A sunny disposition and a smile – that is how people see folk singer Ralitsa Atanassova. Having grown up with the folklore of the region where she was born, she has spent years collecting and performing the songs typical of it. Not long ago Ralitsa released her first album.

“The songs I recorded for this CD are from the Northern Bulgaria folklore region, and more specifically Central Northern Bulgaria – the region around the town of Pleven and some from the region of Gabrovo. The CD features 13 songs, all of them with the typical Northern rhythm. Most are lively pieces as is typical of this part of the country but are different in terms of content – there are love, jocular and work songs. My intention was to help folk music from the Northern region reach more people, because it seems to me it has been neglected for quite some time. Folklore has always been part of my family. My great grandfather played the clarinet and headed the village brass band. Until recently my father played the accordion, so I grew up with music. For years I have been collecting the songs I included in the CD. Some I learnt when I was still a child, others – when I met people from my part of the country. Most of the arrangements were done by Petar Milanov. I am hoping to be able to record more folk music from Northern Bulgaria in future.”

Even though she has graduated a foreign language school, Ralitsa Atanassova’s calling is folk music. As a child she sang with a children’s ensemble in Pleven. She graduated folk choir and ensemble conducting at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv. But later, her career took a different turn – she started teaching folk singing. Since 2001 she has been singing with the Philip Koutev folk ensemble.

“The Philip Koutev ensemble is a great place to work. I am happy to say I get on very well with all of my colleagues. Our conductor Georgi Genov is an outstanding professional. He knows how to work with a folk choir and get the best out of each and everyone of us. We are opening the new season with concerts in Varna and Bourgas on September 2 and 3. The ensemble has done a lot for my development as a singer and musician.”

What makes the songs from her part of the country different compared to other folklore regions of Bulgaria?

“Music from the North offers a wealth of metrorhythmic patterns, especially in horo dance tunes,” Ralitsa Atanassova says. “That is something you can never hear anywhere else in the world. Foreigners are especially fond of this rhythm and the beautiful melodies. I hope interest in Bulgarian folklore will continue as strong as ever.”

English: Milena Daynova

Photo: courtesy of Ralitsa Atanassova