Macedonian and Balkan Folk Music

Macedonian Postcards

Galičnik tableau photo

Galičnik Wedding Re-enactment

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 35: Ori Jano, sokol Jano

This old love song, first recorded by Izvorno Trio, is from the Tetovo area. Dragi discusses the Gavrovski brothers group, the differences between singing to kavals and gajdas, and ornamenting melodies.

Audio and Links for Episode 35

Episode 35: Ori Jano, sokol Jano (23:06)

Ori Jano, sokol Jano (Dragi Spasovski, Track 16)

Elencice visoka planino (Kučkovki Trio, 2:41)

Ori Jano, sokol Jano (Trio Gavrovski, 3:56)

Ori jabuce (Trio Gavrovski, 4:07)

03 May 2014

Episode 34: Oro vodi Angelina

This love song, first recorded by Vaska Ilieva, is from the Aegean region. Dragi discusses the influx of out-of-region Macedonians to Macedonia in the 60's, their singers and groups, and Radio Skopje's efforts to record their songs.

Audio and Links for Episode 34

Episode 34: Oro vodi Angelina (23:38)

Oro vodi Angelina (Dragi Spasovski, Track 15)

Oro vodi Angelina (Vaska Ilieva, 2:41)

Boso mome šeta (Kostadinka Palazova, 2:10)

Mori mome Magde (Mice Dimitrovski, 5:15)

Ferman dojde od Stambola (Pepe Baftirovski, 3:29)

Tvojte oči (Bapčorki, 2:38)

Aspana me klade (Vodenki, 2:38)

Starakino (Meglenki, 1:49)

Stojnole, mori, moj Stojnole (Kosturčanki, 2:50)

Ajde mori Stojnole (Tanec, 3:05)

22 February 2014

Episode 33: Ozdol ide mlad delija

This west-central Macedonian love song is from Mariovo. Dragi talks about the region and singers and songs from it, and its tradition of zurlas and how they express the hardship people from the area have experienced.

Audio and Links for Episode 33

Episode 33: Ozdol ide mlad delija (15:02)

Ozdol ide mlad delija (Dragi Spasovski, Track 14)

Ozdol ide mlad delija (Dragi Spasovski, 2:55)

Na pat odam, za pata prašam (Sestrite Mavrovski, 2:24)

Zaplakalo mi Mariovo (Vaska Ilieva, 6:16)

Teškoto (Trio Majovci, 5:20)

28 August 2013

Episode 32: Izniknale dva bora zeleni

Dragi talks about the similarities of this southwestern Macedonian song to Lele, Jano, his theory about how that happened, and about Zaharinka Milosaljeviḱ.

Audio and Links for Episode 32

Episode 32: Izniknale dva bora zeleni (15:32)

Izniknale dva bora zeleni (Dragi Spasovski, Track 13)

Lele, Jano (Unknown, from Istibanja, 2:22)

Lele, Jano (Jovanče Dimovski, 2:55)

Lele, Jano (Sintezis, 3:34)

Niz dvori se šeta (Zaharinka Milosaljeviḱ, 3:45)

Račaj čupe (Dragi Spasovski, 3:49)

26 July 2013

Episode 31: Kade se čulo, videlo

Dragi talks about the many different versions and story lines of this central Macedonian song, which serves as the theme music for our podcasts.

Audio and Links for Episode 31

Episode 31: Kade se čulo, videlo (14:02)

Kade se čulo, videlo (Dragi Spasovski, Track 12)

Kade se čulo, videlo (Ace Petkovski, 2:49)

Kade se čulo, videlo (Adrijana Alačka, 4:01)

Kade se čulo, videlo (Vaska Ilieva, 2:30)

10 March 2013