Ivan Vandûlev – izbrani pesni, izpandûlnyava Severnyashkiyat ansambandûl za narodni pesni i tantsi, Pleven

Performed by the Severnyashki Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances – Pleven

Tûkala li si, momina male (Have you been weaving for your maiden daughter, mother)
Nishna se zvezda (A star has fallen)
Pile slavey (Nightingale bird)
Radka si platno tûcheshe (Radka was weaving a cloth)
Poshli sa momi za tsveke (Maidens went to pick flowers)
Prekloni sa, bulne le (Bow down, young bride)
Oy Rositse, oy trevitse (Oh Rositsa, you young sprout of grass)
Pesen za Bûlgariya (Song of Bulgaria - text by Evtim Evtimov)

Prochula se Neranza (Neranza has made a fair name for herself)
Pohvalila se hubava Donka (Beautiful Donka bragged)
Tri miniatyuri po svatbeni pesni (3 miniatures after wedding songs)
Konya vodya (I'm leading a horse)
Zhenish me, mamo (You give me in wedding, mother)
Az sûm momche gurbetchiyche (I'm a laddie working abroad

In your hands you are holding the first release of the eminent choral conductor, composer, and expert of Bulgarian folk music, Ivan Vulev -- Chief Artistic Director of the Severnyashki Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances, Pleven. For about a quarter of a century now he has been composing songs and making arrangements for folk choir that can be heard all over Bulgaria. Who has not heard his solemn, patriotic, and affectionate "Song about Bulgaria," the lyrical, exciting, and elaborately moulded by the famous Severnyashki Choir "Tukala li si, momina male", or the charming simplicity and sincerity of "Prochula se Neranza?" These songs are jewels and classics in the genre.

Ivan Vulev was born in the town of Lukovit in 1928. In 1952 he graduated from the Academy of Music in Sofia and returned to his hometown where he worked as music pedagogue and conductor. A few years later he became the artistic director of the Severnyashki Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances, an amateur group at the time which was later to become professional. For a short period of time he managed to bring forth the ensemble to a higher professional level and based its repertoire on the Moesian folklore which he became thoroughly acquainted with as no other musician in Bulgaria ever has. The folk music of the Northern part of Bulgaria has become the mother tongue of the composer and each of his works carries the whiff of his homeland.

In the collection of Vulev's songs presented here we have the opportunity to enjoy not only the composer's skilful resources but his fine work as conductor as well. The Severnyashki folk choir has frequently performed with great mastership some of the most trying and highly artistic songs of Bulgarian composers at the folk concerts within the New Bulgarian Music Review organised by the Union of Bulgarian composers. Each appearance of the choir at folk concerts has always been a rewarding experience for the listeners, due to Vulev's splendid conducting.

The songs included in the present album are only a small part of the rich creativity of the composer. There is no Bulgarian amateur or professional folk choir which does not include songs by Vulev in its repertoire. They are all heart-born, sincere and affectionate. Amateurs do not accidentally select Ivan Vulev's songs for their repertoire. These songs have been created for one particular purpose – to warm up the hearts of both performers and listeners, to revive the old folk songs even though they are presented in a new and modern way.

Ivan Vulev has achieved his artistic maturity. We will be looking forward to his future collections of songs from the sunny Moesia region, which has preserved the old native culture. – Prof. Dr. Nikolay Kaufman

Recordings from Balkanton sound collection