World Music: " Le Mystere des voix Bulgares "

Kalimankou Denkou

Kalimankou Denkou - Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares

Bulgarian voices need no special introduction. It is sufficient to mention some of the most prominent ones in order to be convinced of their splendor. Boris Christoff, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Nicola Ghiuselev, Julian Konstantinov, Ghena Dimitrova, Raina Kabaivanska, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, as well as The Mystery of The Bulgarian Voices and Trio "Bulgarka," are names that have been synonymous with perfection and uniqueness for a long time. It is a well-known fact that Bulgarians, due perhaps to their facial structure, are very gifted singers - their oral cavity is perfect for the complete development of sound. Such is the claim made by Herbert von Karajan, who worked with Bulgarian singers throughout his career. Whether this is pure anatomy, a mystery, or simply a natural phenomenon, Bulgarian voices are and have always been a model for exceptional quality in vocal art

Malka Moma


The Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir is an internationally renowned World Music ensemble that blends traditional six-part a capella repertoire with modern arrangements. It is most recognized under the recording name Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. First created in Bulgaria in 1952 by Philip Koutev, "the father of Bulgarian concert folk music," the choir is now under the direction of Dora Hristova. Koutev also created and conducted the Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic in 1951.

Singers are chosen from country villages for the beauty and openness of their voices, and they undergo extensive training in the unique centuries' old singing style. Influenced by Bulgaria's Thracian, Ottoman and Byzantine history, their music is striking in its use of diaphonic singing and distinctive timbre, as well as its modal scales and dissonant harmonies (abundant second, seventh, and ninth intervals).

Though the choir became widely known when the trend-setting English alternative record label 4AD released a pair of anthology albums in 1986 and 1988 with the now was originally released in 1975 on his small Discs Cellier label. Ivo Watts-Russell (founder of 4AD) was introduced to the choir from a third or fourth generation audio cassette lent to him by Peter Murphy, singer from the band Bauhaus. He became thoroughly entranced by the music, and tracked down and licensed the recordings from Cellier. The group has since performed extensively around the world to wide acclaim and were honored with a Grammy Award in 1989 for their second album.