1. |
Dreme Mi Se Lega Mi Se
02:42
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‘I’m dreamy and drowsy, but sleep won’t come. There’s that girl in the village who could be lying next to me. She wants me and I want her, but her mother won’t let her. I’ll buy mother a copper pot and she’ll give in. She wants me and I want her, but her father won’t let her. I’ll buy father a purple coat and he’ll give in.
I get up at dawn. I’m cold and even dancing’s no use – I wish we were warm together, damn it!
The village priest’s no help – he wants 120 gold coins to get us married. But he’s already got a wife to keep him warm and to sing to him all winter.’
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2. |
Kalimanku Denku
04:52
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‘Denka, until now you were my god-sister. From now on, you will be my sweetheart. I burn for you, Denka. I am dry as a parched walnut tree.’
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3. |
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Dimjaninka took her horse to the cool clear spring.
She saw herself reflected in the water and she loved what she saw.
‘I’m so fair and rosy-cheeked. If only I were a little taller and darker-eyed, I’d seduce everyone I met.’ A forest dragon heard her. He swooped down and took her for his bride.
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4. |
Elaj Elaj Mome
02:07
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‘I churn up the cobbled road to get to you.
I wade through deep mud. I leap over fences. Because of you, the dogs bark at me. I can’t live without you. If only you would come to me.’
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5. |
Ranbel Moj
01:14
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Oj devojche ranbel moj ranbel moj
Koj ti kupi gerdan tvoj gerdan tvoj
Kupi mi go brato tvoj brato tvoj
Saka da mi bide dever moj dever moj
Oj devojche ranbel moj ranbel moj
Koj ti kupi kolan tvoj kolan tvoj
Kupi mi go tatko tvoj tatko tvoj
Saka da mi bide svekar moj svekar moj
Saka da mi bide svekar moj svekar moj
A jas da ti bidam nevesta nevesta
Translation:
‘Maiden, sweet basil, who gave you that necklace?’
‘Your brother bought it. He wants to be my brother-in-law.’
‘Maiden, sweet basil, who gave you that belt?’ ‘Your father bought it. He wants to be my father-in-law and wants me to be your bride.’
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6. |
Nazad Nazad Mome Kalino
05:43
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‘Go back, Kalina, don’t follow me. Ahead is a thick forest,you can’t cross it.’
‘Then I’ll turn into a hawk. I’ll fly over the forest. I’ll be yours forever.’
‘Go back, Kalina, don’t follow me. Ahead is a deep river,you can’t cross it.’
‘Then I’ll turn into a trout. I’ll swim across the river. I’ll be yours forever.’
‘Go back, Kalina, don’t follow me. At home
I have a beautiful wife and some children too.’ ‘Then I’ll turn into the plague. I’ll kill your
wife and take care of your children. I’ll be yours forever.’
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7. |
Momiche Golem Gjavolo
02:35
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‘Don’t you come through my yard, you minx.
What am I going to do with all the heartache you bring?’ ‘Boy, gather up your heartache and plant it in the black ploughed earth. If basil grows, you can chase me, but you’ll never catch me. My mother sent me to fetch cold spring water and to set men’s hearts on fire.’
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8. |
Ima Nema
01:54
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Has Jova got a boyfriend or not?
‘Shehas!’‘Shehasn’t!’‘ButJova’smadeacashmeredress!’ ‘She has!’ ‘She hasn’t!’ ‘But Jova’s made a silk shirt!’ ‘She has!’ ‘She hasn’t, she’s just lying!’
‘But Jova’s made colourful socks!’
‘Well, maybe Jova has a boyfriend, but who cares. He’s too far away to matter!’
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9. |
Chubrichanche Le
02:13
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‘Hey, chubritsa* maiden, come to the gate. Let me
see if your face is still as fair and your figure as slender as I remember.’
‘There’s no point in you looking. I don’t care for you.’ ‘Maiden, as you pick the herb, so you tear my heart.’ *Chubritsa (savoury) – Bulgaria’s favourite herb. This is our spice girl song.
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10. |
Ajde Gugo
03:08
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‘Guga, let’s run away together, at dawn, before the dew has fallen.’
‘Old man, how can I run away with you? Your beard is as white as fleece, your legs as bent as shepherd’s crooks.’
‘Never mind that, Guga, let’s run away, while the trees are still green and the fields are thick with clover.’
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11. |
Oj Mori Kavale
03:11
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‘Oh my kaval*, what is making that noise all through the village and around the pub? Are the horses being taken to pasture
– or is a maiden being stolen?’
‘That’s not the horses – a maiden is
being stolen.’
*Kaval – a shepherd’s flute
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12. |
Traitsa Brate
02:53
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Three brothers were building a house. By day they built it, by night it fell down. The brothers swore to make a sacrifice of whoever brought them breakfast in the morning. First to come was the wife of Manol, the master builder. He motioned to her to go back but she kept coming, like a fog, so they walled her into the foundations of the house.
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13. |
Devojko Mūri Hubava
04:12
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‘Beautiful maiden, let’s pour the wine. Who is more sorrowful, you or I?’ ‘Young man, my sorrow is greater. Three men have loved me. They all left me, and you will leave me too.’
‘My sorrow is greater, maiden. I have a life to build, yet I’m off to war.’
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14. |
Tūkala Li Si Momina Male
02:35
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‘Mother of my sweetheart, have you
woven the fine gifts, the wedding trousseau? Shall I send the engagement party with my brother’s black and scarlet horse?’ ‘Sweetheart of my daughter, don’t send
your men. My daughter’s gifts have been given to another.’
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15. |
Ishu Ishu Nedo
03:36
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‘Hey Neda, did you dream about me as
I dreamt about you? You and I turned into nightingales and flew away together.’
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16. |
Shto Ti Pertseto Treperi
02:34
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‘Lovely Gana, why is your feather quivering?
Is it that you want to elope with me?’
‘Ivan, how can I elope with you? We are cousins – our fathers are brothers, our mothers are sisters-in-law.’
‘Gana, just as the leaves on a tree can never
be counted, nor a deep river forded, so too a beautiful maiden cannot be bound by family ties.’
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17. |
Jovano Jovanke
03:31
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‘Jovana my love, I see you, sitting on the banks of the Vardar. As you wash the white sheets, I know you think of me. I’m waiting for you, waiting for you to escape your mother and come to me.’
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18. |
Son Sonila Baba
02:27
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Granny dreamt that she’d married a young man. She woke up to find her old man was lying next to her, crooked and grey. She started to cry, but pulled herself together.
‘We were young once, and crazy. I’ll buy him an embroidered coat and he’ll do!’
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London Bulgarian Choir London, UK
Based in London, singing in Bulgarian, led by Dessislava Stefanova, the London Bulgarian choir invite you to join them in finding that ancient resonance in the depth of the human heart.
London Bulgarian Choir recommends:
A couple of us caught DVA in London when they were supporting Balkan Beat Box, loved their music and their charm, and bought all their albums. Just brilliant.
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