Sokolovsky gypsy choir

The Sokolovsky gypsy choir (Russian "Соколовский хор") was founded by Count Orlov-Chesmensky in the 1770s who called on Ivan Sokolov, leader of the gypsies among his serfs, to perform at his estate outside Moscow. The gypsy-serfs were granted their freedom in 1807, and Sokolov became the first in a dynasty of gypsy 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. Many staples of the Russian traditional "romans" song have gypsy origins.