Search - Anthology of Traditional Songs & Dances from Bulga :: Anthology of Traditional Songs & Dances from Bulga

I own this. Lucky me! =)

Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 12/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one heck of a collection. If all the Bulgarian music you've heard so far has revolved around Yuri Yunakov or the Bulgarian Women's Choir (they are both great! not slamming them), you're in for a real treat if you buy this disc. This has more variety (of styles, instruments, performers) than any other single disc of Bulgarian musics I own. Here is a quickie list of instruments... dvoyanka, kaval, pishtyalki (the flutes), gayda (the family of bagpipes traditional to Bulgaria), tambura (lute), tarambuka, tupan (drums), and rebec (a vertical fiddle... sort of the kamancheh or ghichak of Bulgaria... kinda)... as well as groups of female singers and groups of male singers.



There are many things I could say here, but one of the most important things I have to mention is that Track #13 is one of my 2 favorite bagpipe performances ever (at least that I have heard so far, obviously). The other being a track on the Northumberland Rant disc. Wow Wow Wow! That sums up all my thoughts on Track 13.



In form I would have to say that the rebec is more along the lines of the vertical fiddles found all over Asia, but in tone it is much closer to the sound favored by Hungarian fiddlers. It doesn't have that throaty, ethereal moan of the kamancheh, ghichak, etc...



Some of the women singers here... my goodness. I love groups of Bulgarian female vocalists, and this still branches out away from the Bulgarian Women's Choir style, so don't be afraid that you'll just be repeating something you already own.



This disc is really everything you could want in a one-stop-shopping package of Bulgarian music. It is all traditional... no keyboards and pop songs. Various regions, ages, instruments and styles are all represented wonderfully and the quality of the recording is very good as well. Whether just starting out, or adding to a collection, this disc is completely worthy of your time and attention.



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