First things first: “The Bulgarian State Television Female Choir” has to be the most bizarre name for any artist featured here. It’s a name that manages to be both exciting and bleak, simultaneously evoking images of Soviet-era apartment complexes and colourful traditional outfits.
Second things second: this is the second time this choir has appeared on our playlist, as a loop from one of their songs was sampled in the song we listened to back in week 473.
Important things third: this choir – founded in the 1950s but with folk roots stretching back centuries, through the Soviet, Ottoman, and Byzantine eras – doesn’t sound quite like anything else. The singing isn’t soothing exactly, but it does command the listener’s attention. You get the sense that the singers are pushing their voices a bit harder than they should. The kind of voice you use when you’re trying to speak over a room full of kids who aren’t paying attention.
And last things last: okay, yes, they have changed their name and now go by “The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices” which is far inferior to their original name. They’re probably trying to be whimsical, but to me it sounds like the title of a second-rate Tintin book.
I’m choosing to call the group by their original name here, since this track was recorded in the 1970s when they were still TBSTFC. And before you tell me that’s too long to be a workable acronym, read it out loud. It’s kinda got a nice flow to it.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. The style of singing is unique. It sounds ancient with its chant-like form, but modern with its uncountable time signature.
2. The way it alternates between which sections of the choir are singing: the softer sopranos or the more forceful altos. And they rarely wait for one to finish before the other comes in overtop.
3. Given its title and the way it gets pretty intense at times, I was expecting the lyrics to be either an intense declaration of love or a tragic break-up. But the lyrics tell a simpler story: a maiden named Todora was taking a nap under a tree. It gets windy, and branch snaps off, waking her up. She gets mad at the wind because she’d been dreaming that her first love was bringing her flowers and a ring. So, simple yes, but also a bit tragic.
Recommended listening activity:
Eating something hearty and of-the-earth, but also warm and comforting. Like a baked potato.