Prof. Chapkanov says he is thankful to fate that woke up his senses for Strandja folklore so early:

“I am particularly happy. I’ve had the chance to popularize our art across three continents: Europe, Asia and America. Folklore music is an energy pillar of Bulgaria, it links us to the Universe and our traditions are the mirroring reflection of history. I devoted myself to the preservation of our traditions a long time ago.”

The professor established the Strandja Ensemble in 1965 and gave decades of his life to head it:

“Filip Kutev was my main support for the establishment. He believed in me yet at the Second Republican Festival. I had created this mixed folklore choir and he said: “This is the choir that shows the path to folklore formations.” The other man that supported me was great Strandja singer Georgi Pavlov.”

The rich folklore culture of Strandja with its many layers provoked the scientific interests of the professor as well:

“I have tried to look for the practical application and theoretical dimension of everything that I’ve created. The Phenomenon of Bulgarian Folk Singing. Problems of Sound Production book was the initial scientific work on folk singing. It turns out that tutors use the onomatopoeic teaching method that was rejected a long time ago. If the tutor has any drawback, he or she for sure passes it on to the students. This scientific research gives an opportunity for the extraction of everything that the performer owns.”

Prof. Chapkanov also talks about his reasons to write another teaching book for students, tutors and experts who deal with Strandja folklore:

“We all know that music has been an element of the spiritual and intellectual development of a person ever since the Stone Age. It has accompanied us through all the time – rhythm, dancing, the initial sounds, discovered by the man back then… Music illustrates labor processes, ritual pathos, it has been one with dance and as of ancient times it has developed as art on its own.”

The professor still composes today and another scientific work of his is to be published soon.

“The Bulgarian folklore is a phenomenon. For instance, the steps of the dances are code signs, designed to perceive the positive vibrations of the universe, charging ourselves with positive energy. The folklore song not only heals via those vibrations, it purifies a person’s body and mentality. This all inspired me to write this Longevity and Bulgarian Folklore book,” Prof. Stefan Chapkanov says in conclusion.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev