The admirers of electronic music have the chance to get in touch with the latest computer technology in the world of the multimedia thanks to the 13th edition of The Universe of Computer Music International Forum. Prof. Simo Lazarov with his team have designed a diverse program including a national conference, seminars, workshops, a master class and concerts. One of the participants in the forum is Lubomir Velev who will present a solo program on 5 December. He will take us back in time when the festival emerged from a good idea:

“In 1988 a charity concert at the Center of Youth in Sofia focused on electronic music. The success of that concert actually gave rise to the festival. The beginning was in the town of Gotse Deltchev. The pioneers who launched the forum then were Simo Lazarov, Angel Andonov and Lubomir Kavaldjiev. Since 1994 and in the ten years that followed Simo transferred to me work on the organization of the forum. Besides, I was also playing at the Dilemma Band, another participant in the forum, together with Ivan Vulkov and Stoimen Sarbinov.”

From 2003 on, Simo Lazarov resumed his key role in the festival The Universe of Computer Music. The festival is held under the auspices of the Union of Bulgarian Composers and New Bulgarian University - two institutions with whom Prof. Lazarov is linked as composer and academic.

"This is the only festival for this kind of music in Bulgaria”, Simo Lazarov says. “This time we pay special attention to the 40th anniversary of the first studio for electronic music in this country.This time we have also planned a conference for students and professional musicians who will deliver reports on the uses of electronic music in science research. The forum opens on 3 December with a concert at Uni Art Hall of New Bulgarian University in  Sofia. On the same day is the presentation of a multimedia production on music by Stanislav Stanchev - Stenly and visual designs by Meg Konovska. International participants will be presented on 4 December. They come from Europe, USA, Israel and Japan.”

Lubomir Velev says more about his participation in this edition:

“In 2010, I took a course to music that has a visual aspect too. I began making art films showing the creativity of various artists through music I have composed. I use latest, high technology in both sound and screen. I was surprised when the first film was accepted quite well by the audience. So far I have made 58 films. Now my target is even higher - to present music in 5.1 surround sound. For that purpose I cooperate with Odeon Cinema in Sofia that has very sophisticated equipment. The program that I have selected for the festival includes an advertising trailer and nine art films I have made this year. They are quite varied in terms of the art they feature.”

The 13th edition of The Universe of Computer Music International Forum closes on 6 December with a live broadcast on the show Pictures of an Exhibition on the Horizont Channel of the Bulgarian National Radio. The participants in it will draw up a music retrospection of the outgoing year. 

English Daniela Konstantinova

The audiofile contains the following pieces:

1. Cosmic Kiss, parts 1 & 2, Lubomir Velev

2. Blue Tale, Simo Lazarov

3. Cosmic Kiss, part 3, Lubomir Velev