Their music is based on over a thousand years of musical tradition of Bulgaria, arranged by Bulgarian composers from the 1950s to this day. Their resonant and vibrato-free vocal quality is unique to Bulgaria. Most of the singers are originally from the rural regions of the country trained in their regional singing styles. They are currently directed by Bulgarian conductor Dora Hristova.
Their initial commercial release was in 1966 with the album “Music of Bulgaria” on the Elektra label. Seven albums followed during the late 80s and 90s, including one live album “A Cathedral Concert” in 1988 and a remix album “From Bulgaria With Love” in 1993. To-date their last release was in 2001.
In the UK, their reputation was secured by the re-release of "Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Volume 1" on the 4AD label.
Polegnala E Todora
Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Todora was taking a nap
Moma Todoro Todoro
O maiden Todora, Todora
Pod durvo pod maslinovo
Undernath a tree, an olive tree
Poveya vetrets, gornenets.
A wind blew, a north wind.
It snapped off an olive branch,
Che si Todora subudi
So that Todora woke up.
A tya mu se lyuto surdi:
And she angrily scolded it:
Vetre le nenaveyniko,
Unwanted wind,
Sega li nayde de veesh?
Why now did you decide to blow?
Sladka si sunya sunuvah
I was dreaming a sweet dream
Che mi doshlo purvo libe.
That my first love had come,
I doneslo pustra kitka,
And brought me a colorful bouquet,
I doneslo pustra kitka,
And brought me a colorful bouquet.
A na kitka zlaten prusten.
And on the bouquet a gold ring.
The song Polegnala E Todora by Le Mystère Des Voix Bulgares is a Bulgarian folk song that tells the story of a young woman named Todora who falls asleep under an olive tree. As she sleeps, a north wind blows and snaps off an olive branch, waking Todora angrily. She scolds the wind for waking her up and asks why it has decided to blow now. Todora then explains that she was dreaming of her first love, who had come to her with a colorful bouquet of flowers and a golden ring.
The lyrics of this song evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for a lost love, as well as a connection to nature and the elements. The wind, which is personified as an unwanted intruder, serves as a symbol of the disruptions and challenges that can arise in life, while the olive tree represents stability and endurance. The bouquet of flowers and the golden ring, meanwhile, symbolize hope and the possibility of new beginnings.
Overall, the song Polegnala E Todora is a haunting and evocative piece of music that captures the timeless themes of love, loss, and resilience. Through its simple but powerful lyrics and haunting melodies, it speaks to the human experience in a way that transcends language and culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Polegnala e Todora
Todora was taking a nap
Moma Todoro Todoro
O maiden Todora, Todora
Pod durvo pod maslinovo
Undernath a tree, an olive tree
Poveya vetrets, gornenets.
A wind blew, a north wind.
Otkurshi klonka maslina,
It snapped off an olive branch,
Che si Todora subudi
So that Todora woke up.
A tya mu se lyuto surdi:
And she angrily scolded it:
Vetre le nenaveyniko,
Unwanted wind,
Sega li nayde de veesh?
Why now did you decide to blow?
Sladka si sunya sunuvah
I was dreaming a sweet dream
Che mi doshlo purvo libe.
That my first love had come,
I doneslo pustra kitka,
And brought me a colorful bouquet,
I doneslo pustra kitka,
And brought me a colorful bouquet.
A na kitka zlaten prusten.
And on the bouquet a gold ring.
Writer(s): Philip Tenev Kutev, Mariyka Vassileva Kuteva
Contributed by Gabriella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@christianguignard9980
Le temps passe, s' enfuit entre nos doigts, et donc même les voix Bulgares changent. Néanmoins et fort heureusement moins que le reste du monde. Les substances vocales ont évolué, ce qui est logique, on ne vit plus dans les mêmes champs, et la légitimité originelle puisait à des sources bien différentes. On ressent particulièrement ce changement dans un certain renversement; Les chants bulgares sont passés d' une douleur transfigurée à une joie sereine, tout en gardant une structure comparable. Autres temps autres mœurs, on ne va pas regretter les temps anciens ou ces peuples souffraient plus que de mesure. Ils ont donc bien préservé leur tradition en choisissant de vivre et apprécier la lumière et la liberté.
@bolandwoodworking8467
My love, when we first met, sent this to me. I burst into tears. Married 22 years now and this anchors my love for her. Oh my...
@nikolasbbq
moves me to tears every time. The most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.
@Aufnahmesfreiheit
Yes, by far the most celestial music that I ever came in touch with.
@millieristic
give Kalimanku denku a listen
@JOAOAMAROSILVA
The universal language of music, that one who speaks with the heart and soul explains The Mistery of Bulgarian Voices... and the emotions that comes with this song, cannot be expressed into words.
@davey8914
The Banshees of Inisherin brought me here. And I'm glad it did.
@gabrielgabriel4921
Love the fact that we can hear the different voices more clearly when the cameraman moves !
@braithersb7712
I first heard this piece when I was about 15, and in to indie music, and have never forgotten it... a contrast to what I was in to! A desert Island disc for me - so beautiful
@emiatanasova5703
Прекрасни гласове, забележителни носии! Българска магия!