The Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians, which is marked on October 29, is an occasion to recall the work of Academician Nikolay Kaufman - one of the greatest Bulgarian folklorists. Thanks to him, we have a unique collection of songs and instrumental melodies, recorded in Bulgarian villages in Moldova, and in villages near Bolgrad, Odessa, and all the way to the Sea of Azov. During his lifetime, Academician Kaufman said that he particularly appreciated this work, as he was able to collect extremely rich music heritage.
It is known that Bulgarian compatriots from Bessarabia left the borders of Bulgaria in different years, with the most massive resettlement being in 1828-1830. The scientist met them for the first time in 1968, when he accompanied an ensemble that performed his arrangements of folk songs. Then he recorded a hundred samples from Bulgarians, immigrants from the region of Sliven. He went from village to village, talked to the people, who recalled old lyrics and melodies. Upon his return to Bulgaria he quickly managed to prepare "Folk songs of the Bulgarians from the Ukrainian and Moldavian SSR" and submitted the book for printing in the same year - 1971. The collection was published much later - in 1982. It consists of two volumes and contains about 2,600 folk songs and instrumental tunes. To this day, it is an inexhaustible source of information, a starting point for researchers and invaluable material for composers. Listen to “Bessarabian wedding dance” with arrangement by Academician Kaufman and performed by the BNR Folk Music Orchestra.
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