Hristina Beleva: Gadulka player

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

10/01/22

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34m

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This episode features the wonderful Bulgarian gadulka player Hristina Beleva, and this project would not have been possible without the generous translation and voice-overs from fellow musician Milena Krassi. Milena was with us during the interview and it’s mostly her voice that you’ll be hearing. Hristina is a virtuoso of the traditional bowed instrument of Bulgaria, the gadulka, which looks a bit like an upside-down violin, with usually 3 main strings and several resonating strings, up to 16. Hristina performs as a soloist with the Ensemble Philip Koutev Folk Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio, the Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, Bulgara, the Milanov-Beleva duo, and is featured on the 2019 Grammy nominated album with David Kuckhermann and Lisa Gerrard, “Hiraeth”. Hristina recently released a wonderful duo album with bass player Vasil Hajigrudev, “Trikop”. This episode features lots of music, and we talk about both traditional music and her fusion collaborations.

The video version of this episode is here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/hristina-beleva-gadulka-player

Support this series! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(01:38) gadulka performance: Ruchenitsa traditional Bulgarian folk dance

( 03:11) - " Hubava si Moia Goro" You are Beautiful My Forest" - old Bulgarian song

( 03:25) introduction to the instrument and the modal tradition

( 09:12) Hristina’s fusion projects and collaborations: Vasil Hajigrudev, Peter Milanov, Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices, David Kuckhermann and Lisa Gerrard (15:32) “Melancholy Beauty” by Georgy Andreev story of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust

(17:29) experience during pandemic lockdowns

(19:32) gadulka performance

(20:42) traditional dances of Bulgaria

(22:05) traditional folklore orchestra of ensemble Philip Koutev

(24:20) demonstration with improvisations of different musical modes

(27:16) comparison of different instruments and traditions

( 28:06) Hristina’s development as a musician

photo credit: Ivelina Milanova

Previous Episode

Peter Purich Part 2

September 24, 2022

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68m

Peter Purich is an innovative violin maker known for his unique personalized chin rest design. He’s also a multi-instrumentalist who plays in many different styles, and a dedicated violin and viola pedagogue. Because this conversation was extra-long it has been divided into two episodes. Part 2 continues with a lot of specifics about playing and teaching the violin, and he describes some of his innovative instrument designs, his unique shoulder support, and some great wisdom. If you missed Part 1, it delves into his development as an instrument maker and innovator, and as a creative musician. He describes some of his innovations with chin rest design and the episode ends with some improvisation and some great parenting advice! I have added timestamps in the description, and like all these episodes this is available both as a podcast and a video, the link is in the description and the transcript will be published to the same link, where you can also find Part 1: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/peter-purich

Support this series and get access to unique perks! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

(00:00) Intro

(01:06) violin and viola pedagogy: bow arm, using imagery, Peter’s devices to help students

(10:43) archery

(14:08) concepts in teaching bowing technique for violin and viola, Galamian

(29:45) Peter’s instruments and instrument innovations

(38:62) shoulder rests, how to hold a violin, Peter’s invention Senza Rest

(52:06) freedom of expression

(53:08) perspectives on orchestra players

(56:46) Peter’s creative process in building and playing

Next Episode

Marilyn Lerner: Pianist, Psychoanalyst, Improvisor, Composer

October 8, 2022

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77m

I was honored to have this conversation with Marilyn Lerner, who is a unique pianist and composer who is a powerfully expressive musician across a range of styles. She’s a wonderful improvisor and has performed worldwide, as well as recorded extensively as both a soloist and as an ensemble player. She’s also a therapist and psychoanalyst, and our conversation moved through many fascinating and important topics including ideas around identity and creativity.

The video version is available here, and the transcript will later be published to the same link: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/marilyn-lerner

Please support this series! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

photo: Jake Sherman

Timestamps

(00:00) Intro

(01:06) jazz piano improvisation

(03:47) exploring different musical styles

(04:52) accompanying Silent film music

(08:58) teaching classical musicians to improvise, KlezCanada, Lori Freedman

(14:18) the piano as a textural instrument and different kinds of improv (with musical example)

(16:46) Marilyn’s youth

(21:10) university years at York University (switching from Psychology into music), and Marilyn’s work as a psychoanalyst, exploring the psychological aspects of being a musician, issues around identity

(27:48) the challenges of making a living as a musician

(30:22) experiences during 2020 lockdowns for both Marilyn and Leah

(36:33) Adrienne Cooper, Anna Margolin, Dave Wall, “All Silent Things Speak Today” collection of songs, “Dreaming in Yiddish”

(41:21) Yiddish and Ashkenazic Jewish history

(45:45) Marilyn plays piano “Romanian Fantasy”

(51:09) Yoshie Fruchter “The Pieces Broken”

(52:27) mridangam studies Trichy Sankaran, opportunities at York University, Reginald Godden,

Ethnomusicology

(56:58) Salsa: learning Montunos with Rodrigo Munoz

(57:47) Jane Bunnett, Larry Kramer, Maqueque,Cuban musicians, “Birds Are Returning” Dafnis Prieto

(01:03:04) classical influences in improvising

(01:07:18) psychology, becoming a therapist