Macedonian Postcards

Stefče tells the story of his family's long-time involvement in folk music, his path to professional work (including meeting Mile Kolarov), and his first recording with Dragi.

This podcast was recorded in January 2009, when all three musicians were visiting Seattle. Each gets to tell the story of how they found this folk music in their lives and what their professional work has been since.

Dragi talks about his relationship with Nikola Badev, who first recorded this song, discusses more about the emotional impact of young men going to foreign lands, and explains why certain singers are never forgotten in Macedonia.

For this song from Resen about unhappy love, Dragi reviews the original Raspejani Resenčani recording, talks about Goran's arrangement, and tells how he's incorporated another version of the song into his own performances.

Dragi talks about Vasilievski's original recording of this sad love song from eastern Macedonia, Jordan Nikolić, Mara Gjorgjević, and the strange true tale of Lenka Pingova and Koljo Velkov.

For this Ohrid song about a young Christian girl who falls in love with a Turk, Dragi talks about the Ohridski Trubaduri, Ansambl Biljana, and ethnic Turks and Albanians who recorded for Radio Skopje.

Dragi speculates on why his repertoire contains so many songs from Lazaropole, the process by which some singers at festivals performed songs not from their home region, and more about his personal relationship with Sarievski.

Dragi talks about Anka Gieva, who first recorded this song about a likely arranged marriage, Olga Sičan from Tetovo, and the real life Vaske Evgova and Epsa Dimuševa.

Dragi talks about the Isniaovski sisters, one of whom first recorded this love song.

This well-known song from Skopsko about a man who can't pay his bar bill has many versions. Dragi talks about his first hearing of the song on the kemane and about Elene Dimitrievska.

This old love ballad is from the Lazaropole/Mijak area. Dragi also discusses arranged marriages and reminisces about Kiril Mančevski.

This love song in 5/16 from the Pelagonija region generates a discussion about the hero Krale Marko, the singers Ǵorǵi Želčeski, Kevser Selimova, and Gogo Zafiroski, and a famous song claimed by everyone in the Balkans.

Dragi describes this ode to youth, the Lazaropole/Mijak area, the dance "Teškoto", and Aleksandar Sarievski.

Dragi talks about Mila Belovska, čalgija, and this song about an Ottoman tax collector.

The story of an unhappy love, thwarted by jealous villagers. Dragi talks about his difficulties understanding the meaning of the song as a child, and about matchmaking in the village. ©2008 Izvor Music

This is the story of a shepherd whose coat is stolen by thieves but who escapes alive, to the relief of his girlfriend, Dafina. Dragi also talks about Kruševo, Vlachs, and how the melody became changed from the original version.

The second song in our series is Ilčovice, Mlada Nevesto, a song in which an Ottoman official, Mustaf, expresses his admiration for Ilčo's young bride. Dragi talks about how he first heard the song—from a new bride, no less—and about other similar songs.

We begin the series of 54 songs with Aj, iznikna mi badem drvo, the story of two lovers enjoying a tryst beneath an almond tree. Dragi talks about Goran Alački, and about meeting Vaska Ilieva for the first time.

In this inaugural episode, we talk about how we met, the different joint music events that led up to the current 3-CD project, and talk a little about Dragi's mother, the singer Rajna Spasovska.