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Hristofor Radanov and the Folk Music Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio

Photo: Архив
In this feature we bring you Hristofor Radanov and the Orchestra for Folk Music at the Bulgarian National Radio.

You have just heard Elenino horo (or Elena’s chain ance) composed by Hristofor Radanov. A prominent clarinet player, conductor and composer, he recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his joint work with the Folk Music Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio

Bulgarian musician Hristofor Radanov is the author of some of the best modern arrangements of authentic Bulgarian folklore. Carefully combining authentic rhythms and melodies with modern techniques, he has enriched the treasury of Bulgarian folk music. After twenty years of joint work, Hristofor Radanov knows the skills and abilities of his orchestra musicians to the slightest detail. He succeeded Kosta Kolev, a distinguished composer and researcher of Bulgarian folklore, at the position of chief conductor of the Folk Music at the Bulgarian National Radio and brought a modern sound to this renowned group.

Listen next to another performance of the orchestra – a Shopsko chain dance composed by Rossen Genkov who is also the soloist on the rebec, arrangement by Hristofor Radanov.

This chain dance was performed at the concert entitled 20 Years Together that drew friends and colleagues of Hristofor Radanov at one venue to mark his professional anniversary. Other soloists performing works of Radanov were Peyo rebec player Peev, bagpipe player Petio Kostadinov, and Nedlyalko Nedlyalkov and Kostadin Genchev who play the shepherd’s flute. Special guests were folk singers Dinka Rousseva, Lyubomir Petov, etc. 

One of the most beautiful arrangements of Hristofor Radanov at his recent anniversary concert was performed by Daniel Spasov - a lawyer and TV host who is addicted to Bulgarian folk music. Listen next to Daniel Spasov performing the song Oh You White Danube.

Some of Hristofor Radanov’s best arrangements of authentic Bulgarian folk songs and dances are actually the result of his attempts at humor and cross-genre fusion, such as his compositions Humoreska, Folk Rock, and Dobrudja Jazz Racheniza. Here is one of them next – the humorous composition Humoreska, offering a blend of traditional folk music and modern elements.

Hristofor Radanov has dedidated more than 40 years of his life to folk music, conducting the recordings of nearly 2,000 folk songs and dances that are now part of the archives of the Bulgarian National Radio. He has also composed children’s jazz, and chamber works. In this edition of TOM on Radio Bulgaria, we tried to bring you some of his best arrangements of Bulgarian folklore.

Translated by: Rossitsa Petcova
По публикацията работи: Valya Bozhilova


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