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The CD Voice of the Rhodopes includes 19 Bulgarian folk songs from Rhodopa Region performed by Bulgarian folk singer Mladen Koynarov.

The Rhodope Mountains has been the birth place of many Bulgarian singers and musicians. The specific songs of the region and the unusual pentatonic, which are not characteristic for other folk regions in the country, as well as the typical kaba (low-tone) gaida make the music of the Rhodopes a unique sound palette. Mladen Koynarov’s songs introduce an additional richness to its colours. Born in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, in the village of Oryahovets in the Smolyan district, Mladen Koynarov began his artistic career as a soloist in a concert group (1966), and in 1970 he won a position in the “Rhodopa” State Ensemble for Folk Songs and Dances in Smolyan. To this day he is a soloist with this ensemble. He has personally uncovered and learned over 350 folk songs of the central Rhodopes, some of which were released on LPs. He has also recorded over 70 songs for Bulgarian National Radio and participated on more than 140 television programs. In 1978 he received the second prize in the Prix de Folklore competition of Radio Bratislava, and he is also the recipient of the Silver Lyre (1995) and Golden Lyre (1998) awards of the Union of Bulgarian Music and Dance Professionals. The singer passes his experience and skill on to the young people. In 2000 he founded a school for folk singing in Smolayn. His students are laureates of regional and national competitions and festivals. (GD 321)