Music of Bulgaria
Part of a series on |
Bulgarians Българи |
---|
Culture |
By country |
Subgroups |
Religion |
Language |
Other |
The music of Bulgaria refers to all forms of music associated with the country of Bulgaria, including classical, folk, popular music, and other forms.
Classical music, opera, and ballet are represented by composers
The
Instruments
Bulgarian music uses a wide range of instruments. Some folk instruments are variants of traditional Asian instruments such as the "
Bulgarian folk bands, called bitovi, use instruments that commonly include
- The sleigh bells or tambourineand big daire.
- The strandja regions of Bulgaria keyboard instruments was bayan and the concertina
- The bagpipe. There are two common types of gaida. The Thracian gaida is tuned either in D or in A. The Rhodopean gaida, called the kaba gaida, is larger, has a much deeper sound and is tuned in F.
- The kaval, an end-blown flute is very close to the Turkish kaval, as well as the Arabic "Ney."
- The stringed instrument perhaps descended from the rebec, held vertically, with melody and sympathetic strings. The bass gadulka has largely been replaced by the double bass (called in Bulgarian a contrabas).
- The tǔpan, a large drum worn over the shoulder by the player and hit with a beater ("kiyak") on one side and a thin stick ("osier") on the other.
- The Tamburicafamily's "alto" instrument, the brac.
- The Tarambuka" (Тарамбука).
Modern professional musicians soon reached new heights of innovation in using traditional Bulgarian instruments, by expanding the capacities of the gaida (Kostadin Varimezov and Nikola Atanasov Plamen Deyanski), gadulka (Mihail Marinov, Atanas Vulchev Ganka, Zhechko tenev) and kaval (Stoyan Chobanov, Nikola Ganchev, Stoyan Velichkov, Nedyalko Nedyalkov, Theodosii Spassov. Other instruments arrived in Bulgaria in the 19th century, including the accordion and the clarinet. Bulgarian accordion music was defined by Boris Karlov and later Roma musicians including Kosta Kolev and Ibro Lolov ,Boshko.
In 1965, the Ministry of Culture founded the Koprivshtitsa National Music Festival, which has become an important event in showcasing Bulgarian music, singing and dance. It is held once every five years, and the last festival was 7–9 August 2015.
Instruments used in wedding music include violin,
.Folk
Regional styles abound in Bulgaria.
Some folk music revolves around holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, midsummer, and the Feast of
Singing has always been a tradition for both men and women. Songs were often sung by women at work parties such as the sedenka (often attended by young men and women in search of partners to court), betrothal ceremonies, and just for fun. Women also had an extensive repertoire of songs that they sang while working in the fields.
Young women eligible for marriage played a particularly important role at the
Bulgarian folk music is known for its asymmetrical rhythms (defined by the famous Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist Béla Bartók as "Bulgarian rhythms"), where meter is split into uneven combinations of short (two metric units) and long (three metric units) beats, corresponding to the dancers' short and long steps. In European folk music, such asymmetrical rhythms are commonly used in Bulgaria, Greece, elsewhere in the Balkans, and less commonly in Norway and Sweden.
The most important state-supported folk ensemble of the socialist era was the Sofia-based
The distinctive sounds of women's choirs in Bulgarian folk music come from their unique rhythms, harmony and vocal production. Characteristic polyphony, such as the use of close intervals like the major second and the singing of a drone accompaniment underneath the melody, are especially common in songs from the Shope region around the Bulgarian capital Sofia and the Pirin region (Bulgarian Macedonia). In addition to the ensemble led by Koutev, who adapted and arranged many of the harmonies, and composed several songs (as did his wife, Maria Kouteva) that were also performed by other groups, other women's vocal groups gained popularity, including Trio Bulgarka, consisting of Yanka Rupkina, Eva Georgieva, and Stoyanka Boneva. Some of these groups were included in the "Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices" tours.
Trio Bulgarka were featured on The Sensual World album by Kate Bush on the songs "Deeper Understanding", "Never Be Mine", and "Rocket's Tail".[6] In 1993 they appeared on another Kate Bush album, The Red Shoes, in the songs "You're the One", "The Song of Solomon", and "Why Should I Love You?", which also featured Prince.
Asymmetric meters
One of the most distinctive features of Bulgarian folk music is the complexity of its rhythms in comparison to Western music. Although it uses Western meters such as 2
4, 3
4, and 4
4, Bulgarian music also includes meters with odd numbers of beats per measure, sometimes called asymmetric meters. These can be understood as combinations of groups of "quick" and "slow" beats. For example, the dance lesnoto ("the light/easy one") has a meter of seven beats with emphasis on the first, fourth, and sixth. This can be divided into three groups, a "slow" unit of three beats and two "quick" units of two beats, often written 3+2+2.
Each basic folk dance type uses a distinct combination of these rhythmic "units".
Some examples of Bulgarian folk dances are rachenitsa (seven beats divided: 2+2+3), paydushko horo (five beats: 2+3), eleno mome (seven beats: 2+2+1+2), kopanitsa (eleven beats: 2+2+3+2+2), Bucimis (15 beats: 2+2+2+2+3+2+2), and pravo horo, which can either be standard 4
4 or 6
8.
Some rhythms with the same number of beats can be divided in different ways. Eight-beat rhythms can be divided 2+3+3, 3+2+3, 3+3+2, 2+2+2+2, 2+2+4, 2+4+2, 4+2+2 or 4+4.
Select discography
- Music of Bulgaria – Original 1955 Recording (Nonesuch 9 72011). Early recordings of Philip Koutev and the Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic. This was one of Frank Zappa's favorite albums, and Bulgarian harmonies reportedly influenced the harmonies of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.[7]
- 4AD RecordsCAD603CD in the UK). Featuring the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Choir. This is the world hit that introduced many to Bulgarian music. It is actually a collection of recordings by various artists and groups. A group that included some of these singers (and others) toured under this name.
- Village Music of Bulgaria – (Elektra/Nonesuch 9 79195). Two albums of field recordings by Martin Koenig on one CD (.
- A song from the Rhodope Mountains, "Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin" by Valya Balkanska – Part of the Voyager Golden Record selection of music, included in the two Voyager spacecraft launched in 1977.*Balkana The Music of Bulgaria – (Hannibal HNCD 1335). Many of the songs are by Trio Bulgarka or one of its members.
- The Forest is Crying (Lament for Indje Voivoda) – (Hannibal HNCD 1342). By the Trio Bulgarka.
- Two Girls Started to Sing ... Bulgarian Village Singing – (Rounder CD 1055). Field recordings.
- Bulgarian Soul – Bulgarian operatic mezzo Vesselina Kasarova sings Bulgarian folk songs with the Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria. Songs are arranged by the Bulgarian composer Krassimir Kyurkchiyski and accompanied by the Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra.
Select artists and groups
- Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir (Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares)
- Cosmic voices from Bulgaria
- Trio Bulgarka, Yanka Rupkina
- Valkana Stoyanova
- Valya Balkanska
- Stefka Sabotinova
- Nikolina Chakardakova
- Neli Andreeva
- Nedialka Keranova
- Diko Iliev – compose Danube horo and other
- Filip Kutev
- Iliya Argirov
- Bulgare ensemble
- Daniel Spassov
- Svetoglas
- Neshka Robeva's spectacles
- Kostadin Gugov
- London Bulgarian Choir
- Kitka – based in Berkeley, California
- Nadka Karadjova
- Vulkana Stoyanova
- The Grannies From Bistritsa
- Oratnitza – contemporary band with folk influences
- Outhentic – contemporary ethno-jazz band
- Iliya Lukov
- Elitsa & Stoyan– contemporary electronic/folk duo
- Filip Kutev ensemble
Orthodox
The tradition of church singing in Bulgaria is more than a thousand years old, and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. One of the earliest known musical figures (composer, singer and musical reformer) of
In the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, there are two traditions of church singing:
- Eastern Polyphonic). The Eastern monodic singing observes the tradition of Greek and Byzantine music and the requirements of the eight-tones canon of the Eastern Orthodox chanting.
- The second tradition is rooted in choral church music, established during the 19th century, when Russian choral church music began to have an influence in Bulgaria. During the 19th and 20th century, many Bulgarian composers created their works in the spirit of Russian polyphony. Today, Orthodox music is alive and is performed both during church worship services and at concerts by secular choirs and soloists.
The following list shows contemporary Bulgarian choirs and singers that have a repertoire rooted in orthodox music:
- St. Alexandar Nevsky Cathedral Choir
- "Madrigal" Chamber Choir
- Sofia Boys' Choir
- Sofia Orthodox Choir
- Svetoglas
- Sofia Priest Choir
- Yoan Kukuzel Choir
- Opera singer Boris Hristov
- Opera singer Nikola Ghuzelev
Classical
- Alexandra Fol
- Alexandrina Pendachanska
- Mihail Angelov
- Liudmil Angelov
- Anatoli Krastev
- Anna Tomowa-Sintow
- Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean
- Ari Leschnikoff – actual name Asparuh Leschnikoff
- Boris Christoff
- Dobri Hristov
- Dobrin Petkov
- Dobrinka Tabakova
- Emil Tabakov
- Emil Tchakarov
- Georgi Tutev
- Ghena Dimitrova
- Gheorghi Arnaoudov
- Hristo Tsanoff
- Konstantin Iliev
- Mariana Paunova
- Milen Nachev
- Nayden Todorov
- Neva Krysteva
- Nicola Ghiuzelev
- Nicolai Ghiaurov
- Pancho Vladigerov
- Petko Dimitrov
- Raina Kabaivanska
- Ralitsa Tcholakova
- Rossen Milanov
- Svetla Protich
- Veneta Vicheva
- Vesselina Kasarova
- New Symphony Orchestra
Popular
Some of the most popular artists include:
- Lili Ivanova
- Emil Dimitrov
- Vasil Naydenov
- Bogdana Karadocheva
- Pasha Hristova
- Mariya Neikova
- Lea Dimitrova
- Desi Dobreva
- Yordanka Hristova
- Margarita Hranova
- RitonDuet
- Todor Kolev
- Tonika
- Rositsa Kirilova
- Silvia Katsarova
- Stenli
- Veselin Marinov
- Diana Ekspress
- Grafa
- Karizma
- Miro
- Maria Ilieva
- Irina Florin
- Mariana Popova
- Mihaela Fileva
- Poli Genova
- Ruth Koleva
- Svetla Ivanova
- Mary Boys Band
- Rushi Vidinliev
- Shturcite
- FSB (band)
- Bo Bo Bo (band), Boris Godjunov, Borislav Grancharov and Boyan Ivanov, pop vocal trio
- Ice Cream (band)
- Stefan Valdobrev
Chalga
This subgenre is rather a mixture of
During the Communist era, some folk musicians lived outside the state-supported music scene. Without official support, wedding bands were also without official limitations on their music, leading to fusions with foreign styles and instruments.
Select artists
Jazz
Electronic
Rap
Rock, metal and new wave
- Ahat
- Akaga
- Georgi Minchev
- Signal
- FSB (Formatsia Studio Balkanton)
- Shturcite
- Hipodil
- Milena Slavova
- Balkandji
- Bandaracite
- Barabi Blues Band
- B.F.H.
- BTR
- D-2
- Epizod
- Grimaze
- Monolith
- Nova Generacia
- Obraten Efekt
- Ostava
- Analgin
- Kontrol
- Kukeri
- Poduene Blues Band
- Srebyrnite grivni
- Tangra
- Wickeda
- Impulse
- Faktor
- Odd Crew
- Review
Punk and funk
- Novi Tsvetya ("New Flowers")
- D.D.T.
- Sub Zero Farm
- Viperfish
- The Scroletics
- Brothers in Blood
- U.Z.Z.U.
- Akaga
Reggae
See also
References
- ^ "The 2011/2012 season of the National Opera and Ballet House". Bulgarian National Radio. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ "Obituary: Ghena Dimitrova". The Telegraph. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ Forbes, Elizabeth (29 June 1993). "Obituary: Boris Christoff". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ Kozinn, Allan (29 June 1993). "Boris Christoff, Bass, Dies at 79; Esteemed for His Boris Godunov". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ "32nd Grammy Awards Winners". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ Kate Bush and Trio Bulgarka interview. YouTube.com (11 March 1989). Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-8021-4215-3.
Further reading
- Burton, Kim. "The Mystery Voice". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 36–45. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
- Forsyth, Martha (1996). Listen, Daughter and Remember Well...: The Songs and Life of Línka Gékova Gérgova from the Village of Bístritsa. Sofia: St. Kliment Ohridski University Press. ISBN 954-07-0765-X.
- Rice, Timothy (1994) May It Fill Your Soul: Experiencing Bulgarian Music
- Vollan, Ståle Tvete. "Bulgarsk folkemusikk — musikktradisjon og feltarbeid". 1999. Trondheim, Norway. Master Thesis in Musicology + 1 CD, NTNU More info.