Music in Bulgaria: Experiencing Music, Expressing CultureEmbroidered with Gold, Strung with Pearls: The Traditional Ballads of Bosnian Women

Abstract

Designed for undergraduates with little or no background in world music, Music in Bulgaria is one of several volumes that can be used along with Thinking Musically, the main book in the Global Music Series, in any introductory world music or ethnomusicology course. Music in Bulgaria provides an overview of the cultural, historical, and political meaning of traditional Bulgarian music. It begins by exploring how Bulgaria's rural traditions affect the expression and interpretation of its music and goes on to examine how the country's social, political, and economic histories have influenced its music over many decades. The book also shows how the musical traditions of Bulgaria have been preserved despite the social changes brought about by the post-WWII era of industrialization and urbanization. It analyzes how Bulgarian music has spread throughout other cultures and how it has made its mark on new forms of popular music. Music in Bulgaria features eyewitness accounts of local performances, interviews with performers, and numerous listening examples. It is packaged with a 70-minute CD that includes examples of the music discussed in the text.