|
Bulgaria Music







Please note!
Most of our CDs have been imported from Europe or Asia. They are not all shrink-wrapped, and I am not going to con you by wrapping them here just to make you think they have been sterilized in America. I guarantee that the CDs and the contents are all brand new and in perfect condition. Whenever I can, I use recycled shipping materials. They may not look as pretty on the outside, but they save money and keep the trash dumps a little bit emptier.
Thanks- Cliff, cdRoots
|
Music from Bulgaria
Jazz, folk, roots and avant garde
 Farmers Market - Stian Carstensen $18.99 (cdRoots# wtr-farmers)
Norwegian, Bulgarian and Indian musicians find common ground in what they refer to as speed-Balkan-boogie.
 Opa Hey! - Kottarashky $18.99 (cdRoots# hm-atr2609)
Kottarashky is a 21st century digital master musician with his hands sunk deep in the past - vintage Balkan field recordings, classic jazz and blues, psychedelic sounds, club beats and extraordinary, archetypal Gypsy voices, guttural shouts and lyrical laments are all molded and thrown into new shapes. The songs of his debut album “Opa Hey!” sound like tales told by a people who have all the time in the world: time to contemplate, enjoy, engage and dream; to take pleasure in unexpected twists and turns; to be inspired by the details and vividness of marginal existence. Kottarashky is an architect by vocation, which perhaps explains the palpable sense of place in his music. Summer trips to small villages and the marginal regions of Bulgaria were key source of inspiration for the album, and his music samples a broad palette of sources and influences - enigmatic field recordings by artists unknown alongside Boris Kovac, Les Yeux Noir, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Jony Iliev and compelling Hungarian singer Mitsou. The resulting digital pick-and-mix hits you like a panoramic puzzle of sounds collected and put together from a night's walk through the streets of Sofia. It is an ethno-music born of a city lacking cultural identity that is torn between contemporary European globalism, Balkan provincialism and a living if largely forgotten folk tradition. It's a music inspired by that environment but also in reaction to it, a journey down roads less travelled, through the Bulgarian backwoods and back via the laptop to the 21st century. Listen!
 Night Train for Lovers and Thieves - Gypsy Groovz Orchestra $18.99 (cdRoots# hm-n495126)
At the invitation of Network records, many stars of the legendary Guca Festival got together for a special session. No sooner had they arrived in Guca, than they were all snowed in. For days there was no escape, but sufficient supplies of food and drink were on hand, so the music rolled on. With the assistance of Ekrem Sajdic, the leading authority and oldest band leader among the trumpet players of Guca, a magnificent cast of musicians was assembled featuring no less than seven orchestras. The centerpiece of the album is the 34-minute track "Hot Water Festival" wherein trumpets, tubas, clarinets and saxophones play totally free and exuberant solos to the ancient Roma melodies. The album is a unique document, with lots of photos and text by Guca festival producer Ilija Stankovic.
 Fly, Fly, My Sadness - Bulgarian Voices Angelite $18.99 (cdRoots# jaro-fly)
Back in stock: A joint venture with conductor Nikolai Merdjanow, Tuvan musicians and singers Huun-Huur-Tu, singer Sergey Starostin and Mikhail Alperin. Strange and powerful fusions of sound and culture.
 Dance of the Falcon - Ivo Papasov $18.99 (cdRoots# hm-wv450004)
Ivo Papasov is a master of the Balkan clarinet whose fiery concerts have been acclaimed throughout the world. The album features traditional themes of sex and death: songs sung at weddings; music summoned to pacify the spirits; music to dance to; music to drink to. Ivo takes these potent songs and reinvents them in his own image. Dance of the Falcon takes inspiration from themes close to Ivo’s heart. “I’ve been wanting to record these tunes for a long time. They’ve been in my mind for years and I didn’t even dare to think that one day I’d be able to record them… My performances here are modern interpretations. But it’s good to look back and to remember who we are, where we come from and to preserve this music for our children and for those who will come after us.” The album, featuring drummer and regular Papasov sideman Salif Ali, and introducing Bulgarian jazz pianist Vasil Parmakov, was recorded by Messechina Music on location in Bulgaria.
 Angels' Christmas - The Bulgarian Voices Angelite $17.99 (cdRoots# jaro-angelx)
The famous Bulgarian choir explores the Nativity as heard in Bulgaria and eastern Europe.
 Dom. No. 13 - Antoni Donchev $17.99 (cdRoots# km-donchev)
Composer-pianist Antoni Donchev has received many Bulgarian jazz awards over the last fifteen years and been featured at number of major jazz festivals. In addition to his work with his Acoustic Version, Donchev works in a number of other projects with musicians from all over Europe. Donchev is a model contemporary musician, easily and skilfully handling the broad variety of forms in performing and composing at the turn of the century. He has no difficulty whatever combining the versatility of jazz with folklore and classical music. Donchev is working with the music space. His compositions are like imaginary landscapes - chamber music atmospheres. He is looking for the space between the spaces - the microcosmos of sounds. The works heard here are from film and theater works he has composed, performed by a chamber orchestra, with poetry by Edvin Sugarev.
 Harmonies - Eva Quartet $temp out of stock (cdRoots# km-eva)
4 vocalists from the famous Les Mystere des Voix Bulgares ensemble present a mix of traditional folk songs and contemporary art music, all for voices alone.
 Ultramarine - Fairy Tale Trio $16.99 (cdRoots# km-fairy-ultra)
Unique folk insprired jazz from Bulgaria by a trio of Theodosii Spassov (kaval), Antoly Vapirov (sax) and Styoan Yankoulov (percussion, tupan) with Enver Izmailov on guitars on a few tracks
 A Distant Echo - Korova $16.99 (cdRoots# km-korova)
This vocal-tamboura quartet from Bulgaria play authentic folk music from the Rhodope mountains in Bulgaria, with energy and directness. Their performance is captured in their home town setting, without a fancy studio sound or production... you'll hear the listeners join in, you'll hear the trucks drive by.
 Mysteries - The Bulgarian Voices Angelite $18.99 (cdRoots# jaro-4153)
The classic 1989 recording that is responsible for breaking the Bulgaian choral style onto the world scene is now available again. The choir is accomanied on some number by the impressive ensemble Sarband.
 Speed Balkan Boogie - Farmers Market $18.99 (cdRoots# kkv-farmers-speed)
'Pepsodental speed-balkan-boogie with cowboy chords' is how the band describes this collection of songs. This is a live recording from the Molde International Jazz Festival in 1994, where the Norwegian band led by composer-accordionist Stian Carstensen was joined by four musician friends from Bulgaria including 2 members of the renowned Le mystere de voix Bulgares.
 Blowers From The Balkans: Classic Historic Recordings - various $19.99 (cdRoots# topic-928)
Classic Historic Recordings featuring clarinet, tárogató, nai, bagpipes, kaval - A remarkable collection of recordings from players of wind instruments from the countries that make up the Balkans: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania and the former Yugoslavia. The recordings were made from 1906 through the mid 1940s. All have been nicely re-mastered. The featured instruments include clarinets (and related reed instruments), panpipes, bagpipe and flutes with a variety of backings. Includes detailed notes from the compiler Risto Pekka Pennanen as well as historic photographs.
 folk music of Bulgaria (Topic 905) - Topic World Series $19.99 (cdRoots# topic-905)
Few countries can match Bulgaria for wealth and brilliance in folk music; ancient survivals abound, while new songs are made daily. Collected by A.L. Lloyd.
 Thracian Rhapsody: The New Wedding Music in Bulgaria - various $17.99 (cdRoots# labor-7019)
The music that has come to be known as 'Bulgarian wedding music' has always been a strange mix of odd bedfellows. Jazz, folk songs, popular and ancient dances all seem to be brought together in this music. The set features unique recordings (not release don other CDs) by big names and small: Ivo Papazov and singer Yildiz Ibrahimova, the Christo Yotsov Trio, led by drummer and percussionist Yotsov with Nedyalko Nedyalkov on kaval and Stoyan Yankulov on tupan, clarinetist Philip Simonov with the ensemble Tristenik, clarinetist Mladen Malakov and Bisery, with Aliyosha Shibelev (accordion) and Matiyo Dobrev (kaval), and a searing gaida solo by Alexander Raitchev finishes it all off. Originally released in 1999. Highly recommended.
 Fairground - Ivo Papasov $16.99 (cdRoots# km-fairground)
The 2003 model by the Bulgarian wedding music king of clarinet is all one would expect after ten years of music making. Deep roots, edgy jazz, warp speed virtuosity all come together in a mature, briliant vision of what contemporary Bulgarian roots should be. Bulgaria only release!
 Balkan Blues / Souffles de l'ame - Various Balkan artists $38.99 (cdRoots# hm-balkan)
Balkan Blues is a musical journey through seven different countries, tracing two aspects of the Balkan soul -- on the one hand, ballads that tell of pain and hope, and on the other hand the magical exuberance of the virtuoso performances that accompany joyous celebrations. This double CD clearly shows that the music of the Balkans knows no national or ethnic boundaries. With: Toni Iordache, Dumitru Farcas, Ion Petre Stoican, Bulgarian All Star Orchestra, Petro-Loukas Chalkias, Psarantonis, Loudovikos, Ferus Mustafov, Esma Redzepova,
 Gypsy Summer - Tales of Surviving - Various Artists $16.99 (cdRoots# km-summer)
Back in stock! Featuring Karandila Brass Band, this soundtrack from a film about Gypsy life by Milan Ognianov. Musicians and singers from the ages of 5 to 75 are captured on the streets and in their homes: fiddlers, cymbalom players, superb folk singers and and the roaring energy of the Karandila ensemble. Highly Recommended.
 Bear's Wedding - Bulgara $16.99 (cdRoots# km-bulgara)
A raw mix of Bulgarian 'wedding music,' jazz, rock and folk music performed with hyper-energy by seven great musicians on kaval, gayda (bagpipe), gadulka, tambourine, electric bass, drums and percussion.
 Thracian Rhapsody Volume 2: The Wedding - various $17.99 (cdRoots# labor-7028)
The second in this set of 2 excellent examples of the verve and nerve of Bulgarian wedding music features Yildiz Ibrahimova, Ivo Papasov, Ensemble Bisery with Mladen Malakov, Ensemble Shumen with Rossen Tchirpanov and The Christo Yotsov Trio. Recommended. Originally released in 2001.
 Voice of Strandja - Kalinka Zgurova $15.99 (cdRoots# gega-293)
Bulgarian Folk Songs'
 Gaida: Musical Instruments in Bulgaria - various artists $16.99 (cdRoots# gn-gaida)
 When the bees are gathering honey - Zig Zag Trio $16.99 (cdRoots# km-zigzag)
BACK IN STOCK! The Gypsy wedding music of Bulgaria has been made famous by the likes of Yunakov and Papasov, but this ensemble is every bit their equal as they thunder through Gypsy music, crazy jazz and wild improvisations on accordion, tupan, percussion and guitar. Highly Recommended!
 Music Fra Hybridene - Farmers Market $18.99 (cdRoots# kkv-farmers-hybridene)
'Musikk fra Hybridene (Music from the Hybrid Islands) has the greatest comedy to music ratio of any album I've heard released by seriously talented musicians. This second CD manages to play off of all aspects of culture, including those the listener might be way too familiar with and is a wonderful start for the more general music listener. However, just as many contemporary Bulgarian traditional orchestras and wedding bands have added synthesizer to smooth out the inherent jaggedness (Pepsodental toothiness?) of the Bulgarian sound, FM's older CD's have taken frequent humorous detours poking fun at Bulgarian, Scandi, Western pop, even jazz musical culture...' - Don Weeda, RootsWorld
 Together again - Yunakov, Papazov, Ali and Neshev $16.99 (cdRoots# tc-4330)
The epic meeting of "The Legends of Bulgarian Wedding Music" Yuri Yunakov, Ivo Papazov, Salif Ali and Neshko Neshev join forces for a Bulgarian musical event. In the 70s and 80s these musicians pretty much recreated the eastern European musical terrain with their hyper-powered blend of Balkan folk music peppered with jazz, rock, Gypsy, Turkish and Indian music. Reeds, accordion and some of the most stunning percussion you are likely to hear anywhere join forces for this important 2005 release.
 Balada - Yuri Yunakov Ensemble $16.99 (cdRoots# tc-yunakov1)
 New Colors in Bulgarian Wedding Music - Yuri Yunakov Ensemble $16.99 (cdRoots# tc-yunakov2)
 Roma Variations - Yuri Yunakov Ensemble $16.99 (cdRoots# tc-yunakov3)
 Kesh Mesh - Schäl Sick Brass Band $17.99 (cdRoots# wp-keshmesh)
 Folk Songs - Trio Bulgarka-Penev $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-171)
This trio of Bulgarian women, together with composer Dimiter Penev, explore the the Shoppe region, Thrace, the Pirin Mountains region, North Bulgaria, Strandja and the Rhodope Mountains. The three singers are from different regions: Snejana Borissova from the Shoppe region, Maya Dencheva from North Bulgaria and Stoyanka Boneva from the Pirin Mountains. Penev's compositional approach is to come as close as possible to the original version of each song, and the matching partnership with the backing of musicians from the Bolyari Orchestra.
 North Bulgarian Dances for accordion - Yanko Zhelyazkov $16.99 (cdRoots# gn-268)
The Bulgarian accordionist plays songs from the region including Dobrudja and Northeast Bulgaria, Central North and Northwest Bulgaria. Zhelyazkov (b. 1945) comes from the village of Brest, Pleven District, situated by the Danube River. His father and his uncle were both famous accordionists. The release includes the region's Danubean and Wallachian horos, paidushki, kopanitsas, rachenitsas, buchimish, 'Milkovchanka' and more. He is accompanied by a small ensembles and a chamber-folk orchestra.
 Passing With The Time - various artists $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-295)
Popular Bulgarian folk songs may have familiar tunes to fans of the various choirs and large ensembles so popular in the last few decades, but here they go 'back to the roots' using solo voice or instrument, or duets of one voice and one instrument. The program by Milen Slavov, who is composer, music producer, accordionist and who has been living in the USA since 1997. The CD also includes performances by singer Zhivka Papancheva, the gaida player Petyo Kostadinov, kaval player Lyuben Dossev, and Teodor Dimitrov on gudulka .
 Welkya - Theodosii Spassov $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-141)
The kaval master and a small ensemble merge Bulgarian folk, jazz and a general spirit of enthusiasm and creativity. Written and arranged by Theodosii Spassov - kaval, vocals, bagpipe with Yanka Rupkina - vocals, Boika Velkova - recitatives, Georgi Petrov - gadoulka, Valentin Yankov - tamboura, Georgi Donchev - bass, Stoyan Yankulov - percussions.
 na Trapeza - Theodosii Spassov and Nikola Iliev $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-207)
The Bulgarian kaval master and clarinetist come together in a series of amazing, sometimes difficult, duets. All compositions by Spassov and Iliev, with a lot of brilliant improvisation.
 Pirin Folk Songs - Zdravka and Pirinka Hristovi $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-264)
Presents the musical traditions of Bansko from the ancient style of singing 'na atzane' (a complex vocal technique that few of today's singers have mastered), up to the two-part singing from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The instrumental accompaniment tamboura, bagpipes, percussion, cello and darbouka.
 Titla - Theodosii Spassov $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-272)
The Bulgarian kaval master and a powerful small ensemble that includes Yildiz Ibrahimova on vocal with guitar piano, bass, tambura, gadulka, tupan, percussion, tarambukka and the Western Districts Vocal Quartet and the Bulgarian National Radio Folk Orchestra, conducted by Hristofor Radanov
 Zourna - Demko Kurtov's Zourna Group $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-276)
A programe of instrumental melodies and horo dances from Southwest Bulgaria. The zurna is a wooden flute with cane reed and oboe-like sound, very important in traditional Bulgarian music.
 Rumen Sirakov - tambura - Rumen Sirakov $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-278)
New and traditional music for the Bulgarian stringed instrument, the tambura
 Petar Ralchev - accordion - Petar Ralchev $15.99 (cdRoots# gn-282)
The Bulgarian accordionist is equally at home with folk , jazz and classical music. Here he presents solo works from the folk traditions of Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and France.
 Ma Maren Ma - Jony Iliev and Band $17.99 (cdRoots# hm-iliev)
Actually, they call themselves his diabolically swinging band and the Bulgarian Gypsy singer and his ensemble do strike new, devious chords in Rom music, with a tight but bluesy interpretation of the old sounds.
 Mountain Tale - Bulgarian Voices Angelite $17.99 (cdRoots# jaro-angelite-mt)
with the Moscow Art Trio and Huun Huur Tu
 Balkan Passions - Angelite $17.99 (cdRoots# jaro-angelite-passions)
The Bulgarian choir explores a wealth of sounds old and new, joined by a unique cast of guest musicians including Okay Temiz, Sezen Akzu, Maria Farantouri and Fanfare Ciocarlia
 Yasko - Yasko Argirov Band $17.99 (cdRoots# rd-yasko)
YASKO is the first recording commercially available by the Bulgarian clarinet master Yasko Argirov accompanied by his band. Produced by Nikola Parov (Zsaratnok, Marta Sebestyen, Muszikas) who also plays on the recording.
 Hot Blood - Yasko Argirov $17.99 (cdRoots# rd-yasko2)
The second CD by this amazing Roma clarinetist includes video footage as well as searing music
 Ditirambi - Mohsen Kasirossafar and Veselin Mitev $temp out of stock-17.99 (cdRoots# hermes-018)
Two musicians join forces for a cross-cultural exploration. The kaval (flute) and gaida (bagpipes) of Veselin Mitev of Bulgaria and the Persian tombak and daf of Mohsen Kasirossafar of Iran find mutual sonic resonance in these duets by two master musicians.
|
All content ©2003 cdRoots and FNI
|