The mysterious Music of hidden, small country

This is my first article, after "introduce yourself". In my introduction I said that I would like to write about music. So I decide in my first article about music to present you the music of my country.

Bulgaria is a small country in Eastern Europe, which carries its name since the year 681. During these 14 centuries it was almost 7 centuries under slavery (Byzantium – 1018-1185 and Ottoman – 1396-1878). Nevertheless, the Bulgarian people have preserved, because of their tradition, habits and culture.

Traditional vocal music of Bulgaria possesses clearly distinguished formal musical features such as: narrow tonal range, predominantly progressive movement in melodic construction, musical thinking in diatonic, pentatonic and modal harmonic systems, specific ornamental styles, rhythmic variety. Original rhythmic symmetries occur in a variety of asymmetric (uneven) rhythmic forms. These rhythmic forms differ from classic western metric system and are therefore characterized as "exotic metrics", "Bulgarian rhythms". Among the many forms of stroke in instrumental folk music, the most common are: 2/4, 5/8, 7/8, 9/8, 11/8, 12/8, 13/8, 15/8.
Traditional polyphonic vocal music of Bulgarians most often contains two voices of Bordun type (archaic polyphonic form in which a voice sounding continuously supported bass tone, and the other sing the melody).

In Bulgarian traditional music the songs are created to underline holidays and motivate during working days. Archaic peasants in the field have sung during hard work, in order for time to pass faster and to be more pleasant. Ritual songs have been sung on holidays – common, as Christmas, New year, Church holidays, etc. and personal, as birthdays, baptisms, funerals and wedding
Singing is often accompanied by motor gestures (often dances), saying ritual words (blessings) and handling of ritual items (bread, dolls, flowers, flag).
"Horo" is a traditional dance of Bulgaria, in which people hold their hands and dance in a circle. There are several different types of Horo in different rhythms and tempos.

Other typical dance is called "ruchenica"

I want to finish this post with one of the most famous and beautiful songs of Bulgaria. The nature of Bulgaria is its most wonderful trait and in this song the lyrics are for the divinity of the woods.

Thank you for reading the attention! For me would be interesting to hear your opinion about this music.
See you soon :))

The sources for the material used are:

1. http://infomreja.bg/s-ansambyl-pirin-i-mestni-izpylniteli-posreshtat-blagoevgradchani-novata-godina-3718.html
2. Youtube; Channel- BulgarianMusicalSoc
3. Youtube; Channel - Bulg Folk
4. Youtube; Channel- Bulg Folk
5. Youtube; Channel - tvfn9