...and the Bulgarian women croon

By Lisa Rajt

For the Daily

They hail from a country that is several thousand miles away. On their much-anticipated North American tour, titled "Mercy for the Living," they are stopping in only 14 cities, including Ann Arbor. They have suffered under the veil of the Iron Curtain, yet they have prevailed.

They are the Bulgarian Women's Choir and if their past success is any indication of the quality of their performance this Thursday, music lovers in Southeastern Michigan are in for a treat.

The New York Times has called them "astonishing." One reviewer in St. Louis has deemed their brand of choral singing "the most beautiful music on the planet." L.A. Weekly believed their show to be "the hippest on earth," and the Detroit Free Press has called them "ancient and modern, sophisticated and naive, complex and simple - a sound unlike anything you've heard before."

The Bulgarian Women's Choir is made up of 20 women from all over Bulgaria and the roots of their musicianship date back almost 2000 years. After experiencing a rise to international acclaim following the fall of the Iron Curtain, they were nominated for an American Grammy award, quite an accomplishment for this diverse and talented group of women whose music had been known to the world for only a few years at that point.

All forms of the humanities seek to address and express the various facets of the human experience. This women's choir does just that, with the help of their conductor, Georgi Petrov, and managing director, Tanja Andreeva. For the "Mercy for the Living" tour, Petrov has named the program "Antique Eastern Orthodox Chants." As he explained in a recent press release, "in all historical times music was regarded as a supreme art allowing for the best expression of religious feelings." It makes sense that the music, which is spiritual in nature, will be performed in a church.

As in many cultures, the music that is now performed by the Bulgarian Women's Choir has been passed down only through memorization and recitation. Traditionally, solely women perform Bulgarian vocal music. That tradition continues to resonate in the melodies and harmonies of this widely praised group.

Their vocal style is old, but the arrangements are relatively new. The structure of the songs is two-parted: Generally, two soloists will sing or the choir will divide up into two groups. Additionally, it has been noted that Western vocal performance instructors would be surprised by the techniques employed by the choir. For example, typical abdominal breathing techniques are not utilized by the group; instead, they use the back of their throats to create sounds and arrangements that are uniquely their own. They yodel, shout and create a musical atmosphere that is vivid and mesmerizing.

Even more unusual than their singing techniques is the variety of rhythm that is found in Bulgarian music in general, as well as the great variety found in scales and tone. Though the group is made up solely of women, many lower notes will be sung. The beat of the music promises to be unusual to Westernized ears.

This is the first time in 10 years that the Bulgarian Women's Choir has performed in Ann Arbor: Don't miss this rare event.