The music of Bulgaria is part of the Balkans tradition, which expands across South Eastern Europe and is very distinct in its sound.
Bulgarian music uses a vast range of different instruments, and some of the folk instruments are versions of traditional Asian instruments, for example the “Saz” (Bulgarian Tambura).
Modern instruments are used in the more modern dance music, which is a mix up of the traditional village music.
The folk instruments that Bulgarian bands use most commonly are:
The Gaida (which is a Goat skin bagpipe), there are two versions of the Gaida, The Thracian, which is tuned in a D or A note, and the Rhodopi, which is larger and has a deeper tuning, in a F note.
The Kaval (which is an end blown flute)
The Gadulka (which is a bowed string instrument); this is played vertically and has melody and sympathetic strings.
The Tupan (which is a large frame drum), this is worn over the shoulder and hit on one side with a beater, and with a thin stick on the other side.
The Tambura (which is a long necked metal strung lute), this is played as a Rhythmic accompany or as a melodic solo.
The Tarabuka (which is an hourglass shaped drum).
An orchestra in a Bulgarian mehana, with, from left to right, musicians playing the tapan, accordion, kaval and gadulka.
Other modern and frequently used instruments in Bulgarian Weddings include:
Electric Guitar
Electric Bass
Synthesizer
Accordion
Clarinet
Saxophone
Drums
Folk music is the regional style of popular music and it is very distinct in sound. It is unique for it´s asymmetrical rhythms. The musical time frame is not split into even beats like most music, but into long and short parts.
Folk music is an important part of Bulgarian holidays like Christmas, New Years Day, Midsummer, The feast of St. Lazarus and the Strandzha regions Nestinarstvo rites. In this ceremony the villagers dance on hot coal for the feast of Saints Kohstantin and Elena on the 21st May. In 1965 the ministry of culture created the Koprivshitsa National Music Festival and this has become an important part of the Bulgarian music scene, it is held once ever five years and consists of Bulgarian music, singing and dancing. The latest event was in August 2010.
Bulgarian folk group Svetlina.
Singing is a large part of Bulgarian music and it has always been a tradition for Men and Women. Bulgarian singers focus their voices to give a distinctive “edge” and to carry over long distance, this has lead to the labeling of Bulgarian vocals to be “open-throated”.
Women often sing at work parties, a notable example song is the Sedenka, which was attended by younger men and women looking for a partner. Young women also have a great range of songs they sing in the fields, and young women who were eligible to be married, play a great part in the singing and dancing in the Village square, this is also a great social event.
The most important state supported Orchestra is the Sofia based state ensemble for folk songs and dances, which was led by Philip Koutev, who has become one of the most influential musicians of Bulgaria.
In 1951, Koutev founded the group “Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir”, also known as “Le Mystere des voix Bulgares”, who became famous world wide and brought great attention and international success to Bulgarian traditional music. They have topped world music charts with their many recordings. This choir, and others gained popularity because of their unique rhythms, harmony and polyphony.
Church singing is also a popular tradition in Bulgaria and is more than a thousand years old, it can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. Yoan Kukuzel is one of the earliest known musical figures, he was a Composer, Singer and musical reformer, and was known as the “Angel-Voiced” for his singing abilities.
There are two types of traditional church singing in Bulgarian Orthodox churches, the Eastern monodic (one voice) singing and Choral (polyphonic) singing. Orthodox music is still very much alive in Bulgaria, it is still performed in church services as worship, and at concerts arranged by secular choirs and soloists.
Here is a list of Popular Bulgarian Musicians across all genres of music:
Pop:
Argirovi Brothers
Bogdana Karadocheva
Domino
Doni
Elitsa Todorova (Eurovision Song Contest 5th)
Emil Dimitrov
Galya
Grafa
Jony Iliev
Karizma
Lea Dimitrova
Lili Ivanova
Maria Ilieva
Mariana Popova
Mary Boys Band
Mimi Ivanova
Miro
Neti
Pasha Hristova
Riton Duet
Rushi Vidinliev
Stoyan Yankulov (Eurovision Song Contest 5th)
Svetla Ivanova
Tonika
Traichevi Duet
Vasil Naidenov
Yordanka Hristova
Rock and Metal:
Ahat
Analgin
Another Day
Asylum
BAHUR
Bai Vute – actual name Georgy Vutov
Balkandji
Bandaracite
Banzig
Barabi Blues Band
B.F.H.
Brothers In Blood
B.T.R.
Claymore
Crowfish
Darkflight
Demenzia
Diana Ekspres
Distorment
Epizod
Face Up
Faktor
Frontpoint
FSB(formatsia studio balkanton)
Gabana
Hipodil
Holera
Indignity
Kale
Klas
The Revenge Project
CREEP
KPD-0
Kontrol
Kukeri
Last Hope
Marin Yonchev
Never Again
Neopit Pilski
Not Broken In Spirit
Nova Generacia
Obraten Efekt
Ostava
Overdawn
Pantommind
the paperbax
Pizza
Poduene Blues Band
Review
Shturtzite
Signal
Skinflick
Srebyrnite grivni
Tangra
Voice of Glass
Wickeda
Zayo Bayo Gives Me The Creeps
Reggae:
Root Souljah – roots reggae pioneers in Bulgaria
Jahmmi Youth
NRG D
Ragga one
Samity – Dub Master
Rap:
DRS
Horata na Izgreva (The Sunrise People)
Dimna Zavesa
Big Sha
O.C.G.
Rumaneca & Enchev
Shu Tzu
Slim
Spens
Upsurt
Jentaro
Sensei
Peshow
Vanko 1
X-Team
Wood
Bate Sasho
Sve
Doctor Pit
Honn Kong
LOGO5
WOSH
DiS
Jazz:
Acoustic Version
Anatoly Vapirov
Hristo Yotzov
Jivko Petrov
Michail Yossifov
Milcho Leviev
Rossen Zahariev
Rumen Toskov
Simeon Shterev
Simeon Venkov – Moni
Theodosii Spassov
Vasil Parmakov
Veselin Veselinov – Eko
Yildiz Ibrahimova
World:
Bulgara
Bulgarka Junior Quartet
Georgi Yanev and Orpheus Orchestra
Ikadem Orkestar
Irfan
Isihia
Ivo Papasov and His Wedding Band
Karandila Gypsy Brass Orchestra
Korova
Lot Lorien
Classical:
Alexandra Fol
Anatoli Krastev
Anna Tomowa-Sintow
Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean
Ari Leschnikoff – actual name Asparuh Leschnikoff
Boris Christoff
Dobri Hristov
Dobrin Petkov
Dobrinka Tabakova
Emil Tabakov
Emil Tchakarov
Georgi Tutev
Ghena Dimitrova
Gheorghi Arnaoudov
Hristo Tsanoff
Konstantin Iliev
Mariana Paunova
Milen Nachev
Nayden Todorov
Neva Krysteva
Nicola Ghiuzelev
Nicolai Ghiaurov
Pancho Vladigerov
Raina Kabaivanska
Ralitsa Tcholakova
Rossen Milanov
Svetla Protich
Veneta Vicheva
Vesselina Kasarova
Orthodox:
Yoan Kukuzel Choir
Sofia Boys´ Choir
Sofia Orthodox Choir
Sofia Priest Choir
St. Alexandar Nevsky Cathedral Choir
“Madrigal” Chamber Choir
opera singer Boris Hristov
opera singer Nikola Ghuzelev
Electronic:
1000names
Balkansky
Brain Disputer
Bulgaro
COOH
Deep Zone Project
Disco Nutter
Drum Kid
Esem
Gain Reduction
Georg Hekt
Hyperqube
KiNK
Ogonek
Res Corporales
Roka
Shamanez
Star Tattooed
Stephan Panev
Thought
Tkrst
Trx
