Orthodox Music in Bulgaria

The tradition of the church composer in Bulgaria is more than a thousand years old, and can be traced back to the early middle ages, one of the earliest musical figure (singer, composers and musical performer) of the medieval Europe, Yoan Kukuzel (1280-1360), is known as the angle voice for his singing abilities, and is of Bulgarian origin. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church there are two traditions of church composers the Eastern monadic one voice singing and choral (polyphonic), the Eastern monadic composer sees the tradition of the Greek and Byzantine music as the requirements of the eight tones canon of the Eastern orthodox chanting. The second tradition is the choral church music that was established in the 19^th century, when Bulgaria enters the power of the Russian choral church music. 

source of picture: bnr.bg 

Though XIX and 20^th century several Bulgarian singers make their works in the spirit of Russian polyphony. Today, the orthodox music is alive and is performed both the church worship services and at shows by secular choirs and soloists. The current Bulgarian worldwide recognized choirs and composers in whose list permanently takes place the orthodox music are follows;

o   St. Alexander Nevsky cathedral Choir

o   Madrigal chamber choir

o   Sofia boys’ choir

o   Sofia orthodox choir

o   Sofia priest choir

o   Yoan Kukuzel choir

o   Opera singer boris hristov

o   Opera singer Nikola Ghuzelev