Traditional Music of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Gypsy Music Arc Music Released: 2005-09-20 Audio CD List Price: $11.98* Lowest New Price: $8.50* Lowest Used Price: $31.41* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here

Together Again: Legends of Bulgarian Wedding Music Traditional Crossroads Released: 2005-08-23 Audio CD List Price: $19.99* Lowest New Price: $1.87* Lowest Used Price: $2.02* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here Album Description: The Historic reunion of the superstars of Bulgarian "wedding music," a kinetic, rhythm-bending cultural force that ricocheted across Southeastern Europe in the 1970's and 80's. Built upon virtuosic technique inventive improvisation, rapid tempos and daring key changes, "wedding music" is based in Balkan folk music and infused with a riveting mix of jazz and rock, gypsy, Turkish and Indian music, and pure testosterone. Ivo Papasov, Yuri Yunakov, Neshdo Nestev and Salif Ali together created and embodied this explosive sound, becoming national icons in the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Now, after a decade on separate continents, they've joined forces again, reinventing regional dances and melodies with their legendary breathtaking flair. They will be on a national tour beginning Oct 7 through November 20th, 2005.

Bulgarian Soul RCA Released: 2004-01-13 Audio CD List Price: $8.99* Lowest New Price: $4.99* Lowest Used Price: $1.64* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here Amazon.com: "Oh dear--an hour of Bulgarian folk songs," you may be saying to yourself faced with this program, but you can be sure that the diversity of the arrangements, and Kasarova's total involvement and beautiful, colorful mezzo-soprano, make it not only worthwhile but enchanting. Some of the songs are backed up by a chamber orchestra, some by piano, some are a cappella, some feature a chorus. This latter, a group of women's voices singing in typical Bulgarian fashion, takes some getting used to--it's not operatic singing at all, tending to be spicy and a bit harsh, but it's fascinating. And Kasarova (who also provides the program notes, which amount to a history of Bulgaria) sings with honesty and directness, whether in a touching, sweet song about missing one's homeland ("Give Me, Oh God, the Wings of a Swan"), or a strange song, nominally about planting pepper seedlings, but really an excuse to dance merrily, full of dissonances from the chorus ("Dilmano, Dilbero"), a lament by a girl too young to be pregnant ("Se ma yad, mamo"), and many more. The composer and folklorist Krassimir Kyurchiyski has arranged the songs (and written one of them, based on a folk melody). It's impossible to get bored listening to this; the combination of Kasarova's many vocal faces and the moods the songs take us through--and, of course, that odd, mesmerizing choral sound--keeps the attention level high. Try this, you'll like it--and Kasarova, as noted, brings the same musicality and richness to these songs as she does to her performances of music by Mozart, Massenet, and Rossini. --Robert Levine

Song Of The Crooked Dance: Early Bulgarian Traditional Music 1927-42 Yazoo Released: 1998-05-19 Audio CD List Price: $17.98* Lowest New Price: $9.42* Lowest Used Price: $8.94* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here Amazon.com: Spurred by the popular success of Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares (Nonesuch), there has been unprecedented interest by the Western world in the music of Bulgaria. But the renowned women's choir offers a mere fragment of the country's diverse musical heritage. Song of the Crooked Dance, a 23-track compilation of recordings from 1927 to 1942, presents a far more extensive and stunning overview of the Bulgarian traditions, the breadth of which may surprise most listeners. The impassioned ornamentation of 17-year-old singer Vulkana Stoyanova echoes the great vocalists of flamenco. Solos on gaida (bagpipe) and kaval (end-blown flute) recall the launeddas masters of Sardinia and Celtic pipers and flautists. Pieces showcasing trumpet and clarinet resound with klezmer's free-metered reel. Remarkably, it's as if Balkan folk music channels the crosscultural gitano flame of the entire European continent. --Sam Prestianni

Orthodox Chant KVZ Music Ltd. Released: 2007-06-13 Audio CD List Price: $29.98* Lowest New Price: $22.95* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here

Bulgarian Soul RCA Red Seal Released: 2003-01-01 Audio CD Lowest New Price: $27.72* Lowest Used Price: $2.49* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here Amazon.com: "Oh dear--an hour of Bulgarian folk songs," you may be saying to yourself faced with this program, but you can be sure that the diversity of the arrangements, and Kasarova's total involvement and beautiful, colorful mezzo-soprano, make it not only worthwhile but enchanting. Some of the songs are backed up by a chamber orchestra, some by piano, some are a cappella, some feature a chorus. This latter, a group of women's voices singing in typical Bulgarian fashion, takes some getting used to--it's not operatic singing at all, tending to be spicy and a bit harsh, but it's fascinating. And Kasarova (who also provides the program notes, which amount to a history of Bulgaria) sings with honesty and directness, whether in a touching, sweet song about missing one's homeland ("Give Me, Oh God, the Wings of a Swan"), or a strange song, nominally about planting pepper seedlings, but really an excuse to dance merrily, full of dissonances from the chorus ("Dilmano, Dilbero"), a lament by a girl too young to be pregnant ("Se ma yad, mamo"), and many more. The composer and folklorist Krassimir Kyurchiyski has arranged the songs (and written one of them, based on a folk melody). It's impossible to get bored listening to this; the combination of Kasarova's many vocal faces and the moods the songs take us through--and, of course, that odd, mesmerizing choral sound--keeps the attention level high. Try this, you'll like it--and Kasarova, as noted, brings the same musicality and richness to these songs as she does to her performances of music by Mozart, Massenet, and Rossini. --Robert Levine

Anthology of Traditional Songs and Dances from Bulgaria Arc Music Released: 2001-11-27 Audio CD List Price: $14.98* Lowest Used Price: $6.99* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here

The Forest Is Crying Hannibal Released: 2006-01-31 Audio CD List Price: $13.98* Lowest New Price: $8.98* Lowest Used Price: $5.99* Usually ships in 24 hours* *(As of 09:55 Pacific 10 Mar 2010 More Info) Click Here Album Description: On The Forest Is Crying, the female Bulgarian vocal trio known as The Trio Bulgarka is joined by a group of Bulgarian musicians performing 18 traditional folk songs. The vocal arrangements are emotional and powerful and the material displays great diversity and uncompromising integrity. The Trio Bulgarka count Kate Bush as a great admirer (she’s recently cited The Forest Is Crying as a favorite and featured the trio on her albums The Sensual World and The Red Shoes.) Produced by Joe Boyd (R.E.M., Fairport Convention), The Forest Is Crying has been out of print for years and is now available again on Hannibal Records.