The Red Hot Chilli Pipers from Scotland will grab the attention of the Bulgarian audiences on 11 May with a concert, giving the start to the International Salon of Arts Festival, organized by the National Palace of Culture in Sofia. Their name is a play on the name of the famous American rock band and this in itself shows up the sense of humour of the band of pipers, formed in Scotland in 2002. Besides bagpipes it also consists of guitarists and keyboards. For some months the “hot Scottish pipers” have been in contact with their Bulgarian colleagues and have been invited to take part in two concerts – of famed folk singer from the Rhodopes Valya Balkanska with her stage partner kaba gaida (or low pitched bagpipe) player Petar Yanev and the folklore formation Orphichus. The musicians from Orphichus have prepared several solo performances and have learnt pieces from the repertoire of the Scottish musicians and are now looking forward to a dazzling show.

As we learn from Petar Yanev, he and Valya Balkanska have already performed together with Scottish bagpipes at a royal event in Great Britain some years ago - Valya Balkanska’s voice and Petar Yanev’s kaba gaida sounded together with the royal military band of the Queen’s guards. What does the programme of the Bulgarian musicians on May 11 feature? Petar Yanev:

“What we want to do is bring two cultures in contact – the Scottish bagpipe in combination with the Rhodope style singing and the kaba gaida. The media have been harping on that there will be some kind of clash – nothing of the sort. It is my deep conviction that this instrument, in all of its varieties has one root. I think we should look for it in the lands of our ancestors – the Thracians. I am sure the bagpipe was born of their tradition and was then spread across Europe. Good music is the result of “togetherness”. With us are the bagpipe players from Orphichus, members of which are the famed “100 kaba gaida players”. The youngest of them is 14, the oldest – 84. We shall be taking part with one or two of their pieces. For them we have prepared My Forest, You Are Lovely – a song that is very popular in this country and is not difficult for performers who are not Bulgarian. We have inherited a huge variety of irregular meters, incredible melodies, built on modes typical of Europe and of the East. We should be proud of having the most diverse folklore in the world.”

“We are sized up by our traditions – as a nation and history,” says on her part singer Valya Balkanska. “That is why I perform nothing but authentic folk songs. I have already had this kind of experience and I know what Scottish bagpipes sound like. It would now be interesting to hear what the result will be when they play together with authentic kaba gaida bagpipes. I shall not alter my songs – the Rhodope Mountain has made the traditions that have come down to us immortal. We invite all fans of Bulgarian folklore to come to the concert so we can enjoy the music together.”

English version: Milena Daynova