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Traditional Folk Danse Horo | Bulgarian, Folk, Ritual
Bulgarian dances are an integral part of the culture and traditions in Bulgaria. They are closely linked to the country's music and each event is inevitably accompanied by traditional Bulgarian dances. Bulgarian folk dances are known for their fast rhythms and cheerfulness but also for their sensitivity and soul.
Gaïda, Bulgarian Bagpipes
The gaïda is a bagpipe originating from Eastern Europe and more precisely from the Rhodope mountains.
This wind instrument is one of the most distinctive symbols of Bulgarian folk music.
The gaïda is composed on the basis of a chanter, a drone and a pocket.
Inserted in an inside-out goatskin, there are:
the melody pipe with 8 holes
the drone composed of three pieces of wood (almond or apricot tree) inserted one after the other, 70 cm long.
the jester, with a bore either straight or conical, in olive wood, bone or reed, 15 cm long.
There are often decorative bone rings (or lead or silver appliques) that surround the drone to prevent cracking.
The pocket is traditionally made of goatskin.
The name Gaïda comes from Aegida, the goat in ancient Greek, the drones and the reed being mounted on the location of the animal's legs and neck.
The waterproof bag (pocket) constitutes one of the particularities of the instrument which then allows continuous and powerful playing, thus allowing the musician to free himself from breathing.
The volume of air then allows the ringer to sing while playing.
He divides his song into verses, in order to be able to blow into the bagpipes and between each verse he introduces an instrumental interlude.
This instrument is played standing up, with the drone resting on the shoulder or stuck on the arm; very rarely is it left hanging.
The gaida accompanies Bulgarian dances and is played at weddings, celebrations and traditional festivals.
As the Balkans say: “A wedding without bagpipes is like a funeral.”
Interest in kaba gaïda is increasing and it is recognized on the ethno-jazz scene and constitutes a good instrument for early childhood development and stress management.
The national importance of the gaida is further highlighted by the Bulgarian music “Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin” chosen to travel in the Voyager gold disc which includes the sounds and images selected to represent the diversity of life and of culture on Earth.
In addition, the Bulgarian Kostandin Atanassov is the undisputed master of the gaida, and has won numerous prestigious awards in Bulgaria and abroad.
Since 2000, he has been a soloist in the music orchestra of the “Filip Kutev” ensemble, with whom he has made numerous recordings.
Finally, 333 Bulgarian kaba gaïda participants currently hold the Guinness World Record for the largest bagpipe ensemble.
The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices
Bulgarian music has its origins in the culture and traditions of the Balkans where the numerous influences of the different Byzantine, Slavic and Ottoman civilizations that crossed the country combine.
The traditional gaida instrument attests to a very ancient presence and cultural exchanges of the Thracians with other worlds, such as the Celtic world.
The traditional music of Bulgaria is very varied and differs according to regions and times of the year during the different Festivals and Traditions.
It is sung by both men and women during any event to be celebrated together (weddings, friendly meetings, dances, funerals, etc.) and music has always held a very important place in the daily life of Bulgarians.
This music was made famous recently thanks to the success achieved by the Mystère des Voix Bulgares under the direction of musician Filip Koutev, a typical female choir, excelling in vocal harmonies.
These polyphonic songs (dvouglas) owe their specificity to their syncopated rhythms and the use of a particular musical interval of the major second causing crosstalk and to the vibrato (tresene) of the main singer.
Let yourself be enchanted by the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices of crystalline and angelic purity!
Voyager 1 Interstellar record
“Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin” (Cosmic voyageur song) – Bulgaria – Song by Valya Balkanska
This Bulgarian music “Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin” by Valya Balkanska was sent into space with other information including our position in the solar system, our gender and many other things and among all this, this magnificent Bulgarian song .
The Voyager Golden Record is a disk on board the two Voyager space probes, launched in 1977.
This is an “interstellar sea bottle”.
NASA asked Carl Sagan to create a message for an extraterrestrial civilization that could find it.
The Probes contain sounds of nature, the best music from planet Earth, photos of its inhabitants and our planet, as well as geographical and historical information including the Bulgarian song “Iziel je Delyo Hagdutin” performed by Valya Balkanska.
Frank Drake (who was part of Carl Sagan's team during the creation of the message on the record) suggested a phonograph record for its durability, and according to calculations, if the record was well protected, it could last millions of years. years in interstellar space.
The Disc was made of copper and covered in gold due to the technical requirements to be able to make its journey with the Voyager probes.
Here is an extract from President Carter's official statement placed on June 16, 1977 on the Voyager probes
“We will broadcast this message throughout the cosmos among the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way, a few of which – perhaps more – may be home to inhabited planets and space-traveling civilizations.
If such a civilization intercepts Voyager and can understand the contents recorded on the disk, this is our message: We are trying to survive our times, so that we can live in yours.
We hope one day, having solved the problems we face, to join a community of galactic civilizations.
This record represents our hope, our determination and our good will in a vast and impressive universe.
Valya Balkanska
Valya Mladenova Balkanska (Bulgarian: Валя Младенова Балканска) (born January 8, 1942) is a singer of Bulgarian folk music from the Rhodope Mountains. The famous singer Valya Balkanska is one of Bulgaria's greatest treasures. Its name is equivalent to “The Bulgarian Voice in Space”.
Traditional Bulgarian Costumes And Embroideries
National costumes
The Bulgarian national costume is a complex whole, made up of several pieces which cannot be dissociated, they complement each other, interfere with each other, each giving its meaning to the other.
History and Archives
The Bulgarian national costume has always been a powerful weapon in the struggle and upholding the national spirit during periods of domination.
And wearing the costume was a mark of attachment to the nation and to Bulgarian Culture and History, particularly during the period of Ottoman domination from the 15th to the 20th century.
Folk costume took on its full value at the time of the National Awakening and the Bulgarian Renaissance, which allowed the Bulgarian people to free themselves from the Ottoman yoke.
National costumes
The Bulgarian national costume is a complex whole, made up of several pieces which cannot be dissociated, they complement each other, interfere with each other, each giving its meaning to the other.
Every piece is interrelated, including jewelry, adornments, headpieces, and even the way one wears one's hair.
They all have a function, a reason for belonging and a symbolism.
In the past, when Bulgarians gathered to communicate in markets and village fairs or on the occasion of Traditions and Festivals, it was the costume of women and men that indicated the social and family condition.
And the different elements of the woman or girl indicated whether she was of marriageable age, whether she was engaged, newlywed or widowed.
The women's belts had tassels that the virgin wore on the left and the married woman on the right.
There are four main varieties of Bulgarian national women's costume
– the costume with an apron
– the double apron costume
– the saya costume
– the soukman costume
Men's costumes are divided according to region
– White suits
– Black suits
National costumes are of great beauty and diversity which can be explained by the difference in climatic regions and the influences they undergo.
Traditional embroidery
They carry numerous decorations, fabric applications or refined and rhythmic embroidery, each having a meaning.
The headdress consists of a white towel folded in half diagonally, placed on the forehead and generally tied with coins or flowers.
To complete the costume, wear knitted wool socks with a white background and colored patterns.
Festival of Folk Costume in Zheravna
Discover an event that took place every year in Jeravna.
This is the Festival of Folk Costume. A large annual gathering dedicated to national costume takes place there.
It is an event where Bulgarians come together for a whole weekend to honor the traditional costumes of Bulgaria during a big celebration dedicated to sharing and traditions.
And celebrated with traditional dances.
“Folk costume festival” is an annual event held in the village of Zheravna. This is a large gathering where Bulgarians come together and honor traditional Bulgarian costumes. The first edition took place in 2008 and over the years, the event has seen growing interest.
The main requirement for participants is to put on a Bulgarian national costume in order to fully integrate into the atmosphere of the celebration.
Clothing can be authentic or theatrical, created or rented for the occasion.
During the festival, participants have fun, sing, play, dance, drink and eat as it was in their great-grandparents' time many years ago.
Because the authentic atmosphere has contributed to the fact that there are only mainly used tools and accessories as they existed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries – wooden spoons and ceramic bowls, traditional rugs. or goat hair to sit on. Indeed, during the festival the rule is that cell phones, cameras, camcorders, modern handbags for men and women, sunglasses, etc. are not allowed. are not authorized.
It is a great festival dedicated to sharing and traditions and of course celebrated with traditional collective dances.
For the enjoyment of participants, professional and amateur folk music groups and singers are invited who perform songs and dances from different folk regions of Bulgaria.
There are also reconstructions of real pehlivanski fights, Mummer and Masquerade games, mystical Nestinarstvo fire dances, ancient games and customs, a presentation of old crafts.
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