Balkanalia - Urban and Rural Folk Music from the Balkans

Order online through CD Baby at The cost is $16.00 + $2.25 for S&H for each CD. Or, send a check for $16.00 + $2.50 S&H to : EEFC, P.O. Box 12488, Berkeley, CA 94712-3488.

The Circle

In a swirl of modes and moods, instruments and languages, this collection captures the sweep of Balkan music in the United States. It reflects the variety and skill of an expanding circle of musicians, coast to coast and overseas, who have over the past three decades taken part in the Balkan Music & Dance Workshops of the East European Folklife Center (EEFC).

The workshops originated in the 1970s in intimate weekend gatherings of Balkan enthusiasts in the California woods. From this they have grown into week-long instructional programs on both coasts, staffed by some of the finest Balkan music performers/teachers to be found anywhere. Each summer EEFC programs draw hundreds of dancers, singers and instrumentalists.
For all their diversity in skill, age and origins, they share a love of Balkan music, the rich mix of cultures and styles found in this complex region bridging Central Europe and Turkey. They also tend to share, as the title of this CD suggests, the inclination to have a really good time. Days of lessons and practice—flutes in the cabin, bagpipes in the woods—give way to culture corners, group sings and dance parties that can go till dawn. Some of the musicians featured here were born and musically trained in the Balkans, some in North America’s ethnic communities. Others are connected by their passion rather than their heritage. Whatever their background, they make up a remarkable circle, and this CD brims with their energy. Still, it is only a sampling. If you enjoy Balkanalia, consider attending an EEFC workshop. There you can hear music like this day and night, and there, with enough time, you can learn to make it for yourself.

Tracks & Performers

  1. Kondi Kondoula — Northern Greece/Western Macedonia PANGEO—Christos Govetas (clarinet, vocals), Ruth Hunter (accordion, vocals), Sandra Dean (violin), Dave Bartley (guitar), David Bilides (percussion)
  2. U Dul Basti — Bosnia BALKAN CABARET—Mary Sherhart (vocals), Joe Finn (violin), Michael Lawson (accordion), Rich Thomas (bass), with guests Dan Auvil (doumbek, zils) and Mark Forry (bugarija)
  3. Canta Cucul Primavera — Romania HARMONIA—Alexander Fedoriouk (cimbalom), Walt Mahovlich (accordion), Marko Dreher (violin), Andrei Pidkivka (sopilka, nai), George Trambitas (taragot), Catalin Petrescu (bass)
  4. Me Kalese Mi Arhondissa — Greece ZIYIA—Dan Auvil (doumbeleki), George Chittenden (clarinet), Beth Cohen (violin), Christos Govetas (vocals, laouto), Lise Liepman (santouri)
  5. Lenorije Chaje — Romani song TRIO SLAVEJ—Carol Silverman (vocals), Mark Levy (clarinet), Kalin Kirilov (accordion, synthesizer, and arrangement)
  6. Staro Meraklijsko Oro — Republic of Macedonia Goce Dimovski (zurla), accompanied by Angele Dimovski (zurla) & Orce Dimovski (tapan)
  7. Grada Se Gradi — Bulgaria MEDNA USTA—Dena Bjornlie, Ruth Hunter, Anne Cleveland
  8. Tri Bilbila Poev — Republic of Macedonia NOVO SELO—Eran Fraenkel (kaval), Jim Finn (gajda), Alan Zemel (tambura), Dan Kollar (tapan), Zora Dominko (vocals), Lauren Brody (vocals)
  9. Dersim/Eench Anem — Turkey/Armenia NEAR EAST FAR WEST—Souren Baronian (clarinet, riqq), Haig Manoukian (oud), Polly Tapia Ferber (darabukah), George Chittenden (clarinet), Lise Liepman (santouri)
  10. Dobra Vecer U Barba Sibeta Ovde — Croatia All parts arranged and performed by Mark Forry, engineered by Barry Phillips.
  11. Roumaniko — Greece EDESSA & FRIENDS—Lise Liepman (santouri), George Chittenden (guitar), Dan Auvil (doumbek), Paul Brown (bass), Ari Langer (electric violin)
  12. Amanes — Greece Sophia Bilides (vocals, zils), Harry Bedrossian (oud), George Stathos (clarinet), Nikos Veropoulos (doumbeleki)
  13. Izvezdane Na Bulkata & Pravo Horo ("Leading Out the Bride") — Bulgaria Mark Levy (clarinet), Kalin Kirilov (accordion, synthesizer)
  14. Sarplaninska Ezgija — Republic of Macedonia Angele Dimovski (kaval), accompanied by Goce Dimovski (kaval) & Orce Dimovski (kaval)
  15. Ta Merakia Tou Karakosta — Greece Jim Stoynoff (clarinet), John Roussos (santouri), Bill Demitropoulos (electric bass), Pete Mestousis (percussion)
  16. Damjanku Kuskun — Strandza, Bulgaria Tanya Dosseva (vocals), Lyuben Dossev (kavals), Ivan Georgiev (gajda), Tzvetan Tzvetkov (gudulka), Kostadin Buradjiev (tambura), Ivan Kirishev (kontra bass)
  17. Lence Bre Duso — Republic of Macedonia SVIRAJ—Raczar Lopatic (violin, vocals), Lenny Tepsich (bass), Danilo Yanich (bugarija), Vlad Popovich (brac, celo)
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