Union of Folk Choirs

In 1926, in the town of Vratsa, the First Meeting of the Folk Choirs is held; in the next year, 1927, in Sofia, a Constituent Congress formally declares the establishment of the Union of Folk Choirs in Bulgaria (UFCB), in whose leadership musical figures from various Bulgarian cities are elected.

As the first Bulgarian choir organization, the UFCB strives for the establishment of democratic principles and the decentralization of the choir activities in Bulgaria, as well as for the attracting as members of a large number of not-musicians. The number of choirs grows considerably.

As early as 1925, the first issue of the Native Song newspaper is published in Sofia; in 1928, it becomes the official publication of UFCB; and in 1931, under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Stoyan Balabanov, it grows into the Native Song magazine. Since the foundation of UFCB until February 1944, 144 folk choirs and singing and musical societies, comprising tens of thousands of singers from towns and villages across Bulgaria’s territory of that time, become members of the Union. A paramount concern of the UFCB is to provide its members with Bulgarian repertory, for which purpose it also carries out intensive publishing activities.

Bulgarian Choral Union

In 1936, the name of the UFCB is changed to Bulgarian Choral Union. Its leadership is successful in securing paid leave for the choir singers for participation in musical festivals, as well as discounts for the railroad tickets when traveling to such events. On the leadership’s initiative, a number of choirs give free performances in hospitals, orphanages, homes for the impaired, military barracks, even prisons across Bulgaria. With the aim of popularizing the Bulgarian choral work and performing art, BCU’s leadership organizes tours abroad by the best choirs, such as “Gusla” and “Kaval”. At the leadership’s insistence, the Ministry of Education increases the number of academic hours for music at secondary schools, with special emphasis on choir singing, purchases Union’s publications and distributes them in the schools, etc. From 1945 to 1947, the Native Song magazine bears the name Choral Cause.

Center for Amateur Artistic Activities

The Bulgarian Choral Union exists until 1952, when it is closed down by the state, and its functions are taken over by the Choir Amateur Activities Division of the newly established Center for Amateur Artistic Activities. The Division’s main tasks are methodological guidance of the choirs, organization of national festivals and competitions, promotion of the creation and dissemination of Bulgarian choir works.

The establishment in 1990 of the Bulgarian Choir Union restores the organized activities and the self-government of the Bulgarian choirs.

Congresses and Festivals

In the period 1928 – 1943, the UFCB, respectively the Bulgarian Choral Union, organize a total of 14 congresses and a large number of national and regional festivals in different towns, which contribute immensely to the popularization of the choral performing art and work, both Bulgarian and foreign. The BCU has so far held five congresses.

Publications

Twenty-two booklets with 41 Bulgarian Choir songs written by 21 Bulgarian composers, Choir Songbooks Nos. 1 and 2 with harmonized folk songs, the Youth’s Companion series of Bulgarian and European choral chef d’oeuvres, eight choral works textbooks, the Native Song and Choral Cause magazines.