88.1 KDHX Saint Louis

an American foxtrot hit that also became popular in the UK. The rest of the show will be "real" Bulgarian music - and I DO love Bulgarians

a song in 18/8 divided 3+2+2+2+2+3+2+2! - really a compound rhythm of 7 + 11

9/8 divided 2+3+2+2

a slow song, followed by a line dance of the type that would normally involved the whole village, men at the leading part of the line doing more complex steps, and everyone holding their neighbor's belt. Such a dance would last 15-20 minutes, accompanied by bagpipe and drum only

an American group, from New York

This comes from a fabulous 2-CD set of recordings, with most of Boris Karlov's recordings, and with some very informative liner notes. It can be ordered on line.

a song in the slower, south Thracian, Rûchenitsa 7/8 rhythm

the last of the "classic" accordion players, he was a Roma musician, and recorded well into his '70s. the dance is in 9/8

a song in "slow 9" divided 2+2+2+3

Although still in classic Bulgarian "folk style", already chromaticisms are creedping in - this band survived into the modern era and played in modified wedding music" style. From now on in this show, the cuts will be longer and with more modern influences. Note the addition of a synthesizer and electric violin.

Šopka Ručenica would be better spelling. On a Hungarian label because of a Bulgarian living in Hungary at the time, who got him studio space. some of the backup musicians are Hungarian as well

This dance comes from the Shope area of Western Bulgaria, known for its very fast dance music. This dance has a 10-measure cycle of steps and is done in a line (belt hold).