Trio Bulgarka (Bulgarian: Трио „Българка“; also known as "Three Golden Coins", previously known as "Bulgarka Folk Trio") were a Bulgarian vocal ensemble.

Trio Bulgarka
Also known asBulgarka Folk Trio, Three Golden Coins
OriginBulgaria
GenresWorld music
Years active1975–1999
LabelsHannibal
MembersStoyanka Boneva
Yanka Rupkina
Eva Georgieva

They gained international prominence through their contributions to the groundbreaking 1975 world music album Balkana: The music of Bulgaria, originally released on the now defunct Hannibal label.

The three women in the trio were Stoyanka Boneva [bg] from Pirin, Yanka Rupkina [bg] from Strandzha and Eva Georgieva [bg] from Dobruja.[1] Their diversity of regional backgrounds enabled them to create a unique sound to their music.[1] They recorded for record labels Bulgaria Balkanton and Hannibal in 1987. In 1988, their album The Forest Is Crying, produced by Joe Boyd was released.[1]

As part of the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir, they appeared on the album Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Volume Two,[1] which won a Grammy Award in 1989.[2][3]

In 1989 they were featured on The Sensual World album by Kate Bush,[1] on the songs "Deeper Understanding", "Never Be Mine", and "Rocket's Tail".[4] In 1993 they appeared on another Kate Bush album, The Red Shoes, in the songs "You're the One", "The Song of Solomon", and "Why Should I Love You?", which also featured Prince.

"I've never worked with women on such an intense creative level," Bush told the Los Angeles Times in January 1990, "and it was something strange to feel this very strong female energy in the studio. It was interesting to see the way the men in the studio reacted… Instead of just one female, there was a very strong female presence."[5]

The trio disbanded at the end of the 1990s, and Eva Georgieva died in 2004.[6]

Discography edit

Albums
  • The Forest Is Crying (Lament For Indje Voivode), Hannibal Records, 1988
  • Bulgarka Vocal Trio, Balkanaton, 1989
  • Folk Songs (Trio Bulgarka-Penev), Gega New, 1994
Contributing artist

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2533. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ Buchanan, Donna A. (2006). Performing democracy : Bulgarian music and musicians in transition. Chicago, Ill. [u.a.]: Univ. of Chicago Press. p. 489. ISBN 9780226078267.
  3. ^ "Past Winners". Grammy.com. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014.
  4. ^ "Kate Bush and Trio Bulgarka interview". YouTube. Retrieved 16 October 2021.[dead YouTube link]
  5. ^ Atkinson, Terry (28 January 1990). "The Baffling, Alluring World of Kate Bush". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  6. ^ Dimitrova, Ilka; Stanchev, Zhivko (9 July 2015). "Trio Bulgarka — first chamber folk formation to conquer the world". Bulgarian National Radio. Retrieved 28 November 2021.

External links edit