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Performing Democracy: Bulgarian Music and Musicians in Transition [With CD]
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Performing Democracy: Bulgarian Music and Musicians in Transition [With CD] Other - 2006

by Donna A. Buchanan

From the publisher

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 signaled the onset of tumultuous political, economic, and social reforms throughout Eastern Europe. In Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the Soviet Union these changes were linked to the activities and philosophies of political figures such as Vclav Havel, Lech Walesa, and Mikhail Gorbachev. In Bulgaria, however, these changes were first heralded and even facilitated by particular musicians and shifting musical styles. Based on fieldwork conducted between 1988 and 1996 with professional Bulgarian folk musicians, Donna A. Buchanan's PerformingDemocracy argues that the performances of traditional music groups may be interpreted not only as harbingers but as agents of Bulgaria's political transition. Many of the musicians in socialist Bulgaria's state folk ensembles served as official cultural emissaries for several decades. Through their reminiscences and repertoires, Buchanan reveals the evolution of Bulgarian musical life as it responded to and informed the political process. By modifying their art to accommodate changing political ideologies, these musicians literally played out regime change on the world's stages, performing their country's democratization musically at home and abroad.

Performing Democracy and its accompanying CD-ROM, featuring traditional Bulgarian music, lyrics, notation, and photos, will fascinate any reader interested in the many ways art echoes and influences politics.

From the rear cover

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 signaled the onset of tumultuous political, economic, and social reforms throughout Eastern Europe. In Czechoslovakia, Poland, and the Soviet Union these changes were linked to the activities and philosophies of political figures such as V�clav Havel, Lech Walesa, and Mikhail Gorbachev. In Bulgaria, however, these changes were first heralded and even facilitated by particular musicians and shifting musical styles.
Based on fieldwork conducted between 1988 and 1996 with professional Bulgarian folk musicians, Donna A. Buchanan's PerformingDemocracy argues that the performances of traditional music groups may be interpreted not only as harbingers but as agents of Bulgaria's political transition. Many of the musicians in socialist Bulgaria's state folk ensembles served as official cultural emissaries for several decades. Through their reminiscences and repertoires, Buchanan reveals the evolution of Bulgarian musical life as it responded to and informed the political process. By modifying their art to accommodate changing political ideologies, these musicians literally played out regime change on the world's stages, performing their country's democratization musically at home and abroad.
Performing Democracy and its accompanying CD-ROM, featuring traditional Bulgarian music, lyrics, notation, and photos, will fascinate any reader interested in the many ways art echoes and influences politics.

Details

  • Title Performing Democracy: Bulgarian Music and Musicians in Transition [With CD]
  • Author Donna A. Buchanan
  • Binding Other
  • Pages 496
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher University of Chicago Press
  • Date 2006-01
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Bibliography, Glossary, Illustrated, Index, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780226078267 / 0226078264
  • Weight 1.94 lbs (0.88 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.3 x 6.72 x 1.38 in (23.62 x 17.07 x 3.51 cm)
  • Themes
    • Cultural Region: Eastern Europe
  • Library of Congress subjects Folk music - Bulgaria - History and criticism, Folk songs, Bulgarian - Bulgaria - History
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2005012474
  • Dewey Decimal Code 781.629

Media reviews

Citations

  • Choice, 07/01/2006, Page 2000

About the author

Donna A. Buchanan is associate professor of music, director of the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center, and director of the music ensemble "Balkanalia" at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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