Working Bee songs

published on 11/12/10 12:08 PM

Photo: Архив

Working Bee songs

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We bring you today a selection of folk songs traditionally performed at sedyank, the Bulgarian word for working bee gatherings in the past. What was the so-called “sedyanka” and what was its place in the traditional Bulgarian lifestyle in the past – stay with us in the coming twenty minutes to find out.

First performance today is of Bulgarian folk singer Lyuben Zahariev, with the lyrics of the his song going like this: “Last night, young lads and girls gathered at the sedyanka near the gates, but I could not go and see my first love because my mother forbade me to”.

Until some fifty years ago, the folk custom known as “sedyanka” was commonly practiced in every day life, especially in villages. In late autumn, after people had gathered the harvest and all fieldwork was over, the time of this poetic custom arrived. The official pretext for organizing a “sedyanka”, or what would now be an evening gathering or a party, was to do handwork, but the unspoken reason was to have a venue where young lads and girls could meet, talk to each other, and engage in romance. The girls used to weave, knit, and sew, but they did this while singing and having fun. The “sedyanka” gathering and the round dance at the village square were the best opportunities for young people to meet and communicate. Lads used to bring musical instruments, play and sing.

We offer you next another song sung at sedyankas, performed by Bulgarian female folk singer Snezhana Vitanova.

In the warm evenings, young people used to gather outdoors near the burning fire. Suddenly, you could hear the powerful voice of a girl soaring above all the hustle and bustle, and this was the sign that the party had started.

Songs performed at sedyanka gatherings are numerous in Bulgarian folk music and form a special group. They paint a vivid picture of the customs in the past and tell exciting stories of love. There were special songs performed at the beginning and the end of the parties, which is seen in their titles.

Listen next to a song usually performed when the party was just starting. This is a song from the repertoire of folk singer Vasilka Ivanova.

On Radio Bulgaria, you are still with TOM.

Next, we offer you two songs usually performed at the end of sedyanka gatherings, the first is performed by Dinka Rousseva and Stambolka Genadieva.

Today, sedyanka gatherings are still practiced in some towns and villages, but there are no young people any more, only old women wishing to recall their pleasant memories from the past. Still, many young folk singers have included such songs in their repertoire, just like 20-year-old sisters Iva and Eva Valentinovs, whose performances have been recorded by the Bulgarian National Radio.

The songs performed ат sedyanka gatherings have found a rebirth in the arrangements of contemporary Bulgarian composers who have made these songs world famous in the rendition of prominent Bulgarian choirs.

At the end of today’s program, we offer you choral arrangements of folk songs of the sedyanka type.

You have just heard a performance of Bulgarka Junior Quartet.

And last on the program today, the world famous Bulgarian choir, the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices choir, with the song Sedenkarska.

Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova

По публикацията работи: Valya Bozhilova

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Working Bee songs

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