BULGARIAN RYTHMS AND REPERTOIRE

Bulgarian intoxication

with Ivan VARIMEZOV

Master of the Bulgarian gaida (bagpipes) and director of several instrumental ensembles, Ivan began his musical apprenticeship under his uncle Kostadin Varimezov, the most famous Bulgarian bagpipe player. After completing a music degree course, he joined the Plovdiv Ensemble from Thrace as a soloist, became the conductor of the Pazardzhik Ensemble, and collaborated with the Radio National Orchestra. He has lived in the USA since 2001, and was invited to teacher the bagpipes at UCLA, where he leads the UCLA Balkan Band. He returns regularly to Bulgaria and has received many distinctions for his contribution to the diffusion of his country’s traditional music.

This workshop centres on the traditional rhythms and melodies of Bulgaria, but is open to instrumentalists from all shores. Ivan will provide the keys to approaching this rich repertoire of unique ornamentation and asymmetric rhythms. It is recommended, but not a prerequisite, that you can follow a score.