Visoko (high singing) is a traditional Bulgarian multipart singing method that is commonly found in villages such as Dolen and Satovcha in the Blagoevgrad region.
In the past, Visoko songs, also known as summer songs, were sung outdoors by women working in the fields.
High singing refers to specific performances of folk songs from the village of Dolen, which was later transferred to the village of Satovcha by women who were emigrants or married into the community. Dolen's women's group for high singing has existed since the nineteenth century.
The songs performed by the group are local two-part songs. During the main song, the first group begins singing, immediately afterwards, the shouters sing a different song, singing specific shouts while doing so, the first group stops singing. The four shouters sing “rukanie”, the curves of high singing. The song keeps repeating until the end.
Whenever women were hoeing or harvesting in fields, one group called out Visoko songs and another answered from another field. In case of need, they sang "Golden Wheat" while reaping, "It's noontime" when they were at noon, and "They are easy, forest" and "The sun is setting" at the end of a working day at the fields.
There is no exact date when this type of singing high was first observed. However, it is known that due to the amphitheater-like nature of the fields and neighborhoods, women sang from one level to another. In this way, they succeeded in achieving this phenomenon.
This multipart singing is one of the key ways the two communities identify themselves from neighboring villages. This tradition is cherished by the communities and distinguishes them from their neighbors. Bulgaria is the only place where such a peculiar combination between Bourdon polyphony and affective calls can be found.
These songs are currently on the verge of extinction, as only four of the grandmothers from the singing group that performs them remain today in Dolen. Today, the majority of performers are part of a women and girls choir that has been singing at the "St. Cyril and Methodius" community center” in both villages promoting this unique musical heritage for future generations to enjoy as Dolen's traditional singing is critically endangered.
Visoko (high singing) is a traditional Bulgarian multipart singing method that is commonly found in villages such as Dolen and Satovcha in the Blagoevgrad region.
In the past, Visoko songs also known as summer songs were sung outdoors by women working in the fields. High singing refers to specific performances of folk songs from the village of Dolen, which was later transferred to the village of Satovcha by women who were emigrants or married into the community.
Dolen's women's group for high singing has existed since the nineteenth century. It's composed of two groups - one and two, each having four shouters. The songs performed by the group are local two-part songs. During the main song, the first group begins singing, immediately afterward, the shouters are turned on, and they sing a different song, singing specific shouts while doing so, the first group stops singing. The song keeps repeating until the end. Each of the two groups consists of a formation of two women singing in the first and second voices. The four shouters sing in pairs, one in front of the other. The four shouters sing “rukanie”, the curves of high singing.
Whenever women were hoeing or harvesting in fields, one group called out Visoko songs and another answered from another field. In case of need, they sang "Golden Wheat" while reaping, "It's noontime" when they were at noon, and "They are easy, forest" and "The sun is setting" at the end of a working day at the fields.
There is no exact date when this type of singing high was first observed. However, it is known that due to the amphitheater-like nature of the fields and neighborhoods, women sang from one level to another. In this way, they succeeded in achieving this phenomenon.
This multipart singing is one of the key ways the two communities identify themselves from neighboring villages. This tradition is cherished by the communities and distinguishes them from their neighbors. Bulgaria is the only place where such a peculiar combination between Bourdon polyphony and affective calls can be found.
These songs are currently on the verge of extinction, as only four of the grandmothers from the singing group that performs them remain today in Dolen.
Today, the majority of performers are women and girls choir has been singing at the "St. Cyril and Methodius" community center” in both villages promoting this unique musical heritage for future generations to enjoy as Dolen's traditional singing is critically endangered.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/visoko-multipart-singing-from-dolen-and-satovcha-south-western-bulgaria-00967) (https://www.bas.bg/?p=36952&lang=en) (https://slowtours.eu/polyphonic-singing-from-the-villages-of-dolen-and-satovcha-entered-the-unesco-list/) |Subject=Art, Music, Verbal Arts and Literature |Country=Bulgaria |Region=Blagoevgrad |SDG=(08) Decent Work and Economic Growth, (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities }}