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Academic Folk Choir of the
Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance Arts

Musicians:
Prof. Vasilka Spasova - Direction, chief conductor
Kostadin Bouraddjiev - conductor
Hristina Vuleva - choirmaster
Radka Stefanova - choirmaster

Label - Gega New, Bulgaria
Released 2004

Extract from CD notes.
"ACADEMIC FOLK CHOIR of the Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance Arts was founded in 1980. In a relatively short period of time this ensemble has enjoyed brilliant achievements. With its extraordinarily high artistic level, it merits comparison, in terms of both technical and musical possibilities, with professional choirs, and performs songs composed in the folk idiom, easily overcoming vocal-technical, textural and interpretational challenges.

The choir possesses a wide range of repertoire, encompassing national songs of different regions of Bulgaria to multi-voiced arrangements and original compositions, built on avant-garde expressive means (including chance and sonoric elements), old Slavonic sacred chants, and more. Many works have been written especially for the Academic Folk Choir by composers such as Ivan Spassov ("Marinko, moe doshtero", "Vido, Vido", "Hortsa-pripevki of Pirina", "Hubava Mavruda"), Nikolai Stoikov ("Mari, nazlun vakla Tudoro," two madrigals "Razbolyala se Dragana" and "Malka moma dvori mete"), Assen Diamandiev ("Ivan Kalinka dumashe"), Kiril Stefanov ("Da sum studna voda"), and Peter Krumov (two Eastern Balkan songs: "Na Lazar," "Na sryata"), and the ensemble has given their first performances. With these works the Academic Folk Choir has been at the forefront of the "new folklore wave" among Bulgarian composers, a phenomenon characterized by folk intonations, asymmetrical rhythms and an enrichment of musical folklore with contemporary expressive means and a highly professional approach to interpretation...

The reviews of music critics abroad attest to the unforgettable impressions that the choir's unique singing style and musical art have made, opening up "a new world of the mystery of Bulgarian voices," bringing into being "that which transcends our idea of the Bulgarian folk song," moving audiences "with beauty, precision, artistic freedom and stable intonation". The brilliant successes of the Academic Folk Choir at the largest European festival, Europalia, reflected both in the opinions of foreign music specialists and in the enthusiastic audience reception at these events, are a source of special pride for Bulgarian culture.
Prof. Vassilka SPASSOVA

GBP 8.97

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Academic Folk Choir of the
Plovdiv Academy of Music and Dance Arts

This symbol  indicates an mp3 sound clip for that track. Click on the symbol and wait for the clip to start. For more information click here. Tracks

1. Mehmetyo, My Love (7'12") 2. Ivan Told Kalinka (1'29") 3. Last Night I Went out, Mother (4'32") 4. Elena Has Left Me (2'56") 5. Three Nightingales Are Singing (3'53") 6. Yanka's Brother (3'20") 7. A Birdie Is Singing (2'39") 8. The Sun Sets (3'45") 9. The Litle Maiden Sweeps the Yard (2'37") 10. Winter Pastorale (3'35") 11. Summer Pastorale (3'55") 12. Song-improvisation (5'03") 13. The Forest Is Putting forth Leaves (4'52") 14. Marinka, My Dauther (4'38") 15. Rada ran away (2'56") 16. Pretty Mavruda (6'56")

Duration (64'18")

Our mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long and of low(ish) quality for a fast download (file size app 300KB)