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Folk music from different regions of Bulgaria


In this music edition we offer you a selection of Bulgarian folk music from different parts of the country. Dances of Northern Bulgaria are quick and frisky, such as the one from the village of Osenets, Northeast Bulgaria, in the rendition of a group of traditional instruments. Simon Leunbach, a Danish shepherd’s flute player, a student of master Stoyan Velichkov said years ago: “Our folk music is specific, very rich in melodies and rhythms. No one knows so many irregular beats that are both a difficulty, but a subject of interest as well. That is why in Denmark students learn Bulgarian rhythms as a phenomenon in the music world.”

The Shopp folklore region of Middle Western Bulgaria has many faces. They sing there both on one voice and on two voices, with different character and temp. The folklore of the Tran border area bears all marks of the region, but also its own melody and language specifics.

The Stranzdha folk gathering at the village of Gramatikovo in 1960 set the start of a movement of folklore fairs and singing / playing contests. We next visit Strandzha, a beautiful mountain and a region in Southeastern Bulgaria.

The Rhodope Mountain tender love songs are magnificent and the lyrics of the next one set a rule: those, who are in love, should get married. However, two mothers – enemies of the young ones gathered, tackled, talked and… finally said the boy and the girl were actually relatives.

Documents point out that the clarinet entered this country’s music world back in the 19th century. His greater capacity pushed aside the traditional Bulgarian instruments in many settlements. Orchestras were formed with European instruments that opened a new music page here in the middle of the 20th century.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev




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