Filip Kutev Ansambul – Izpandûlneniya na dandûrzhavniya ansambandûl za narodni pesni i tantsi

Ryaka teche
Mesechinko lyo, greylivka
Dimcho lyo, gaydardzhiyche le
Dena sliza ot goritsa
Velina bulya dumashe
Mûri Toyne le, Todorke
Vido, Vido, byala Vido

Yankinata pesen
Shto si, goro, povyahnala
Garmatiche-tiche
Shto mi si se razcûrdilo
Kermenska rûchenitsa
Hranila mama, gledala
Yana i Brayko zhûtva zhûnat
Zalyubih si komshiycheto

Filip Kutev was born on June 13th, 1903, in Aytos, a small town in the region of Thrace, wherein are co-existing the traditions of the past and the new tendencies, a taste for folk creativeness and aspirations towards contemporary art in general. The surroundings of Filip Kutev's native place having been far from lavish towards its citizens and the limited possibilities they have been offering them for a decent livelyhood have taught them to appreciate the true value of bread and the real sense of human life. Being constantly in touchy with the young and inspired circles of his fellow citizens and acquainted, as he has been with the Bulgarian folk creativeness (which he continued studying theoretically and in practice during his numerous travels throughout the whole country), Filip Kutev became aware of the fact that there were scarcely any possibilities for him to have his own aspirations converted into fact on this spot. Having graduated the incomplete high school in his native town, he worked there for a certain time, but left thereafter for Sofia. Working there too and studying simultaneously music, he graduated the Government Secondary School of music, as well as the Government Conservatory of Music. He has been studying in addition composition under Prof. Assen Dimitrov. While a student, he already wrote his first compositions: "Symphonic Scherzo" and the ballad "The Monastery's Wood Clapper is Beating," as per a text of the famous Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov. His appointment as a bandmaster in Burgas offered him the possibility to be also busy as a conductor of the Burgas symphonic orchestra. He settled, however, later on again in Sofia.

He has composed pieces for a symphonic orchestra: "Balkan Rhapsody," "Sakar Balkan Suite," "Symphonic Poem Guerman," "Pastorale" for a flute and orchestra, etc., Dances for a Symphonic Orchestra," "Symphony Dedicated to the Youth," etc.; pieces for soloists, choir and orchestra: "Cantata The 9th of September," "Lazarska Suita," suites for single voices and orchestra; chamber pieces for cello, violin, flute, etc.; the music for the films "Under the Yoke," "Uneasy Travel," "Hitûr Petûr" for an orchestra of folk instruments, the main part of the music for the film "The Heros of Shipka"; songs for a homogeneous or a mixed choir, a great part of these compositions representing elaborations of folk songs, e.g.: "Do Get Up, Mother, and Unhang," "Two Snakes are Wriggling," "Well, Well Sweet tempered Girlie," "The Cuckoo Has Begun Cuckooing," etc.

Familiarized and an enthusiast of the Bulgarian folk music, Filip Kutev is outlining the aspect of his all-round creativeness, notable for its emphasized Bulgarian language.

This development has especially been manifested since 1951, when he has been entrusted with the organization and direction of the State Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances on the basis of performances in a folk style. With a view to the establishment of this ensemble's repertoire, Filip Kutev has elaborated hundreds of songs, being in this connection on the search not only of a reliable Bulgarian sound, but also of the harmonic possibilities lending themselves to an elaboration out of the various folklore regions in Bulgaria and the various song groups. This is namely how Filip Kutev is arriving at most original and very persuasive creative and artistic perceptions. He is composing not only songs, but also complex polyphonic works for a female choir, yielding themselves for a performance as per the folk manner of singing, as well as songs for chamber groups (trios, quartets, sextets), songs too for a choir and an orchestra, etc. Many international acknowledgements and high appreciations have ben expressed in connection with the songs: "Todora is Reclining," "Dragana and the Nightingale," "Do Tell, Tell Angyo," "Vydo, Vydo," "A Bird Fluttered," "Do Have Your Dinner, Rado," "Are you a tulip or a Hyacinth," "Dimyaninka," "Do Swing, You Done," "You, Moonshine," etc. He is also composing the music for a new type of orchestra, composed of folk instruments, as well as the music in connection with big musical dancing pieces, as for instance: "Thracian Wedding," "Thracian Suite," "Rally in the Sofia District," "Yeravna Dances," "Rhodope Mountain Girlie," "Trifon Zarezan," "Insurged Bulgarians," etc.

Philip Kutev is a Hero of Socialist Labor, a National Artist, has been decorated with the Order "Georgi Dimitrov" and has, besides, been awarded many other decorations.

The present recording is published on the occasion of his 70th birthday.