Jasmina Jivkova's repertoire includes folk songs from different musical districts - Varna region, Thrace, Strandzha. This is common among young artists who complete their education in specialized schools. Unlike their predecessors, they did not inherit these songs "straight from the source”, or in other words - from the natural environment of the patriarchal way of life, habits and customs, preserved in Bulgaria until the first decades of the 20th century. Today, folk musicians start their singing path just as all their colleagues from other genres. Often they might have even serious classical music education. Jasmine is one of them. Without exaggeration, we can say that she is among the talented representatives of the youngest generation in Bulgarian folk music.
Jasmina Jivkova is the winner of numerous national competitions. Her first important distinction is the third place at the International Competition for pop and rock performers "Small Stars" (in her hometown of Varna). Since 2008 she has been soloist of Devnya ensemble and since 2012 - of Folklore Sparles Ensemble based in Varna. During her studies at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv she has been soloist of the Academic Folk Choir. A few months ago the young singer also has her name included in the music fund of the Bulgarian National Radio:
"The recordings I made for the Bulgarian National Radio are mostly of from the Varna region”, Jasmina Jivkova says. "Ivan na Stanka dumashe" is in the rhythm of buenek (a type of dance which is performed during Lent). This is an authentic song that I recorded from an elderly woman from the village of Pàdina. "Oi Yano, Janke" is from the repertoire of famous singer Sonia Kancheva. She gave it to me as a gift before she passed away and in her memory I decided to record it so it could be preserved for the next generations of performers. The song “Krai seloto, na megdana” (Near the village, at the square) is from the repertoire of Mariya Nedelcheva - also from Varna. Snoshti si minah "Last night I went to" is the only original song. The young singer Nikolai Gurbanov wrote it in the style of the Thracian folklore region. I have many other songs in my repertoire. I sing since I was five. I graduated the National School of Arts "Dobri Hristov" with folk singing with the famous folk singer Dafinka Damyanova. Then I continued my studies at the Music Academy in Plovdiv, specializing in Folk Choirs Conducting and Performing Arts. I hope someday to have the opportunity to lead a folklore ensemble. "
Currently Jasmina works outside Bulgaria. She told us she is dealing with something completely different than music, but it's only for a short while. Soon she intends to return to the performing arts. She believes it is possible to preserve the peculiarities of different folk styles, but first one needs to gain experience and knowledge.
English Rossitsa Petcova
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