The renowned Bulgarian music pedagogue, musician and composer Professor Dobri Paliev is among the most significant figures in Bulgaria’s music history. On April 22 a big concert dedicated to his 90^th birth anniversary will be held in Bulgaria Hall in Sofia. The concert programme includes Dobri Paliev’s pieces as well as pieces for symphony orchestra. Some of them will be performed for the first time. Professor Dobri Paliev is the first Bulgarian xylophone and vibraphone performer. He is the founder of the Bulgarian percussion school which enjoys vast international acknowledgement. He paved the way for solo and chamber music with percussion instruments. Some of his pieces were released in France and Germany. Dobri Paliev was born on April 20, 1928 in the town of Pernik (Southwest Bulgaria). In the beginning he played on accordion and later learned to play trumpet. He moved with his family to the town of Shumen (Northeast Bulgaria) and founded the Ambitious’ Jazz Band. One day the percussionist of the band was absent and Dobri Paliev had to replace him on the drums. Thus, he found his vocation in music. As a student at the National Academy of Music, Dobri Paliev worked at the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Later, he joined the National Music Theatre. He was part of the Tinko Stanchev Trio for decades and had many concert activities with it.

Everything I had to learn during my years of studies I learned from Dobri Paliev, the celebrated Bulgarian musician, composer and lecturer Professor Hristo Yotsov says. Professor Paliev was my only music teacher from the time I joined the National School of Music until I graduated from the National Academy of Music. He taught us big lessons, not only about music and our profession, but also about life as a whole. He was extremely well-intentioned person and showed fatherly concern, warmth and personal approach to each of us. I constantly remember him and comment with my students aspects of my work with Professor Paliev. Our connection with Professor Paliev is still very stron, although he passed away twenty years ago. His teaching methods will perhaps always remain at the base of the education with classical percussion instruments. It is part of the curriculum of many countries, including Bulgaria. Professor Paliev was an extremely vital person with youthful spirit. Music filled him with energy. Music keeps us alive, reactive and curious.

Many renowned Bulgarian musicians studied in the classes of Professor Paliev- Stoyan Yankoulov-Stundzhi, Asen Avramov, Rumen Boyadzhiev, Hilda Kazasyan, the musicians from Bulgaria’s first percussion group Polyrhythmia (founded by Professor Paliev himself)- Emil Handzhiev, Boris Dinev, his two daughters Maria P alieva and Iskra Palieva, Antonin Bržecka, Rumiana Mihailova, as well as many Bulgarian musicians who lecture percussions nowadays.

I became pupil of Professor Dobri Paliev in the 1970’s and later was his student at the National Academy of Music, Maria Mindova who has been lecturing for 43 years told Radio Bulgaria. I and my colleagues practice his methods of education. In the beginning, Professor Paliev was self-educated which gave him the opportunity to create his own music methods. The music instruments invented by Professor Paliev are also a Bulgarian patent. Dobri Paliev was a magnetic personality. He was a big erudite and a cheerful man. Professor Paliev showed democratic attitude toward everyone. He passed us down his huge love of music and the music instruments. He never spoke of his roots, but he could not hide his aristocratic origin. His mother was a Czech countess. She lived to a ripe old age. We met her often at their home. She used to attend his concerts as well. Professor Dobri Paliev was also an author of a unique survey dedicated to the Bulgarian church bells, clappers and sheep bells. He travelled across Bulgaria and visited many churches and monasteries. Later, he told incredible stories. Dobri Paliev participated at the casting of the bells placed at the Flag of Peace Monument in Sofia. The contacts with his rich culture and mentality left a deep mark in me.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov