the music here do seem to reflect the story of the Karaim people: there are definite similarities with klezmer and many identifiably Crimean influences. Although, given that the Karaim musicians are not featured on this part of the project, it is difficult to know what ingredients come from them, and what Cicha has brought to the table. Karaim musicians sing a cappella on the connected, but mysteriously separate, second volume. Perhaps a straight collaboration between Cicha and some Karaim musicians would have been clearer. As it is, it’s a little hard to tell who has agency here and the otherwise excellent-sounding album suffers as a result.