A selection of folk songs tells about the Ottoman domination in
Bulgaria, which ended on March 3, 1878, the date proclaimed national
holiday of this country.
The Bulgarian state,
one of the oldest in Europe, founded in the year 681 by Khan Asparuh,
flourished later under Czars Boris, Simeon, Kaloyan and Ivan Assen II,
but was conquered by the Ottoman Turks at the end of the 14th century.
After nearly 5 centuries of domination, the Russo-Turkish war of
1877-1878 brought about Bulgaria’s liberation. The San Stefano Peace
Treaty was signed on March 3, 1878.
One of the oldest Bulgarian
folk song, “Since day has dawned”, tells of the greatness of the
Second Ban Kingdom and the battle of Czar Ivan Shishman against the
Turkish conquerors. It was included in the famous collection of Ban
folk songs by the enlighteners Miladinov brothers.
One of the heaviest duties the Bans had during the 5
centuries of Ottoman domination was statute labour - the work they had
to perform for the Sultan, without being paid. Farmers had to work for
from dawn till sunset for months on end far from their native places.
There are quite a number of sad songs about their hard work.
The most terrible of all taxes was what was known as the blood tax.
Every few years, the Sultan's minions went round the villages with the
decree that one boy should be taken from each Bulgarian family. They
took the frightened children to Istanbul on foot, where they were
converted to Islam and underwent military training. They were brought
up to be merciless and cruel and that army, known as the janissaries,
was considered to be the most terrible of all. “Janissaries are
coming, mother” is one of the songs dwelling on the subject.
The yearning of the Bulgarian people for
freedom, was embodied in the songs about the rebels-protectors of the
people. Some of the earliest such songs hail Krali Marko who was
especially popular in Western Bulgaria. A historical figure, despot
Marko, an ordinary feudal overlord, has remained in the memory of the
people as a legendary hero of immense power and heroism. The most
famous song about him tells the story of three chains of slaves, freed
by Krali Marko.
There are many songs extolling the rebel leader. The haiduk
movement was one of the earliest forms of resistance against the
oppressors. Organized in detachments, the haiduks were true protectors
of the Bulgarian people. Unlike the idealized Krali Marko, the haiduk
rebel depicted in folk songs is of flesh and blood. Most of these
songs originated in the Eastern parts of Bulgaria. They are slow
songs, the performance of which takes a good deal of singing ability.
“Dark forest”, telling the story of the death of a rebel leader is a
typical example.
There are many songs describing the horrors of slavery and
the rebellious spirit of the Bulgarian people. After the routing of
the 1876 April uprising, the faith grew that help would come from Slav
Russia and that the end of the oppression was near... There are many
songs about the conviction that Russia will come to Bulgaria’s aid.
The Russo-Turkish war of Liberation also became a source of folk
songs. One of them, “Near Pleven” tells of a crucial battle by the
same city in Central Northern Bulgaria.
Click on thumbnail to
return to Festival Calendar
PEACE HAVENS of BULGARIA
