Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

"Where art thou, faithful love of the people"

The story of this song goes back to Bulgaria’s struggle for independence of the Ottoman Empire. It was created by Dobri Chintulov, teacher, poet and composer of the Bulgarian Revival period, who worked for the enlightenment and national self-awareness of his compatriots. Graduate of the Theological Seminary in Odessa, he was an advocate for national and church freedom.

Dobri Chintulov wrote the lyrics of the song "Kude si, vyarna ti lyubov narodna" ("Where art thou, faithful love of the people") while he was in Odessa. The tune, however, was probably the melody of another song, popular at the time, but whose title is now forgotten. Forgotten is the last word one can say about "Kude si vyarna ti lyubov narodna". The song became a symbol of the awakening of a nation. An awakening that started from a "spark of love" and turned into a "raging flame".


Together with “Stani, stani yunak balkanski” ("Wake up, wake up, Balkan hero"), “Viatar echi, Balkan stene” ("Wind is howling, Balkan is moaning") and several other revolutionary songs by Dobri Chintulov, it raised the spirit of the Bulgarian patriots during the April Uprising (1876) and the Russo-Turkish War that brought the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878-1879).

Photos: archive



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

KristinSax- ''Magic''

We start the day with a dose of magic, brought to us by  singer, flutist and saxophone player Kristina Dimitrova-Manasieva, also known as KristinSax. KristinSax authored the music and lyrics to the song ''Magic''. The arrangement is by Artur Nadosyan...

published on 1/22/25 11:00 AM

"Fuego Del Amor"- the first song of a Bulgarian artist with the name of Gipsy Kings

JOEF Gipsy Kings Family have recorded "Fuego Del Amor" - a song with Bulgarian singer Sandra Alexandrova. The story of the song actually started three years ago, when Sandra and her producer Artur Nadosyan visited Nice - there they met the Joef Gipsy..

published on 1/19/25 10:45 AM

Beautiful Bilyana - the new BG ethno house song of DEEP ZONE project

DEEP ZONE Project are ready with their latest BG ethno house project - "Hubava Bilyana" (Beautiful girl Bilyana), in which they once again combine modern electronic dance music with original folk-based motifs, as always with love for Bulgaria...

published on 1/17/25 12:57 PM