Букя Ябукя Родила—Стари песни от село Драгиново
Authentic Bulgarian Folk Songs
1997: GEGA NEW GD 113
“Folk songs from the Western Rhodopes” is the English title inside the booklet, “Authentic Bulgarian Folk Songs” being intended to catch the more casual browser’s eye, I suppose. Specifically the songs are from the village of Draginovo and were recorded in November 1994; the liner notes also mention that “this is the first in a series of recordings entitled BALKAN BLUES. It has been made possible by the generous support of the Open Society—Club Velingrad, Bulgaria.”
The booklet also notes that the cover shows “traditional bridal make-up, Draginovo, Bulgaria,” in case you were wondering (as I was) what on earth was going on there. It certainly appears to be a mix of rustic and sophisticated, resulting in something between Byzantium and Klimt.
Incidentally, regardless of the cover photo this album’s recordings are of a male trio. If you’re looking for a Bulgarian women’s choir recordings, as I was, move along and give this a miss. If however you want to hear rather rustic and virtually identical recordings of two or three Bulgarian men singing and playing instruments in ultra-folkloric fashion, this is your disc.
Comments © 2012 Mark Ellis Walker, except as noted, and no claim is made to the images and quoted lyrics.