Bansko

Hila here. Yesterday we left Tsigov Chark and headed to Bansko. On the way we stopped at an outdoor market selling dainty wild strawberry, raspberry, and blueberry preserves, honey flavored with pine and mint and nuts, fresh blueberries and raspberries, and jars of sharena sol, fancy colorful Bulgarian salt.

Bansko is a ski town at the foot of the majestic Pirin mountains. For our northwest readers, it's reminiscent of Whistler or Leavenworth -- except the buildings of downtown Bansko are actually centuries old. Here's the view from Dina and my hotel room:

In the afternoon we attended a workshop with Atanas "Nasko" Yanchovichin, the director of Banski Starcheta. The name of the group translates to "The Old Men of Bansko," but some of them are quite young. We learned Rasti Bore and Drago mi e mome, two songs in the unique Bansko style -- one person on melody and the rest droning. I can't wait to add these songs to Dunava's repertoire and share them with Seattle audiences (as a reminder, our first formal opportunity for that will be November 8th 2014 at Town Hall, so please save the date!).

After the workshop, Banski Starcheta serenaded us at dinner.

On a (personal) musical note: I love complex choral pieces. One of the things that drew me to Dina's project in 2005 was the arrangements. I am always thrilled by one-person-per part, tight harmony singing with lots of crunchy chords. I've been collecting these kinds of arrangements -- the Kutevs and Ljondevs and Mutafchievs -- while we've been here. But I am also feeling like I finally understand the village sound that is their inspiration. Hearing each group display its unique regional sound has been an invaluable part of this trip -- so thank you again to everyone who made it possible.