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Interview with Lyubimka Bisserov of
The Bisserov Sisters

Part One

March 2003

This year the Bisserov Sisters celebrate 25 years of singing together professionally. They have, of course, been singing much longer than this having been born in a part of the world that is stunningly rich in folk music and folk custom - the Pirin mountains. Their research and collection of folk songs is more a way of life rather than a subject of academic study. They are the living embodiment of folk culture from the mountain areas of Pirin.

Drawing on this rich source they have recorded numerous albums and toured the world both in their own right and as part of the larger Bulgarian Choirs that have marveled and enthralled people worldwide.

Lyubimka Bisserov has always been a major part of this musical family and she has graciously take the time to answer some question on her work and passion. 

March 2003

First part to concentrate on your family and early days. The second part to be more on your recent history, your CD releases, forth-coming tour and plans for the future.

Ian Morrison (IM) Can you first of all tell me something about the village where you and your family are originally from?

Lyubimka Bisserov (LB) We were originally from Pirin in the south west of Bulgaria. It is high 
(900m) in the mountains and still preserves a very traditional way of life to this day. The men chiefly work as foresters and the women and children tend livestock and a variety of crops including tobacco, potatoes and beans.

(IM) I read that you learned a lot of songs from you mother and her sisters (your aunts), can you tell me something about her and her life in folk music? Did she play an instrument, or was she accompanied by friends?

(LB) My grand mother and her five daughters were great singers especially during their work on the fields developing a full repertoire of traditional working songs. They performed in the village for every celebration, such as weddings and Saints days. They were always asked to sing during evening work parties with the other women when they would be spinning wool, knitting or embroidering their traditional costumes. My mother and her sisters sang and danced exclusively a cappella.


(2) The Bisserov Sisters - early days

(IM) From your youth what are your memories of the village folk music and dance, and customs?

(LB) I remember the songs my mother and her sisters sang each day before their work. Later, during the co-operative system, the women always worked together on the common land and I remember listening to their constant singing through the day and the 'walking' songs as they returned from the fields. Being the eldest daughter, I accompanied my father to all the village weddings and could see at first hand the remarkable variety of traditions observed; these I later wrote about in my book 'Traditional Weddings in the Village Pirin'. All these celebrations made a great impression on me and my sisters.

(IM) Apart form what you learnt form your immediate family and neighbours what did the official school system teach you about your folk culture?

(LB) When we were in school, my sisters and I each made our own little dance group with a lot of help from the teachers; they were very encouraging of our talent. For the school, the folk culture was a very important part of the curriculum and they were keen to observe all the traditional celebrations through the year; for example St Cyril and St Methodius day commemorating the founders of our cyrillic alphabet.

(IM) Can you describe any past memorable wedding or folk custom day that was particularly very traditional?

(LB) Yes, the most memorable was when there was a wedding in the village. On the Thursday night, a traditional decorated flag would be made by the women relatives; displayed on the East side of the groom's parents house. Early on the Friday morning before the wedding on the Sunday we would be awoken by one particular song entitled 'Mur Furlinko Devoiko' sung by every relation invited to the wedding; the party taking the flag from the house and parading to the centre, dancing and signing all the way. Because our family home was at the centre of the village, we always heard the procession coming! The party then return to the house and display the flag again on the East side for good fortune. Sunday morning, when the wedding starts, the groom's brother or near male relative takes the flag and leads the dance to the church. After the ceremony, the priest breaks the flag across his knee and gives the pieces to the groom's mother.

(IM) What was your and your sisters first academic training (if any) in folk music?

(LB) We were largely self taught, learning the techniques and repertoire from our mother and her sisters; very much an oral tradition. We were lucky to be with the Filip Koutev National Ensemble for 15 years where we learned the more technical aspects of performing.

(IM) You are said to have a repertoire of 500 songs, do you do actively do research to 'discover' new songs?

(LB) We have recorded over 500 songs, but our repertoire goes far beyond that number. I still collect new songs from the old women in remote villages and from various festivals throughout Bulgaria.

(IM) Politicians draw lines on maps making borders, but when you live in a village and the border is nearby how much cultural cross-over occurs, say between villages? I ask this as I know there has been much carving up of Macedonia and some surrounding areas and I am not sure if this has had an affect on the folk culture there.

(LB) During the time of Communism, every Spring, Summer and Autumn, there were special 'meeting' festivals between Macedonia and all Bulgaria. Hence, there was an inevitable cultural cross-over as a result of these meetings. Even today, performers from Macedonia still visit the Pirin area.

(IM) I know that you have been asked this many a time, but can you describe your style of folk singing?

(LB) My style is that of the 'open voice' with a particularly strong breath control and mastery of the indefinite pitched 'yelps' characteristic of Pirin.


(3) The Biserov Sisters

(IM) Can you describe some of the instruments you play, who makes them, and where they are from?

(LB) Lyubimka - Tarambuka or vase drum, often of ceramic, from Pirin region, made by master potters, skin from fish or a fine leather. Neda - Daire or large tambourine, locally made. Mitra - Tambura, long necked lute, fruit wood construction (apricot is the best), eight strings.

(IM) Invariably you perform on stage in full folk costume, where are these from and what are the typical parts of it?

(LB) Costumes, which are made by the women especially for St Lazar's Day, are entirely unique to Pirin village. No other villages in Bulgaria have their particular style of embroidery. The costume includes a long embroidered koshulya (under dress), an embroidered nagrubnik (bib), an embroidered saya (long jacket), a woollen tassled kulkove (broad belt), a woolen prestilka (apron), a silver pafti (ornamental belt), woolen charapi (socks), leather tsarvuli (shoes). Headress - chomber (coin adorned head piece) plus a highly ornate zabradka (head scarf). Large kopcheta (necklace) adorned with silver coins.


End of part one

Part two of this interview this way >> 

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