Customer Reviews

Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My first encounter with this CD was in 1989. The public radio station at the Univesity of Texas in Austin had a radio show in the mornings that play a wide variety of music (It was on this station that I first heard the ditty "Don't Worry Be Happy"). One morning they played the final cut on this cd, Polegnala E Todora. I was transfixed. I promise you as I sit here now I can hear the richness of the voices and harmony that moved me in a way that was undescribable. For weeks he would play this one cut on this cd and I had to find it. This was pre-internet so finding it was not easy. Finally came across it in a record shop in Indiana of all places. I soon discovered that the experience was only enhanced by the rest of the songs on the CD. I was priviledge to hear these women at the famed Wolf Trap a few years ago. This cd is a must to own, however I'm of the opinion that it is something that doesn't necessarily connect with everyone (my family cringes everytime I make visitors listen to Polegnala E Todora) I call them my Bulgarian Women and although I already own the other 2 cd I see they come in a box set now and I intend to buy it and keep them in a safe place. This music is truly a wonderful experience. I do not understand a word of Bulgarian (although I have visited there) but this music really shows off the universality of the language of music. I cannot recommend this music too much.

Released in 1988 after Marcel Cellier brought never-before-heard recordings to the West, LE MYSTERE DES VOIX BULGARES was an explosive suprise for music lovers. Thirteen songs performed by the Bulgarian State Television Female vocal choir, the disc displayed a highly exotic method of singing where each singer has limited vocal range but piercing projection and resonance, and polyphony using intervals never heard in traditional Western art music.

One thing should be said from the start: this is not authentic Bulgarian folk music, but rather sophisticated arrangements made by composers during the Communist era. Many of the lyrics here are from old folk songs, and the method of singing each singer displays is truly old, but you're crazy if you think any folk music has four-part counterpoint. Still, folk cultures are dying across Europe, and these arrangements are becoming all we have left of a precious tradition snuffed out by Western decadence.

The disc opens with the droning "Pilentze Pee" which immediately gives the listener a full blast of this exotic tradition. With parallel seconds in the harmonic writing, pitches fluctuate strikingly yet under perfect control. Ditto for the eerie diaphonic chant of "Schopska Pesen". The mournful "Kalimankou Denkou" and "Pritouritze Planinata" are simplest in their harmony, and most nearly approach village singing. "Erghen Diado", where the choir is accompanied by drum, shows the humour stereotypically attributed to the people of the Shopsko region.

While the music is phenomenal, I'm unhappy with Nonesuch's packaging. No lyrics or translations are provided for the songs--although since most are about death and unrequited love, this may be to spare some sense of magic for the listener who doesn't speak Bulgarian. The transliteration used is meant for speakers of French, and is filled with typos to boot, which makes it hard for one to reconstruct the original Cyrillic title of each song. Still, this is the best introduction to a fascinating choral tradition, and heavily recommended for open-minded music fans, lovers of Bulgarian culture, and students of the Bulgarian language. The four-star rating is given only because there's some dead wood, and to get thirteen songs that truly represent the best of this choral writing, you'd have to buy several CDs.

Every country in the world has its choir, and it takes an enthusiastic ear to distinguish one from another. But this choir is unmistakable from any other nation's. They do not sing in key, by the standards most people are used to. Infact, they deliberately sing slightly off-key, and they throw their voices around in what usually would seem an unprofessional manner. Alot of the vocal play in this music would be frowned upon in a church of any Western European country. But in the villages of Bulgaria, it is well at home, and the singers convince me they know exactly what they're doing.
Despite the fact that these singers are competent and probably well practiced, it all feels so natural. I can hear the spontaneity that once would have created many of the vocal tricks here that have become well entrenched in these pieces. Nothing else but simple play and improvisation could have produced some moments in these songs. It's like a child has discovered her voice for the first time and is testing what it can do. The only difference being- they left in only the experiments that worked.
The word 'mystery' in the title is not an empty call. It's hard to say what their surrounding look like without actually knowing Bulgaria, but the music paints a picture of far away villages in green fields, swallowed by drizzly weather, hiding them from the outside world. "They don't seem to be from around here". Other-worldy is their collective persona. There is so little to relate to on a logical level, as their expressions don't recall anything familiar in most people's lives in Western society. But emotion is obviously universal, which is why this music succeeds at reaching the world despite its unfamiliarity.
Before finding this cd, I never liked a cappela music. I always felt a need for other instruments. But this cd crossed that boundary for me, and found its way to the top of my cd collection favourites. I always appreciate when something, or someone, can reach into a person's comfort zone and call them to come out and explore. This music called me away from my comfort zone at the time, and judging by its success, the same can be said by other people. You don't need to be an avid world music listener to like this music, just as I didn't need to like a cappela. Infact, I was often quite averse to it. But sometimes things are unique, and passionately so, enough to draw out a different facet of a person's tastes and feelings. This music is certainly one that does this. It is eerie and beautiful.

I am not kidding, song number 3, "Kalimankou Denkou" is probably the most beautiful song that I know of - ever. It brings tears to my eyes everytime I listen to it. It may not catch you the first time, so keep on listening.

The rest of the album is good, but quite often I find myself listening to only this song.

I discovered this album about 10 years ago and I have remained transfixed with these ladies ever since. The first song I heard was "Kalimankou Denkou," and immediately, my whole idea of what music is changed forever. The dissonant harmonies and power behind these voices more than make up for the fact that I cannot understand a word of Bulgarian-- which doesn't matter-- their incredible talent comes shining through.

My other favorite on this CD is "Sableyalo mi Agontze" for the absolutely ethereal harmonizing.

If you haven't bought this CD yet but are curious, buy it because I can practically guarantee you've never heard anything like this before. This is the best CD in my library.

This gorgeous a capella performance by Les Mysteres Bulgarian Women's Choir is rich and compelling. These folk songs traverse an uNusual and riveting tonal palette! Yanka Rupkina is clearly the star! She has the voice of an angel (as heard on Kalimankou Denkou). The finesse of Svatba is wonderful. If you appreciate diverse and excellent music, this CD is a must-have!

My sister turned me on to this CD in the late 80s when a friend played it for her. She couldn't believe human beings could make these sorts of sounds. We were fortunate enough to see the choir perform live later on that year. The music was and is emotional, moving and extremely powerful. I, like others who've written here, don't understand Bulgarian but it doesn't seem to matter. These voices and this music grabs you. In it, you hear the centuries-old traditions of the Balkans, the call of the muezzin, the sounds of harvest and celebration.

What is that music the Sissy Spacek character is teaching those girls!? THIS music! As you listen to it here in its purer form you will find that it has the capacity to lift you up and away from your computer, up and out of your house, and towards a better realm. It's that good. Somehow, listening to these voices is cleansing. Here's a test: guage your mood next time you finish a session in front of the (television) against your mood after engaging this cd. The difference will be palpable.

Hey-ho ! Whoa! This CD has a five-star consensus for a good reason- its simply out of this world! The Bulgarian Female Vocal Choir do to scales what Beni Hana does to sushi- chop chop chop music to such fine layers that you'll be amazed the human voice can master such subtleties! But don't be mistaken- the sound is smooth and at times almost ethereal. The Caucuses infleunce is sensual and heavy, with very unusual tones and modalities all wrapped-up into well-composed songs. The music is logical, but very earthy as well. In short, if you haven't heard Bulgarian national music, then you are missing out on something that is so extraordinary that it is difficult to describe.

I first heard Bulgarian vocals on Kate Bush's "The Sensual World." The Trio Bulgarka provided melodic augmentation on 3 tracks ("Rocket's Tail" fully exploited the Trio's vocal capabilities). That was in '88--pre internet and had tried to find recordings by the Trio. A couple of years ago, I came across this CD and recognized members of the Trio Bulgarka in the credits. I listened to this recording over and over and found it to be haunting, poetic and satisfying (except, of course the length of the recording--at 20+ min. it's really short). The most engaging tracks being Kalimakou Denkou (a funeral lament) and Polegnala e Todora (a love song) bring on a sort of happy melancholy that can, at once, put a smile on your face and a bring a tear to your eye.