Macedonian and Balkan Folk Music

Macedonian Postcards

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Bansko and Pirin Planina

David Bilides and Dragi Spasovski are your hosts for discussions and samples of all 54 Macedonian folk songs in Dragi's 3-CD project, as well as stories about the recordings, musicians, Dragi's life, and Macedonian culture in general. You can download each episode individually under the links section for that episode, listen to an audio stream of each episode, or you can subscribe to the entire series through one of the links on the right sidebar.

Episode 15: Merak imav

Dragi talks about Vasilievski's original recording of this sad love song from Eastern Macedonia, Jordan Nikolić, Mara Gjorgjević, and the strange true tale of Lenka Pingova and Koljo Velkov.

Audio and Links for Episode 15

Episode 15: Merak imav (11:22)

Merak imav (Dragi Spasovski, Track 14)

Ajde, Jano, kolo da igramo (Hafa Karić, 3:28)

15 November 2009

Episode 14: Ja izlezi, stara majko

For this Ohrid song about a young Christian girl who falls in love with a Turk, Dragi talks about the Ohridski Trubaduri, Ansambl Biljana, and ethnic Turks and Albanians who recorded for Radio Skopje.

Audio and Links for Episode 14

Episode 14: Ja izlezi, stara majko (11:50)

Ja izlezi, stara majko (Dragi Spasovski, Track 13)

Ano pominuvaš (Ohridski Trubaduri, 4:14)

Bog da bie ruse tvojata majka (Ansambl Biljana, 4:09)

Moj manuše (Gani Grubi, 3:08)

Blaguno dejče (Selimova-Želčeski duo, 4:44)

Ja izlezi, stara majko (Petranka Kostadinova, 2:22)

1 October 2009

Episode 13: Sva noḱ mi bilbil prepeja

For this song about a jilted lover, Dragi speculates on why his repertoire contains so many songs from Lazaropole, the process by which some singers at festivals performed songs not from their home region, and more about his personal relationship with Sarievski.

Audio and Links for Episode 13

Episode 13: Sva noḱ mi bilbil prepeja (11:50)

Sva noḱ mi bilbil prepeja (Dragi Spasovski, Track 12)

Što mi e Milo em Drago (Aleksandar Sarievski & Anka Gieva, 1:48)

Sva noḱ mi bilbil prepeja (Aleksandar Sarievski, 2:37)

15 December 2008

Episode 12: Kaži, Vaske Evgova

Dragi talks about Anka Gieva, who first recorded this song about a likely arranged marriage, Olga Sičan from Tetovo, and the real life Vaske Evgova and Epsa Dimuševa.

Audio and Links for Episode 12

Episode 12: Kaži, Vaske Evgova (14:34)

Kaži, Vaske Evgova (Dragi Spasovski, Track 11)

Ajde dali znaeš, pametiš, Milice (Ansambl Čalgija, 3:34)

Eleno ḱerko (Anka Gieva, 2:45)

21 October 2008

Episode 11: Koj ti gi dade tie crni oči

Dragi talks about the Isnjaovski sisters, one of whom first recorded this love song from Northern Macedonia.

Audio and Links for Episode 11

Episode 11: Koj ti gi dade tie crni oči (Download, 12.3 MB, 8:58)

Koj ti gi dade tie crni oči (Dragi Spasovski, Track 10)

7 September 2008