A concert at the Union of Bulgarian Composers in Sofia will mark on Tuesday evening the 90^th birth anniversary of the celebrated Bulgarian composer and public figure Professor Alexander Tanev (1928-1996). Young Bulgarian instrumentalists will perform some of his chamber pieces at the concert. The Children’s Philharmonic Choir conducted by Slavil Dimitrov will perform songs written by the renowned Bulgarian composer.

Professor Alexander Tanev wrote a series of brilliant pieces in different genres-three oratorios, five cantatas, two concerts for piano and orchestra, chamber pieces, theatre music as well as children’s songs which are a favorite part of the music repertoire of many choirs in Bulgaria and abroad. He left an unforgettable mark on the lives of his students, colleagues and associates through his public activity. His son Professor Todor Tanev is a Bulgarian political scientist, sociologist and politician. Here is what Todor Tanev told Radio Bulgaria:

I can proudly say that my father was Bulgarian above all. He was born in Budapest (Hungary), but he grew up in the town of Haskovo (Southeast Bulgaria). He graduated from a high school in the town of Kardzhali. He loved to say that these two Bulgarian towns were situated on the big road connecting London and Kolkata. My father combined brilliantly the vitality of the East with the advanced nature of the West.

Alexander Tanev was among the founders of many Bulgarian music forums (the International Choir Competition Professor G. Dimitrov in Varna, Nedyalka Simeonova Musical Days in Haskovo, Golden Diana Festival in Yambol, Kitna Trakia Pee Festival, the Festival of Danube Choirs, etc) and worked actively for their development and popularization. He was among the initiators and organizers of the Review of New Bulgarian Music at the Union of Bulgarian Composers. Professor Alexander Tanev is a laureate of a series of creative and national awards.

He believed that the choir was the greatest instrument, his son Professor Todor Tanev went on to say. The Bulgarian choirs won many awards at various national and international competitions with Alexander Tanev’s choral songs. These songs are based on poetry about Bulgaria. He loved to show the Bulgarian traditions to the world through his pieces. He was a composer, but above all my father was a social person who used the music to fill people with enthusiasm. He initiated local song competitions and music festivals in all parts of the country. He did that, because he wanted to make people feel part of one big family. Professor Alexander Tanev was interested in literature and politics. My father is perhaps the only Bulgarian cultural activist who visited the grave of Konrad Adenauer- an emblematic figure for the whole EU and the person who helped Germany recover from the greatest catastrophe. Alexander Tanev was influenced by several composers-Wagner, Taneyev and Prokofiev above all. His music was also influenced by his Bulgarian friends Pancho Vladigerov and Lyuben Vladigerov.

The concert in the Union of Bulgarian Composers on October 23 is free of charge. The touring exhibition Alexander Tanev-Spirit and Words which is part of the celebrations of his 90^th birth anniversary will be on display at the lobby in front of the concert hall until October 29.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: private library