The music in Ethnofantasia 2014 is by authors of different generations. The lynchpin here is the sense of freedom in their choice of forms of expression with an emphasis on Bulgarian rhythms.

Famous saxophone player Dimitar Lyolev is a soloist of the Bulgarian National Radio Big Band. “For the album of my own compositions I chose the title Rhodopology as a token of my love of folklore music and jazz from the Rhodopes region. My own music is a symbiosis of the two, a blend of both styles. Whatever words I may use to describe it, there is one thing that matters to me most – that I deeply believe in this music.”

The Cosmic Voices have traveled the world, warming the hearts of their many fans. In July 2014 the choir turned 20. “We decided to dedicate all of the choir events throughout the year to this anniversary,” says Vanya Moneva, Cosmic Voices founder and conductor. Not long ago the singers took part in the studio recordings and stage presentation of Milcho Leviev’s new project – A Journey to Two Worlds - the choir performs folk pieces as interpreted by the renowned jazz pianist and composer. This is a music adventure that the BNR Big Band is also part of.

Dimitar Bodurov is a jazz pianist, holder of prestigious awards in the Netherlands where he has been living ever since he graduated the Rotterdam Conservatory. Although he spends most of his time away from Bulgaria, his compositions invariably evince a powerful bond with traditional Bulgarian culture.

Bulgarian National Radio Folk Music Orchestra soloist involved in numerous international projects, Nedyalko Nedyalkov is a foremost kaval (shepherd’s flute) player. In 2014 he released an album called I Want to Say.

Puppet theatre stage director and singer Stefka Miteva lives in Paris. There she set up two formations that perform Bulgarian-style music. At the end of November her trio Wild Roses presented their new album. “Roses are the symbol of Bulgaria, that is the reason why I chose to call the project Wild Roses. People in France often call the Balkans wild, though not in the sense of unruly or uncivilized. They may be wild, but that is because people in the Balkans love their freedom so much and have such vital and creative energy!” says Stefka. The other members of Wild Roses are: Darko Andjelkovic, guitar and Ivan Jelenkovic, bass guitar and percussion.

The very mention of Martin Lyubenov’s name usually evokes superlatives. An accordion virtuoso, he is also the author of original music with Roma rhythms. The new album recorded by the Martin Lyubenov Orchestra continues this tradition. Having graduated in Bulgaria, Chicago and Vienna, Martin Lyubenov has been living in the capital of Austria for years – there he is very popular as a musician and his music is in great demand. He comes to Sofia often, composes music for Bulgarian movies and plays and travels around Europe with his music groups. “I love the incredible sense of jubilation that Roma music creates,” says Martin.

The audio file features the following pieces:

-  Rhodopology,  Dimitar Lyolev, saxophone, Anthony Donchev, piano, Boris Taslev, double bass and Borislav Petrov, percussion;

-  Necklace, from Milcho Leviev’s latest project A Journey to Two Worlds;

-  Donka, performed by Dimitar Bodurov Trio;

-  I Want to Say, Nedyalko Nedyalkov, shepherd’s flute;

-  Katerina, My Lass, performed by the Wild Roses;

-  Sauerkraut, Martin Lyubenov.

English Milena Daynova