Tania Kostova: The song should touch a gentle string in the human soul

published on 9/7/16 2:02 PM

Photo: личен архив

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A mild and timbre-rich voice and plenty of emotion expressed in every single performance - this is Tania Kostova in a nutshell. The singer is a soloist of many years of the Pirin Folklore Ensemble and one of the pioneers of original southwestern Pirin songs that provide an extension of the region's diverse folklore tradition. Born to the family of shepherd's flute player Nikola Kostov, who used to be the concertmaster of the Pirin Ensemble, she became keen on folk music in her green years. Tania had the chance to meet in her home leading composers such as Stefan Kanev and Krasimir Kyurkchiiski. Her music training continued at the National School of Folklore Art in Shiroka Laka where she chose the tambura (tambourine). At age 18, she was discovered for vocal art by Stoyan Stoyanov, the conductor of the choir at the Pirin Ensemble. However, the greatest influence in her life came from her father.

“We had a professional partnership for many years”, she said. “He taught me to work with precision and try to eliminate my shortcomings. This has been of great help in my efforts to master my own style. To me, the Pirin Ensemble is a family and I put all my soul in my work there. My best years professionally were during the time of Prof. Kiril Stefanov when the ensemble had its heyday.”

Tania Kostova is one of the founders of the Pirin Fest Festival for original songs based on folklore.

“In 1992 when the festival Pirin Fest was created the idea was to present the production of the Radio & Television Center in Blagoevgrad. I was one of the soloists and other soloists included Georgi Gotsev, Ivan Gotsev and Yordanka Vardjiiska. The idea was to present original music based on the folklore of Macedonia and the composers who wrote songs were very professional - Kiril Ivanov, Dimitar Dinev - people who were experts in this kind of music.”

In the recent years Tania Kostova has been living with her family in Cyprus but music retains its place in her life.

“In Cyprus I am surrounded by musicians and we perform Bulgarian folk music on holidays. Young people like folklore but do not necessarily understand it. There is a trend of mixing styles. Singers from the western Shoppe region or Trakiya (Thrace) sing Pirin songs and vice-versa. And as to original songs based on folklore - they have to touch a gentle string in human soul, so that they could be remembered and made popular.”

Pirin songs are often sung during holidays - but what is the song's meaning for the singer?

“It is wrong to believe that Pirin songs are too simple and easy to sing well. In fact they display a very fine and specific ornamentation. Pirin songs require dedication and emotion conveyed by the singer. I would advise young people to find songs with their souls and convey this emotion with their voice. The voice has to be full of life and feeling to reach the audience.”

English Daniela Konstantinova

Audio contains the following songs:

1. I gave you a wedding ring

2. Altana

3. Sickness makes him gentle

4. Sister invited her brother for supper, with Georgi Gotsev

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