Name Panna Cinka Died 1772 | Role Musical Artist | |
Similar People Janos Bihari, Jan Berky‑Mrenica, Budapest Gypsy Symphon, Bela Szakcsi Lakatos, Zoltan Kodaly | ||
Panna Cinka (Hungarian: Czinka Panna, Slovak: Panna Cinkova) (1711(?) – 1772) was a famous Hungarian-Romani violinist.
Cinka was born in Sajogomor, Hungary (modern-day Gemer, Slovakia) to a Romani family of musicians. Her father was a court musician of Francis II Rakoczi. Her father and brothers are said to be the authors of the Rakoczi March, etc.
She studied music in Rozsnyo (today Roznava) 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 four sons and one daughter. Her father and brothers are said to be the authors of the Rakoczi March among others.
Panna Cinka 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". Many Hungarian writers and composers—such as Mor Jokai, Zoltan Kodaly, and Endre Dozsa—adopted her as the character of their works.
She was portrayed by Anna Gurji in Dusan Rapos's biographical film Cinka Panna.
