Trakiysaka rachenitsa - Bulgarian Echoes - Festival Mystère des Balkans - Balkan Mysteries - ADEM

Trakiyska Rachenitsa is a lively traditional dance and musical form from Thrace, a historically rich region of southern Bulgaria. Like all rachenitsa dances, it is performed in an asymmetrical 7/8 rhythm (2+2+3), creating a buoyant, forward-leaning pulse that is both playful and exhilarating. In its Thracian style, the dance is known for its graceful yet fiery character, alternating light, springy steps with sharp rhythmic accents, and is often performed solo, in pairs, or in a loose line.
Musically, Trakiyska rachenitsa features ornamented melodies and a strong rhythmic drive. Traditionally led by instruments such as the kaval, gadulka, or tambura, this arrangement expands the texture with kaval, tambura, accordion, cello, and drums, allowing for improvisatory flair while remaining closely connected to the dance.
As performed by Bulgarian Echoes, this piece reflects the joyful, communal spirit of Thracian folklore—music meant not only to be heard, but to move the body and unite dancers. Rooted in Byzantine, Ottoman, and Balkan influences, Bulgarian music is renowned for its subtle ornamentation and irregular rhythms, shaped by a landscape stretching from the Balkan Mountains to the shores of the Black Sea.

The program highlights emblematic traditional Balkan instruments — the kaval (end-blown flute) and the Bulgarian tambura (lute) — in dialogue with accordion, guitar, cello, and drums. Rooted in tradition, this music also opens toward jazz, Romani music, and other contemporary influences.

Sergiu Popa – accordion
Noémy Braun – five string cello
Nedyalko Nedyalkov – kaval (flute)
Petar Milanov – guitar & tambura (luth)
Ayder Ashyrov – drums

📍 Enregistré en direct à l’eMa – École des musiques actuelles
(Centre des Musiques Actuelles)
Passage Marie-Claude-Leburgue 2, 1205 Genève, Suisse

DATE : Sa 29 novembre 2025 | 20h00

🎼 Arrangement : Sergiu Popa
🎥 Réalisation vidéo : Fabrice Contri
✂️ Montage vidéo : Sergiu Popa

🫶🏼🙏🏾 Remerciements aux organisateurs :
Un immense merci aux Ateliers d’Ethnomusicologie (ADEM) – Genève, et tout particulièrement à Fabrice Contri et Julio D'Santiago, pour leur confiance dans notre projet et leur généreux soutien.
🫶🏼🙏🏾 Remerciements aux musiciens :
Nedyalko Nedyalkov – Petar Milanov – Ayder Ashyrov – Sergiu Popa

Follow Noémy Braun
Cellist • Arranger • Composer
📧 Email: braun.noemy@gmail.com
📸 Instagram:   / noemybraunmusica  
🌐 Website: https://noemybraun.com

Follow Sergiu Popa
Accordionist • Arranger • Composer
📧 Email: sergiupopa@hotmail.com
📸 Instagram:   / sergiupopamusic  
📘 Facebook:   / popamusic  
🌐 Website: https://sergiupopa.com


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