contact Martha Forsyth.
We also have available a few copies of
Rays of Sound (cassette) and Bulgarian Folk Melodies (CD)
About KREMENA STANCHEVA
A living legend among Bulgarian folk singers, Kremena Stancheva was born in the village
of Kovachevtsi in the Shope region, near Sofia. She began singing at an early age, learning from her aunts
and other singers in the village. In 1960, Kremena went to Sofia to study at
the Higher Institute of Economics. Although she did finish her course of study, fate had
other plans for Kremena!
As a 19-year old student, she competed for and won a place in the Bulgarian State Radio
and Television Female Vocal Choir, the group which later became world famous as
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. From her earliest days in the
choir, Kremena distinguished herself not only as a lead ensemble
member, but also as a soloist. Her spine-tingling interpretations of the
slow diaphonic harvest songs from her native region - characterized by
their intricate ornamentation and edgy tremolos in close dissonant harmonies
with a supporting drone - have astonished and delighted audiences around the globe.
An example cherished by many people is the beautiful “Vetar vee”
(sung by Kremena and her life-long singing partner Vassilka Andonova),
recorded by Ethel Raim and released on the Nonesuch album Village Music of Bulgaria.
Kremena has recorded over a hundred songs for the Bulgarian Radio’s archive of traditional songs.
And in recognition of her masterful artistry, she has received
numerous international awards, including the Bratislava Grand Prize and the
Cyril & Methodius Award for her contribution to Bulgarian Culture and
Society. She has been featured on dozens of recordings which have been
distributed internationally on the 4AD, Nonesuch, Polygram, Jaro, Gega, and
Balkanton labels. Most recently, Kremena has released a solo album entitled
Rays of Sound (available on cassette), and a CD entitled Bulgarian Folk Melodies,
which contains many of the songs that she and Vassilka recorded together.
In 2000 and 2002 the East European Folklife Center (EEFC) and the acclaimed
American womenᡉs vocal ensemble KITKA combined forces to bring Kremena
to the United States for a series of performances and educational
activities, including serving on the faculty of the EEFC’s Balkan Music and
Dance Workshops in Mendocino, CA and Ramblewood, MD. Students
at these workshops raved about Kremena Stancheva’s vast knowledge of
Bulgarian folksongs and folklore, her uniquely gorgeous voice, and
her warmly encouraging, inspiring teaching technique.
Kremena currently teaches at the New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Bulgaria, as well as
coaching groups of singers in numerous villages in the Sofia and Samokov regions.
COMING SOON:
We plan to have samples of Kremena’s singing available soon.
To order copies of Rays of Sound (cassette), Bulgarian Folk Melodies (CD), or Kremena’s new CD, One Voice from the Mystery, contact Martha Forsyth