The Shopland Grandmothers featuring Shopland instrumental folk group
The Bulgarian folk group, The Shopland Grandmothers, from the Shoplaka district around the capital Sofia, was formed in 1972 by the extraordinary singer Vasilka Ignatova, who worked in The Shopland Ensemble till then. There were 25 singers involved in The Shopland Grandmothers during the years, but their regular members include 10-12 singers. Vasilka Ignatova is leader and sole arranger of the group. The Shopland Grandmothers have huge repertoire with or without accompaniment, which represent their unique authentic singing with that typical ''shakening'' of the solo performers. They sing their songs for Easter, for greeting the Spring, for St.George''s day, for the day when adoring horses, for a young bride, for weddings, when with the sheep, when on the way, during or after harvest and for Christmas. These songs have the same cheerful character that''s typical for the Shopland region people. The Shopland Grandmothers have given over a hundred concerts. They have performed in many folk festivals, including the one in Koprivshtitza, the biggest in Bulgaria, which became a world famous long ago. They have taken part in several TV and radio programmes as well. This unique authentic singing is freightened from vanishing, cause with a few exceptions there are no followers nowadays. The producers of this album have captured the singing beauty on this CD forever. Lubomir Velev
