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{{Short description|Music associated with Bulgaria}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Bulgarians}}
The '''music of Bulgaria''' refers to all forms of music associated with the country of [[Bulgaria]], including classical, folk, popular music, and other forms.

Classical music, opera, and ballet are represented by composers [[Emanuil Manolov]], [[Pancho Vladigerov]] and [[Georgi Atanasov (composer)|Georgi Atanasov]] and singers [[Ghena Dimitrova]], [[Anna Tomowa-Sintow]], [[Boris Christoff|Boris Hristov]], [[Raina Kabaivanska]] and [[Nicolai Ghiaurov]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2011/2012 season of the National Opera and Ballet House |url=http://bnr.bg/sites/en/Music/Pages/2510The20112012seasonoftOperaand.aspx |date=25 October 2011 |publisher=[[Bulgarian National Radio]] |access-date=20 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623132141/http://bnr.bg/sites/en/Music/Pages/2510The20112012seasonoftOperaand.aspx |archive-date=23 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1491905/Ghena-Dimitrova.html |title=Obituary: Ghena Dimitrova|date=13 June 2005 |work=The Telegraph|access-date=20 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-boris-christoff-1494547.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-boris-christoff-1494547.html |archive-date=18 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Obituary: Boris Christoff |date=29 June 1993 |work=The Independent|access-date=20 December 2011 |first=Elizabeth |last=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Boris Christoff, Bass, Dies at 79; Esteemed for His Boris Godunov |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/29/obituaries/boris-christoff-bass-dies-at-79-esteemed-for-his-boris-godunov.html |date=29 June 1993|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=20 December 2011 |first=Allan |last=Kozinn}}</ref> Notable names from the contemporary pop scene are [[Lili Ivanova]], [[Emil Dimitrov]] and [[Vasil Naydenov]]. Prominent Bulgarian artists living abroad include [[Sylvie Vartan]], [[Kristian Kostov]], [[Philipp Kirkorov]], [[Lucy Diakovska]], [[Mira Aroyo]], [[Mikhael Paskalev]], [[Nora Nova]], [[Vasko Vassilev]] and [[Ivo Papazov]].

The [[Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir]] has received a [[Grammy Award]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1989&genre=All|title=32nd Grammy Awards Winners|publisher=Grammy Awards|access-date=4 December 2011}}</ref> The Philip Kutev Ensemble, the first of the Bulgarian state-sponsored folk ensembles and founded in 1951, also is featured on the 1990 Grammy-winning album and has had many well-known Bulgarian folk singers, including, at present, Neli Andreeva and Sorina Bogomilova. [[Rhodope Mountains|Rhodope]] folk singer [[Valya Balkanska]] has recorded the folk song "[[Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin]]", which was included on the [[Voyager Golden Record|Golden Disk]] sent into space with the Voyager spacecraft in 1977.

==Instruments==
[[File:Gdulka-bow copy.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Gadulka]]
Bulgarian music uses a wide range of instruments. Some folk instruments are variants of traditional Asian instruments such as the "[[Bağlama|Saz]]" (Bulgarian [[Balkan tambura|tambura]]), or the [[kemençe]] (Bulgarian [[гъдулка (instrument)|gadulka]]). More modern style instruments are often used in the modern dance music that is an offshoot of traditional village music.

Bulgarian folk bands, called bitovi, use instruments that commonly include
*The [[Daire (instrument)|daire]] was a tambourine of varna folk music of eastern balkans of Bulgarian traditional musical instruments of rhopode regions closed was a [[sleigh bells]] or [[tambourine]] and big daire.
*The [[accordion]] is closed-keyboard instrument of [[rhopode]] region and [[strandja]] regions of Bulgaria keyboard instruments was [[Bayan (accordion)|bayan]] and the [[concertina]]
*The [[gaida]], a traditional goat-skin [[bagpipe]].  There are two common types of gaida. The Thracian gaida is tuned either in D or in A. The Rhodopean gaida, called the kaba gaida, is larger, has a much deeper sound and is tuned in F.
*The [[kaval]], an [[end-blown flute]] is very close to the Turkish kaval, as well as the Arabic "[[Ney]]."
*The [[gadulka]], a bowed [[stringed instrument]] perhaps descended from the [[rebec]], held vertically, with melody and sympathetic strings. The bass gadulka has largely been replaced by the double bass (called in Bulgarian a contrabas).
*The [[Tapan (drum)|tǔpan]], a large drum worn over the shoulder by the player and hit with a beater ("kiyak") on one side and a thin stick ("osier") on the other.
*The [[Balkan tambura|tambura]], a long-necked, metal-strung, fretted [[lute]] used for rhythmic accompaniment as well as melodic solos. It is somewhat like the Greek [[bouzouki]] and very similar to the [[Tamburitza|Tamburica]] family's "alto" instrument, the brac.
*The [[tarambuka]] or dumbek, an hourglass-shaped finger-drum. It is very similar to the Macedonia and Serbia "[[darambuka]]" and the Bulgaria"[[Tarambuka]]" (Тарамбука).

Modern professional musicians soon reached new heights of innovation in using traditional Bulgarian instruments, by expanding the capacities of the gaida ([[Kostadin Varimezov]] and [[Nikola Atanasov]] [[Plamen Deyanski]]), gadulka ([[Mihail Marinov]], [[Atanas Vulchev]] [[Ganka]], [[Zhechko tenev]]) and kaval ([[Stoyan Chobanov]], [[Nikola Ganchev]], [[Stoyan Velichkov]], Nedyalko Nedyalkov, [[Theodosii Spassov]]. Other instruments arrived in Bulgaria in the 19th century, including the [[accordion]] and the clarinet. Bulgarian accordion music was defined by [[Boris Karlov]] and later Roma musicians including [[Kosta Kolev]] and [[Ibro Lolov]] ,[[Boshko]].

In 1965, the Ministry of Culture founded the [[Koprivshtitsa]] National Music Festival, which has become an important event in showcasing Bulgarian music, singing and dance. It is held once every five years, and the last festival was 7–9 August 2015.

Instruments used in wedding music include violin, [[accordion]], [[gaida]], [[kaval]], [[Davul|tapan]], [[Balkan tambura|Tambura]], [[guitar]] and [[Electric piano|Piano]].

==Folk==
{{distinguish|#Chalga}}
[[File:Misteriata-na-balgarskite-glasove.jpg|thumb|[[Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir|The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices]]]]
Regional styles abound in Bulgaria. [[Northern Bulgaria]], [[Dobruja]], [[Shopluk]], [[Thrace]], [[Strandzha]], [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and [[Rhodopes]] - all have distinctive sounds.

Some folk music revolves around holidays like Christmas, New Year's Day, midsummer, and the Feast of [[Lazarus of Bethany|St. Lazarus]], as well as the Strandzha region's unusual [[Nestinarstvo]] rites, in which villagers fall into a trance and dance on hot coals as part of the joint feast of Sts [[Constantine I (emperor)|Konstantin]] and [[Helena of Constantinople|Elena]] on 21 May. Music is also a part of more personal celebrations such as weddings.

Singing has always been a tradition for both men and women. Songs were often sung by women at work parties such as the sedenka (often attended by young men and women in search of partners to court), betrothal ceremonies, and just for fun. Women also had an extensive repertoire of songs that they sang while working in the fields.

[[File:Folklore regions of Bulgaria.png|thumb|240px|left|Folklore regions of Bulgaria]]

Young women eligible for marriage played a particularly important role at the [[Bulgarian dances|dancing]] in the village square (which not too long ago was the major form of "entertainment" in the village and was a very important social scene). The dancing&nbsp;— every Sunday and for three days on major holidays like Easter&nbsp;— began not with instrumental music, but with two groups of young women singing, one leading each end of the dance line. Later on, instrumentalists might arrive and the singers would no longer lead the dance. A special form of song, the lament, was sung not only at funerals but also when young men departed for military service.

Bulgarian folk music is known for its ''asymmetrical'' rhythms (defined by the famous Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist [[Béla Bartók]] as "Bulgarian rhythms"), where meter is split into uneven combinations of short (two metric units) and long (three metric units) beats, corresponding to the dancers' short and long steps. In European folk music, such asymmetrical rhythms are commonly used in Bulgaria, Greece, elsewhere in the Balkans, and less commonly in Norway and Sweden.

The most important state-supported folk ensemble of the socialist era was the Sofia-based [[State Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances]], founded in 1951 and led by [[Philip Koutev]]. Koutev became perhaps the most influential musician of 20th century Bulgaria, and arranged rural music with [[harmony|harmonies]] more "accessible" to audiences in other countries, to great domestic acclaim. The ensemble has now been renamed the Philip Kutev Ensemble in his honor. In 1952, Georgi Boyadzhiev founded the group known today as the [[Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir]], which became famous worldwide after the release of a series of recordings entitled ''[[Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (album)|Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares]]''.

The distinctive sounds of women's choirs in Bulgarian folk music come from their unique rhythms, harmony and vocal production. Characteristic [[polyphony]], such as the use of close intervals like the [[major second]] and the singing of a drone accompaniment underneath the melody, are especially common in songs from the Shope region around the Bulgarian capital Sofia and the Pirin region (Bulgarian Macedonia). In addition to the ensemble led by Koutev, who adapted and arranged many of the harmonies, and composed several songs (as did his wife, Maria Kouteva) that were also performed by other groups, other women's vocal groups gained popularity, including [[Trio Bulgarka]], consisting of [[Yanka Rupkina]], [[Eva Georgieva]], and [[Stoyanka Boneva]]. Some of these groups were included in the "Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices" tours.

[[Trio Bulgarka]] were featured on ''[[The Sensual World]]'' album by [[Kate Bush]] on the songs "Deeper Understanding", "Never Be Mine", and "Rocket's Tail".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cChPSChCw8w Kate Bush and Trio Bulgarka interview]. YouTube.com (11 March 1989). Retrieved 23 August 2019.</ref> In 1993 they appeared on another Kate Bush album, ''[[The Red Shoes (album)|The Red Shoes]]'', in the songs "You're the One", "The Song of Solomon", and "Why Should I Love You?", which also featured [[Prince (musician)|Prince]].

===Asymmetric meters===
{{main|Bulgarian dances}}

[[File:Brusselshoro.jpg|300px|thumb|Bulgarian folk dances in Brussels, invited by the Bulgaria's EU Commissioner [[Kristalina Georgieva]]]]

One of the most distinctive features of Bulgarian folk music is the complexity of its rhythms in comparison to Western music.  Although it uses Western meters such as {{music|time|2|4}}, {{music|time|3|4}}, and {{music|time|4|4}}, Bulgarian music also includes meters with odd numbers of beats per measure, sometimes called asymmetric meters. These can be understood as combinations of groups of "quick" and "slow" beats. For example, the dance ''lesnoto'' ("the light/easy one") has a meter of seven beats with emphasis on the first, fourth, and sixth. This can be divided into three groups, a "slow" unit of three beats and two "quick" units of two beats, often written {{serif|'''3+2+2'''}}.

Each basic folk dance type uses a distinct combination of these rhythmic "units".
Some examples of Bulgarian folk dances are ''rachenitsa'' (seven beats divided: {{serif|'''2+2+3'''}}), ''[[paydushko horo]]'' (five beats: {{serif|'''2+3'''}}), ''eleno mome'' (seven beats: {{serif|'''2+2+1+2'''}}), ''[[kopanitsa]]'' (eleven beats: {{serif|'''2+2+3+2+2'''}}), ''Bucimis'' (15 beats: {{serif|'''2+2+2+2+3+2+2'''}}), and ''pravo horo'', which can either be standard {{music|time|4|4}} or {{music|time|6|8}}.

Some rhythms with the same number of beats can be divided in different ways. Eight-beat rhythms can be divided {{serif|'''2+3+3'''}}, {{serif|'''3+2+3'''}}, {{serif|'''3+3+2'''}}, {{serif|'''2+2+2+2'''}}, {{serif|'''2+2+4'''}}, {{serif|'''2+4+2'''}}, {{serif|'''4+2+2'''}}, or {{serif|'''4+4'''}}.

===Select discography===
*''Music of Bulgaria'' – Original 1955 Recording ([[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]] 9 72011). Early recordings of Philip Koutev and the Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic. This was one of [[Frank Zappa]]'s favorite albums, and Bulgarian harmonies reportedly influenced the harmonies of [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]].<ref name="Zappa">{{cite book |last= Miles |first= Barry |title= Zappa: A Biography |publisher= Grove/Atlantic, Inc. |year= 2005 |page= [https://archive.org/details/zappa0000mile/page/121 121] |isbn= 978-0-8021-4215-3 |url= https://archive.org/details/zappa0000mile/page/121 }}</ref>
*''[[Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (album)|Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares]]'' – (Nonesuch 9 79165 in the U.S.; [[4AD Records]] CAD603CD in the UK). Featuring the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Choir. This is the world hit that introduced many to Bulgarian music. It is actually a collection of recordings by various artists and groups. A group that included some of these singers (and others) toured under this name.
*''Village Music of Bulgaria'' – (Elektra/Nonesuch 9 79195). Two albums of field recordings by Martin Koenig on one CD (''[[A Harvest, a Shepherd, a Bride]]'', and ''[[In the Shadow of the Mountain]]''). One of the tracks, a recording of "[[Izlel je Delyo Hajdutin]]", was included by [[Carl Sagan]] and [[Ann Druyan]] on the [[Voyager Golden Record]].
*A song from the Rhodope Mountains, "[[Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin]]" by [[Valya Balkanska]] – Part of the [[Voyager Golden Record]] selection of music, included in the two [[Voyager program|Voyager]] spacecraft launched in 1977.*''Balkana'' The Music of Bulgaria – (Hannibal HNCD 1335). Many of the songs are by Trio Bulgarka or one of its members.
*''The Forest is Crying (Lament for Indje Voivoda)'' – (Hannibal HNCD 1342). By the Trio Bulgarka.
*''Two Girls Started to Sing ...'' Bulgarian Village Singing – (Rounder CD 1055). Field recordings.
*''Bulgarian Soul'' – Bulgarian operatic mezzo Vesselina Kasarova sings Bulgarian folk songs with the Cosmic Voices from Bulgaria. Songs are arranged by the Bulgarian composer Krassimir Kyurkchiyski and accompanied by the [[Sofia Soloists Chamber Orchestra]].

===Select artists and groups===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir]] (Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares)
* [http://cosmicvoices.net/ Cosmic voices from Bulgaria]
* [[Trio Bulgarka]], [[Yanka Rupkina]]
* [[Valkana Stoyanova]]
* [[Valya Balkanska]]
* [[Stefka Sabotinova]]
* [[Nikolina Chakardakova]]
* [[Neli Andreeva]]
* [[Nedialka Keranova]]
* [[Diko Iliev]] – compose Danube horo and other
* [[Filip Kutev]]
* [[Iliya Argirov]]
* [[Bulgare ensemble]]
* [[Daniel Spassov]]
* [[Svetoglas]]
* [[Neshka Robeva]]'s spectacles
* [[Kostadin Gugov]]
* [[London Bulgarian Choir]]
* [[Kitka]] – based in Berkeley, California
* [[Nadka Karadjova]]
* [[Vulkana Stoyanova]]
* [[Bistritsa Babi|The Grannies From Bistritsa]]
* [[Oratnitza]] – contemporary band with folk influences
* [[Outhentic]] – contemporary ethno-jazz band
* [[Iliya Lukov]]
* [[Elitsa & Stoyan]] – contemporary electronic/folk duo
* [[Filip Kutev]] ensemble
{{div col end}}

==Orthodox==
The tradition of church singing in Bulgaria is more than a thousand years old, and can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. One of the earliest known musical figures (composer, singer and musical reformer) of [[Middle Ages|Medieval Europe]] [[John Kukuzelis|John Kukuzel]] (1280–1360), known as The Angel-voiced for his singing abilities, has Bulgarian origins.

In the [[Bulgarian Orthodox Church]], there are two traditions of church singing:

* Eastern [[monodic]] (one-voice) singing and [[choir|choral]] ([[Polyphonic]]). The Eastern monodic singing observes the tradition of Greek and [[Byzantine music]] and the requirements of the [[Octoechos|eight-tones]] canon of the [[Eastern Orthodox Church#Chanting|Eastern Orthodox chanting]].
* The second tradition is rooted in [[choir|choral church music]], established during the 19th century, when Russian choral church music began to have an influence in [[Bulgaria]]. During the 19th and 20th century, many Bulgarian composers created their works in the spirit of Russian polyphony. Today, Orthodox music is alive and is performed both during church worship services and at concerts by secular choirs and soloists.

The following list shows contemporary Bulgarian choirs and singers that have a repertoire rooted in orthodox music:

{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia|St. Alexandar Nevsky Cathedral Choir]]
* [[Madrigal (Bulgarian choir)|"Madrigal" Chamber Choir]]
* [[Sofia boys choir|Sofia Boys' Choir]]
* [[Sofia Orthodox Choir]]
* [[Svetoglas]]
* [[Sofia Priest Choir]]
* [[John Kukuzelis|Yoan Kukuzel Choir]]
* [[Boris Christoff|Opera singer Boris Hristov]]
* [[Nicola Ghiuselev|Opera singer Nikola Ghuzelev]]
{{div col end}}

==Classical==
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Alexandra Fol]]
* [[Alexandrina Pendachanska]]
* [[Mihail Angelov]]
* [[Liudmil Angelov]]
* [[Anatoli Krastev]]
* [[Anna Tomowa-Sintow]]
* [[Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean]]
* [[Comedian Harmonists|Ari Leschnikoff]] – actual name Asparuh Leschnikoff
* [[Boris Christoff]]
* [[Dobri Hristov]]
* [[Dobrin Petkov]]
* [[Dobrinka Tabakova]]
* [[Emil Tabakov]]
* [[Emil Tchakarov]]
* [[Georgi Tutev]]
* [[Ghena Dimitrova]]
* [[Gheorghi Arnaoudov]]
* [[Hristo Tsanoff]]
* [[Konstantin Iliev]]
* [[Mariana Paunova]]
* [[Milen Nachev]]
* [[Nayden Todorov]]
* [[Neva Krysteva]]
* [[Nicola Ghiuzelev]]
* [[Nicolai Ghiaurov]]
* [[Pancho Vladigerov]]
* [[Petko Dimitrov]]
* [[Raina Kabaivanska]]
* [[Ralitsa Tcholakova]]
* [[Rossen Milanov]]
* [[Sonya Yoncheva]]
* [[Svetla Protich]]
* [[Veneta Vicheva]]
* [[Vesselina Kasarova]]
* [[New Symphony Orchestra (Sofia)|New Symphony Orchestra]]
[[File:Tosca - Madrid, and Enrigue Baquerizo 2004.jpg|thumb|right|[[Raina Kabaivanska]] in Tosca, Madrid 2004]]
{{div col end}}

==Popular==
Some of the most popular artists include:
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Lili Ivanova]]
* [[Emil Dimitrov]]
* [[Vasil Naydenov]]
* [[Bogdana Karadocheva]]
* [[Pasha Hristova]]
* [[Mariya Neikova]]
* [[Lea Ivanova]]
* [[Desi Dobreva]]
* [[Yordanka Hristova]]
* [[Margarita Hranova]]
* [[Riton (duet)|Riton]] Duet
* [[Todor Kolev (actor)|Todor Kolev]]
* [[Tonika]]
* [[Rositsa Kirilova]]
* [[Silvia Katsarova]]
* [[Stenli]]
* [[Veselin Marinov]]
* [[Diana Ekspress]]
* [[Grafa (musician)|Grafa]]
* [[KariZma (pop band)|Karizma]]
* [[Miroslav Kostadinov|Miro]]
* [[Maria Ilieva]]
* [[Irina Florin]]
* [[Mariana Popova]]
* [[Mihaela Fileva]]
* [[Poli Genova]]
* [[Ruth Koleva]]
* [[Svetla Ivanova]]
* [[Mary Boys Band]]
* [[Rushi Vidinliev]]
* [[Shturcite]]
* [[FSB (band)]]
* [[Bo Bo Bo (band)]], [[Boris Godjunov]], [[Borislav Grancharov]] and [[Boyan Ivanov]], pop vocal trio
* Ice Cream (band)
* [[Stefan Valdobrev]]
* [[Lubo Kirov]]
* [[Kamelia Todorova]] 
{{div col end}}

===Chalga===
{{main|Chalga}}
[[Chalga]] (pop-folk) is a contemporary music style that combines often provocative Bulgarian lyrics with popular [[Eastern European music|Eastern European]] (rarely Russian and Ukrainian) and [[Turkish music]]. It is the Bulgarian version of the corresponding variations in neighbouring countries such as Greece (''[[Laïkó]]''), Serbia (''[[Turbofolk]]'') or Romania (''[[manele]]'').

This subgenre is rather a mixture of [[synthpop]] and [[gypsy style|gypsy music]] with Bulgarian wedding motives. [[Yuri Yunakov]], a Bulgarian [[Romani people|Romani]] saxophonist, is one of its creators with clarinetist [[Ivo Papazov]]. The album ''New Colors in Bulgarian Wedding Music'' highlights his amalgamation of traditional Bulgarian music with more modern elements.

During the Communist era, some folk musicians lived outside the state-supported music scene.  Without official support, wedding bands were also without official limitations on their music, leading to fusions with foreign styles and instruments. [[Thrace]] was an important center of this music, which was entirely underground until 1986, when a festival of this music, which became a biennial event, was inaugurated in the town of Stambolovo, and artists like [[Sever (musician)|Sever]], [[Trakiîski Solisti]], [[Shoumen]] and [[Juzhni Vetar]] became popular, especially [[clarinet]]ist [[Ivo Papasov]].

==Select artists==
{{main list|List of Bulgarian musicians and singers}}
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Azis]]
* [[Andrea (Bulgarian singer)|Andrea]]
* [[Anelia]]
* [[Alisia (singer)|Alisia]]
* [[Galena (singer)|Galena]]
* [[Gergana (Bulgarian singer)|Gergana]]
* [[Gloria (Bulgarian singer)|Gloria]]
* [[Desi Slava]]
* [[Dzhena]]
* [[Emanuela (singer)|Emanuela]]
* [[Emilia (Bulgarian singer)|Emilia]]
* [[Ivana (singer)|Ivana]]
* [[Kamelia]]
* [[Konstantin (singer)|Konstantin]]
* [[Maria (Bulgarian singer)|Maria]]
* [[Milko Kalaidjiev]]
* [[Preslava]]
* [[Slavi Trifonov]] and [[Ku-Ku Band]]
* [[Sofi Marinova]]
* [[Toni Storaro]]
* [[Tsvetelina Yaneva]]
{{div col end}}

===Jazz===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Ruth Koleva]]
* [[Theodosii Spassov]]
* [[Ivo Papazov]]
* [[Camellia Todorova]]
* [[Jivko Petrov]]
* [[Yildiz Ibrahimova]]
* [[Hilda Kazasyan]]
* [[Vasil Petrov]]
* [[Simeon Venkov]] – [[:bg:Симеон Венков|Moni]]
* [[Miroslav Ivanov (musician)|Miroslav Ivanov]]
* [[Veselin Veselinov]] – Eko
* [[Michail Yossifov]]
* [[Milcho Leviev]]
* [[Batuhan Aydın]]
* [[Rossen Zahariev]]
* [[Anatoly Vapirov]]
* [[Hristo Yotzov]]
* [[Antoni Rikev]]
* [[Nikolay Danev]]
* [[Tri O FIve]]
[[File:Theodosii Spasov.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Theodosii Spassov performing]]
{{div col end}}

===Electronic===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Deep Zone Project]]
* [[Esem]]
* [[Shamanez]]
* [[Mira Aroyo]] (of [[Ladytron]])
* [[Valdi Sabev]]
* [[Apo & Nevena]]
* [[Gravity Co]]
* [[Ivan Shopov (musician)|Ivan Shopov]]
* [[Stephan Panev]]
* [[Michail Goleminov]]
* [[Bulgaro]]
* [[Tibetan hearts]]
* KiNK
{{div col end}}

===Rap===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=22em}} 
* [[Misho Shamara]]
* [[Spens (musician)|Spens]]
* [[Upsurt]]
* [[100 Kila]]
* [[Krisko]]
*[[Homelesz]]
* [[Keranov]]
* [[Manata]]
* [[Jluch]]
* [[Qvkata DLG]]
* [[Grigovor]]
* [[Logo5]]
* [[Mr. Freesk]]
* [[F.O. (rapper)|F.O.]]
* [[Jay (rapper)|Jay]]
* [[Soni Bonanza]]
* [[Wosh MC]]
* [[Sekta (rapper)|Sekta]]
* [[Skandau]]
* [[Fyre (rapper)|Fyre]]
* [[Virgo (rapper)|V:rgo]]
{{div col end}}

===Rock, metal and new wave===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=18em}} 
* [[Ahat]]
* [[Akaga]]
* [[Georgi Minchev (musician)|Georgi Minchev]]
* [[Signal (band)|Signal]]
* [[FSB (band)|FSB (Formatsia Studio Balkanton)]]
* [[Shturcite]]
* [[Hipodil]]
* [[Milena Slavova]]
* [[Balkandji]]
* [[Bandaracite]]
* [[Barabi Blues Band]]
* [[B.F.H.]]
* [[B.T.R. (band)|BTR]]
* [[Epizod]]
* [[Grimaze (band)|Grimaze]]
* [[Monolith (band)|Monolith]]
* [[Nova Generacia]]
* [[Obraten Efekt]]
* [[Odd Crew]]
* [[Ostava]]
* [[Analgin (band)|Analgin]]
* [[Kontrol]]
* [[Kukeri (band)|Kukeri]]
* [[Poduene Blues Band]]
* [[Srebyrnite grivni]]
* [[Tangra (rock group)|Tangra]]
* [[Wickeda]]
* [[Impulse (band)|Impulse]]
* [[Faktor (band)|Faktor]]
* [[Odd Crew]]
* [[Review (band)|Review]]
{{div col end}}

===Punk and funk===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=18em}} 
* [[Novi Tsvetya]] ("New Flowers") 
* D.D.T.
* [[Sub Zero Farm]]
* [[Viperfish (band)|Viperfish]]
* [[The Scroletics]]
* [[Brothers in Blood]]
* [[U.Z.Z.U.]]
* [[Akaga]]
{{div col end}}

===Reggae===
{{div col|rules=yes|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Sen I]]
* [[Zafayah]]
* [[Jahmmi Youth]]
* [[Roots Rocket Band]]
* [[Merudia]]
* [[Rebelites]]
* [[NRG D]]
* [[Ragga one]]
* [[Samity]]
* [[Root Souljah]]
* [[Kaya (Bulgarian band)|Kaya]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Music of Thrace]]
*[[Bistritsa Babi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Burton, Kim. "The Mystery Voice". 2000.  In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), ''World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East'', pp 36–45. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. {{ISBN|1-85828-636-0}}
* {{cite book
|last=Forsyth
|first=Martha
|title=Listen, Daughter and Remember Well...: The Songs and Life of Línka Gékova Gérgova from the Village of Bístritsa
|location=Sofia
|publisher=St. Kliment Ohridski University Press
|year=1996
|url=http://forsyths.org/linka/
|isbn=954-07-0765-X
}}
*Rice, Timothy (1994) ''May It Fill Your Soul: Experiencing Bulgarian Music''
*Vollan, Ståle Tvete. "Bulgarsk folkemusikk&nbsp;— musikktradisjon og feltarbeid". 1999. Trondheim, Norway. Master Thesis in Musicology + 1 CD, NTNU [https://web.archive.org/web/20080929225954/http://folk.ntnu.no/stalev/ More info].

==External links==
{{commons category|Music of Bulgaria}}
* [http://www.balkanfolk.com/bg/muzikalni-zapisi-balkanfolk.php Bulgarian folk music for dances]
* [http://www.nosii.com Bulgarian folk workshop]

{{Bulgaria topics}}
{{Music of Southeastern Europe}}
{{Music of Southeastern Europe (the Balkans)}}
{{Music of Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Music Of Bulgaria}}
[[Category:Music of Bulgaria| ]]