Author: Kat
Date: 2003-01-15 04:22
Well, Ginny, lots of FEMALE singers are from the Balkans...There are a very few men too.
But ultimately the women (years and years ago) had things to do with their hands while working. They spun wool, knitted, sewed, cleaned, cooked, etc. etc... So they could sing, but since their hands were busy, an instrument was out of the question. Also, I think particularly for wind instruments there's (even currently) some sort of "phallic" type taboo. I was seen as a little "odd" by my Bulgarian clarinet teacher, although not enough so that he didn't teach me or take payment! However, I was also (I think) seen as a sort of "honorary" male in that I spent all my time in the main "living room" area of the house, and was "waited on" by his mom and his wife. I can't remember where I've read of similar situations where other (usually Western) women are accepted in the Balkans as "men."
The men, on the other hand, were the instrumentalists, since (at least the shepherds) were all alone in the pastures all day long with nothing to do but invent instruments and play them.
I read somewhere (can't remember the exact cite, sorry...) that initially singing was considered to be too "emotional" for men to participate. Therefore, at first they only sang while intoxicated. Eventually, the mens' singing style evolved so that they sounded drunk even when sober!
Come to think, that might be from Jane Sugarman's book on the Prespa Albanian communities of South-Western Macedonia. I don't have the exact title here, I'm afraid.
Anyhow, that's my take on the actual traditions. I don't know what (if anything) has changed in the Balkans of late, but I do know there are two women gaida players in Bulgaria who are Bulgarian. As far as I know, they are pros too. And I'm told one is married to an American. Wonder what else that says about the culture?
'Fraid I can't say anything more about the other tunes your husband's found without knowing artists, etc....
xoxo,
Katrina
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The Ethnic Clarinet
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