Bulgarian Voices... Mountain Tale CD

The Bulgarian Voices Angelite includes: Valentin Velkov (conductor); Tzetza Bekova, Ekaterina Bogdanova, Tatiana Douparinova, Tonia Iankova, Nadejda Illieva, Kostadinka Inkova, Sonia Iovkova, Nadejda Karporova, Kratina Krasteva, Youlia Peneva, Nekla Petkova, Kostadinka Ratzova (vocals).

A highly ambitious and chance-taking project, Mountain Tale unites the Bulgarian Voices (a 24-member vocal choir from Bulgaria) with the Moscow Art Trio and the Tuvan ensemble Huun-Huur-Tu. The songs, which include "Sad Harvest" and "Dancing Voices," are traditional, but what the participants do with them is quite experimental. Elements of Bulgarian folk are combined with Russian and Tuvan folk as well as European classical music; occasionally, traces of jazz and Scandinavian folk can also be heard. The vocal harmonies that the Bulgarian Voices provide are simply amazing; one shouldn't even think about doing this type of singing unless he/she has serious chops -- members of the Voices obviously do. Mountain Tale is highly recommended to those who are seeking something fresh and adventurous from world music. ~ Alex Henderson

Angelite/Moscow Art Trio/Huun-Huur-Tu.

Recorded at the Recital Hall, Louisville, Kentucky in November 1997. Includes liner notes by Misha Alperin.

Moscow Art Trio: Sergei Starostin (vocals, clarinet, folk reeds); Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, flugelhorn, vocals); Mikhail Alperin (piano, melodica, vocals, cowbells).

Huun-Huur-Tu: Kaigal-ool Khovalyg (vocals, igil, toschpulur, tschansy); Anatoly Kuular (vocals, byzaanchi, khomuz, amarga); Sayan Bapa (vocals, doshpuluur, marinhuur, guitar); Alexey Saryglar (vocals, tungur, drum, dazhaaning khavy, rattle).

Personnel: Sayan Bapa (vocals, guitar); Kaigal-ool Khovalyg (vocals, igil); Sergey Starostin (vocals, flute, clarinet, reeds); Mikhail Alperin (vocals, melodica, piano, cowbells); Arkady Shilkloper (vocals, flugelhorn, French horn); Anatoli Kuular (vocals, byzaanchi); Sonja Iovkova, Tzetza Bekova, Tanja Tzambova, Huun-Huur-Tu (vocals).

Audio Mixers: Jan Erik Kongshaug; Mikhail Alperin.

Recording information: Recital Hall, University Of Louisville, KY (11/1997).

Directors: Mikhail Alperin; Ricky Schultz.

Ensemble: Huun-Huur-Tu.

Photographer: Uli Balss.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Anatoli Kuular; Kera Damianova; Kaigal-ool Khovalyg.

Award WinnerDirty Linen (8-9/99, p.64) - "...an elegant blending of three disparate world music traditions....a rich study in textures....A powerhouse release..."