This work investigates how Romani musicians navigate the intersection of cultural politics, identity, and global migration through the lens of Balkan music. Carol Silverman, an expert in Balkan music and Romani culture, utilizes extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted over several decades. She examines how Romani performers adapt their musical traditions to fit Western expectations while simultaneously asserting their own cultural agency. The book argues that music serves as a critical site for negotiating social status, political representation, and the complexities of diaspora life.

Scholars in ethnomusicology and anthropology frequently cite this text as a definitive resource for understanding the complexities of Romani musical performance in the modern era. Readers often note the academic rigor of the prose and the depth of the author's long-term engagement with her subjects.