The new recordings recently produced by the Bulgarian National Radio include a few authentic songs from Southwestern Bulgaria. The singers sing in amateur folk groups. Today we bring you a selection of songs from the villages of Dobarsko and Bania, not far from the towns of Bansko and Razlog.

The Dobarsko Grannies group sang Oi le Yano, Bela Yano. The songs of the group are based on diaphony, a primitive form of harmony quite typical of this region. The small village is located at the foot of Mount Rila but is also close to Mount Pirin as well. It has long history dating back to 3-4 c. AD. A Roman furnace for bricks and tiles from that period has been found in the village. Its key attraction though is the Sts. Theodore Tyron and Theodore Stratelates Church, a monument of culture under protection from UNESCO. It was built in 1614 by noble and affluent locals. Back at that time Bulgaria was under Ottoman rule and Christian churches had to be small-sized so as not to stand out among houses. The church exterior is quite simple, and it has neither a dome nor a bell tower. However the frescos covering its walls are extraordinarily beautiful. The natural scenery is breathtaking too, as well as traditional costumes. Most of the singers have inherited traditional costumes from their mothers and grandmothers. They take part in all regional and national festivals and community holidays.

The village of Bania is 5 km away from the mountain resort town of Bansko and from Razlog. It is in the middle of the Valley of Razlog surrounded by three mountains - Pirin, Rila and the Rhodopes. The traditional instrument for the region is the mandolin. We present today the 15-year-old Lusiana Guberova and Elina Georgieva with accompaniment on mandolin by Boris Manolev. More Aresah si Edno Mome.

Lusiana Guberova and Elina Georgieva are members of the children's mandolin group Detelina in the village of Bania. Nine-year-old Magdalena Guberova together with Boris Manolov has also made recordings for the Bulgarian National Radio.

On the first Sunday of July Bania hosts the annual Festival of My Village. By tradition the program includes folk ensembles from the country and abroad. We end this presentation with a song performed by Anna Changulova, Yana Dobreva and Emilia Udova from the women's folk music group in the village of Bania.

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio file: folk songs from Dobarsko and Bania villages

1. Oi le Yano, Bela Yano, Dobarsko Grannies Group

2. More oi le zvezdo, Dobarsko Grannies Group

3. Mori Aresah si Edno Mome, Lusiana Guberova and Elina Georgieva with Boris Manolev (mandolin)

4. Katerino Mome, Magdalena Guberova with Boris Manolov (mandolin)

5. Mori, Pokachi se, Anna Changulova, Yana Dobreva and Emilia Udova, women's folk music group (Bania)