In 2004, we had to say our last farewell to prominent Bulgarian folk singer Kostadin Gougov who was a talented interpreter of songs from Pirin Macedonia. He was born on February 12, 1935. Let us now recall some of his unforgettable performances.
You have just heard the famous Macedonian folk song “Bilyana platno beleshe” (Maiden Bilyana at the Ochrid Lake) included in the remarkable collection of folk songs compiled by the Miladinovi Brothers back in the 19th century.
Kostadin Gougov was born in the same year in which the Bulgarian National Radio was founded – 1935, in the family of Macedonian refugees from the Kukush region (in Aegean Macedonia). His grandfather was a musician in the army orchestra and as a child he was always surrounded by music and singing. Here is what Kostadin Gougov said in an interview years ago: “I was lucky to grow up with the songs of my mother Yova Trapkova. She was singing everywhere, bringing joy in the house, and I was memorizing song after song…”.
His first teacher in singing was his relative Vangel Traickov who advised him to sing with ease and no tension. He gave him more songs to learn. Later, he filled his repertoire with songs from the entire ethnographic Macedonian region – from Aegean, Vardar, and Pirin Macedonia, that were all once within the borders of the Bulgarian state.
Let us now listen to Kostadin Gougov performing the Macedonian song “Dremka mi se dreme” (Sweet slumber):
In the 1950s, accordion player Stefan Demirev discovered the fascinating voice of Kostadin Gougov and the then 18-year-old young man appeared on stage. He toured the whole country as a member of a folk music ensemble and gave concerts in Bulgaria and abroad with the best musicians of the time (including Boris Karlov, Mita Stoicheva, Atanaska Todorova, Boris Mashalov). He used to be invited to make recordings at the Bulgarian National Radio, and a big part of his songs has been preserved on gramophone records and TV films. From 1992 onwards, Kostadin Gougov started recording with Stars Records company. The double album entitled “Bulgarian Eternal Songs” contains several of his performances. In 1999, Stars Records released his solo album with Macedonian folk songs. Many of the songs in that album were on historical subjects. Let us now hear a song from this album entitled “If I die or perish”:
Kostadin Gougov’s repertoire was also abundant in songs with humorous lyrics and a lot of his spell over the audience was due to his artistic skills on stage and his great sense of humour. Let us hear one of his humorous songs entitled “Me sakaya” (or I feel wanted):
Kostadin Gougov has often been called the most brilliant performer of Macedonian songs. He has made unforgettable performances of some of the most emblematic and loved Bulgarian folk songs, such as the one we offer you next entitled “Sbori mome, sbori dusho” (Come my girl, come my soulmate):
Kostadin Gougov will always stay in the hearts of Bulgarian music lovers as a singer with an enormous talent, exceptional sense of humour, unique repertoire and enthralling stage presence. He used to say: “To me, folk music is a source of joy and consolation. It has kept my soul young throughout the years. We cannot live without each other!”
Kostadin Gougov was a performer with many prizes and distinctions. His last live performance was at the New Year’s concert held on January 1, 2004, in Sofia.
Now let us enjoy a few more minutes with the magnificent voice of Kostadin Gougov.
We bring you one more of his performances, and this will be all in today’s Timeout for Music. Be with us next time to learn more about Bulgarian singers and musicians, and of course, to enjoy their music on the air on Radio Bulgaria.
Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova
