The group for authentic folklore in the village of Alino, western Bulgaria, has for decades been keeping alive ancient folk songs from this part of the country. The group’s leader is Momchil Chalakov, a young and energetic man who grew up in Alino. Since early childhood he has been fascinated with the incredible antiphonal singing technique of the women from the village, a skill passed down from generation to generation. This is a distinct style of two-voice singing performed by two groups of female singers – one of the groups sings and the other group replies. 

Local folk music though is more than that. As a child,  Momchil was impressed by the tune of a simple shepherd’s whistle called pishtialka. This whistle and its unexpected capacity inspire the young man to devote a lot of time and effort to studying folk music traditions in Alino. His grandmother, her sisters and the whole extended family are famous local folk singers. He recorded them singing and he later taught their songs to the folk choir he leads. Its repertoire boasts in excess of 200 Alino songs.