Mariya Angelova, Asya Pincheva, and Vanya Dimitrova (Bulgarian Voices)

We are very pleased to welcome back singers Mariya Angelova (former Dimitrova), Asya Pincheva, and Vanya Dimitrova for our first virtual concert for this academic year (2021-2022). Programme: 0:18 Женала е дюлбер Яна (Zhenala e dyulber Yana) - The beautiful Yana has been harvesting. A folk song from the Thracian region (Southeast Bulgaria). Traditionally, this song was performed by a woman during the time when wheat harvest was collected from the fields. To appreciate its beauty one should imagine it sung under the scourging summer heat in the open space of a flat plane echoed by the distant hills. The use of the word ‘dyulber’ (in other songs gyulber) places its appearance in the Ottoman period. In the song a lovely maiden Yana is presenting harvesting at two roads and three highways, which suggests a liminal, transitory status of the young maiden into the womanhood: A passer-by asks her whether she has no brother to help her in harvesting, to which she suggestively responds that she has brothers, but has no lover. The song is in free time, without measure – (ad libitum). Arrangement by Mariya Angelova. 4:06 Снощи станах (Snoshti stanah) - I got up at night. A folk song from Dobrudzha region (Northeastern Bulgaria). The song has irregular meters 7/8, with the meter divided into combination of two short metric units (2 2 3). The Bulgarian traditional dance Rachenitsa is performed to this melody. The song presents a conversation between a young man and his mother. He was awaken at night by a nightmare: in his dream, he was about to meet his beloved at the village well, but instead of her a fairy (samodiva) came. The song was traditionally performed at village gatherings where young and old danced the Rachenitsa. Arrangement by Gancho Gavazov. 7:17 Рада мома (Rada moma) - Rada the lass. A folk song from Shopski Region (Central Western Bulgaria). The song has irregular meters 5/8, with the meter divided into combinations of one short metric unit and one long metric unit (2 3). The Bulgarian traditional dance Paydushko horo is performed to this rhythm. This humorous folk song is about a beautiful maiden Rada, known for her skills in spinning, sewing and knitting, occupied with the preparation of her dowry. The quick repetition of rhyming verbs contributes to the comic effect of the text, but requires special skills from the singer. Arrangement by Gancho Gavazov. 8:44 Прочула се Рада (Prochula se Rada) - Rada got famous. A folk song from the Thracian Region (Southeast Bulgaria). The song talks about a beautiful girl named Rada, whose fame as a singer outperforming a nightingale reached Tsarigrad (i.e. Constantinople, today’s Istanbul). A vibrant, multicultural city, Tsarigrad appears as a reference point underlining the importance of a person or an event in the traditional songs of many Balkan nations. Arrangement by Stoyan Gagov. 10:44 Брала мома ружа цвете (Brala moma ruzha tsvete) - A lass was picking hollyhock’s flower. A folk song from Rhodope Region. This slow polyphonic song (typical of the Rhodope traditional musical culture) presents a young maiden who falls asleep while picking the flowers of the hollyhock. A young man tries to awaken her by telling her that her flowers have faded and that her beloved has been engaged to another woman, but she responds that she will pick new flowers and forgive her beloved. Arrangement by Stefan Mutafchiev. 13:46 Ой Яно (Oy Yano) - Oh, Yano. A folk duet from Pazardzhik Region (Central Bulgaria). The song is about a beautiful girl, Yana, who is ill, but her mother gives her strength to recover. 15:50 Изгряло е ясно слънце (Izgryalo e yasno slantse) - A bright sun has risen. The song is performed as a part of Bulgarian folk ritual ’Lazaruvane’, a rite that takes place on Lazarus’ Saturday. It commemorates the Christian feast of the Resurrection of Lazarus by Christ, but it also preserves a much older, pre-Christian, tradition, of celebrating the spring and the rebirth of nature. During ’Lazaruvane’ young, unmarried girls, dressed in their most beautiful clothes and adorned with wreaths of flowers, visit all the houses in their village and sing a specific song to each member of the household, thus wishing all wealth and prosperity during the year. This particular song is performed to a young girl in the household, and a parallel is drawn between her and the coming spring. A traditional dance ’Buenek’ is performed to this music. Arrangement by Mariya Angelova. About the costumes: Vanya wears a traditional red costume from the Thracian Region (town of Yambol). Mariya (in the middle) wears a costume from the region of Strandzha Mountain of the Southeastern part of Bulgaria. Asya (on the right) wears a traditional costume from the Rhodope Region. Special thanks to our colleague Dr Adelina Angusheva-Tihanov in Modern Languages and Cultures who provided translations and information about the songs.