"Authentic Folklore" - THE GRANNIES FROM SVOGE AND SVIDNYA.

• artist:
  THE GRANNIES FROM SVOGE AND SVIDNYA.
• featured artist:
  THE GRANNIES FROM SVOGE AND SVIDNYA.
• release year:
  2010
• style(s):
  • Balkan
  • Folk
• country:
  Bulgaria
• formats:
  • CD (Compact Disc)
• record submitted by:
  Gega New Ltd.
• label:
  Gega New
• 
  buy this record

Svoge and Svidnya are located on the northern border of the polyphonic Shope region. Situated on both banks of the Iskar River, they strive to preserve their unique folk heritage. The singers of the Svoge Group have worked together since 1980, and those from the Svidnya Troika - since 1981. Their age ranges from 64 to 81 years. Many of the singers remember the time when these songs were part of their way of living: ritual songs, songs for harvest time, pastoral, working-bee, horo, at the table songs. For this reason they sound so authentic!
The singers perform in antiphony to present the local polyphonic tradition (both groups alternate). One of the singers (a "whooper") sings the song, while the rest drag the bourdon voice ("draggers"). The songs are very effective; they also employ trill-like quavers and yelling. Some monophonic songs are also included in the album, but they are not so many. They resemble the polyphonic songs in their ornamentation, melody and rhythmic structure.
The Svoge Group and the Svidnya Troika often participate at different folk festivals and celebrations, TV and radio programmes. During the past few years they have been working with the famous folk singer Snejanka Borissova.
"We know that these songs are ancient and beautiful. But we are the only ones who know this ... There is nobody to sing them now - nobody would set to do this. We feel very sorry about that…" These revelations of the grannies from Svoge and Svidnya speak of the value of this release.