Macedonian and Balkan Folk Music

Macedonian Postcards

Rugs on balcony in Berovo

Wash day in Berovo

David Bilides and Dragi Spasovski are your hosts for discussions and samples of all 54 Macedonian folk songs in Dragi's 3-CD project, as well as stories about the recordings, musicians, Dragi's life, and Macedonian culture in general. You can download each episode individually under the links section for that episode, listen to an audio stream of each episode, or you can subscribe to the entire series through one of the links on the right sidebar.



Episode 50: Snošti go vidov ubavoto Stojne

This song, popular throughout Macedonia, was originally recorded by Aleksandar Sarievski. Dragi talks about Sarievski and his contemporaries.

Audio and Links for Episode 50

Episode 50: Snošti go vidov ubavoto Stojne (38:34)

Snošti go vidov ubavoto Stojne (Dragi Spasovski, Track 14)

Snošti go vidov ubavoto Stojne (Aleksandar Sarievski, 2:48)

Naročuvat belo Mende poročuvat (Aleksandar Sarievski, 2:27)

Tapan solo (Aleksandar Sarievski, 0:25)

Uči, karaj Gana, mamo (Bonda Dimiškova, 2:05)

Jano mori sevdalino (Kiril Mančevski, 4:40)

Po drum odam majče (Mirvet Belovska, 3:05)

Vezdan sediš na dervenot (Nada Makelarska, 3:21)

Snošti minav pokraj šarena česma (Blagoj Petrov Karaǵule, 6:32)

Storil niet zajko (Zajko kokorajko) (Todor Boškovski, 3:12)

Te kažuvajet bre Ilinoj mome (Aleksandar Sarievski, 3:24)

Što mi e milo, mamo, milo em drago (Aleksandar Sarievski, 2:38)

Brej ǵurčin Stojne ubavo (Aleksandar Sarievski and Nikola Badev, 3:48)

Mesila baba zelnikot (Mirvet Belovska and Nada Makelarska, 2:08)

27 April 2022

Episode 49: Izgore selo Trnovo

Another song from the repertoire of Dragi's mother, Rajna Spasovska. Dragi continues his discussion of his mother's singing history and her colleagues, including a review of vocalists and groups from the Tetovo and Kumanovo ares.

Audio and Links for Episode 49

Episode 49: Izgore selo Trnovo (37:45)

Izgore selo Trnovo (Dragi Spasovski, Track 13)

Zagrmelo vedro nebo (Rajna Spasovska, 2:19)

U livadu potke (Vanja Lazarova, 2:25)

Katerino krotko jagnje (Dimna Lazarova, 2:45)

Dve neveste tikve brale (Kumanovsko trio, 3:25)

Son sonila, carica Milica (Trio Gavrovski, 2:55)

Katerino krotko jagnje (Dimna Lazarova, 2:45)

Raširi oro, devojko (Mokri braḱa, 3:24)

Qofsh E Zez Moj Bukuri (Ismet Vejseli, 2:19)

Ceni se u popa (Kumanovsko trio, 3:22)

Vasile pismo ispratil (Draga Stamenkova and Zlatka Ivanovska, 8:36)

Jovane, Jovane (Kumanovsko žensko trio, 1:36)

Zablejala kaleš ovca (Rajna Spasovska and Zlatka Ivanovska, 3:48)

Oj nevesto crno oka (Rajna Spasovska and Carka Tasevska, 2:08)

Stojne k't si doma (Divan Lazarova, Vanja Lazarova, Rajna Spasovska 1:58)

Qofsh E Zez Moj Bukuri (Ismet Vejseli, 2:19)

Nabrala Ǵurǵa (Draga Stamenkova and Zlatka Ivanovska, 3:22)

Golubence voda pie (Dragi Spasovski, 2:52)

19 January 2022

Episode 48: Crna se čuma zadade

This well-known ballad about Goce Delčev is sung all over Macedonia. Dragi talks about the first person to record it, Mirvet Belovska, and about some of the many singers who've recorded it since.

Audio and Links for Episode 48

Episode 48: Crna se čuma zadade (40:00)

Crna se čuma zadade (Dragi Spasovski, Track 12)

Crna se čuma zadade (Mirvet Belovska, 4:11)

Oj korume (Vaska Ilieva and Mile Kolarov, 2:17)

Donka begalka (Šukri Dehar, 2:04)

Bolen leži mlad Stojan (Vaska Ilieva and Nikola Badev, 3:12)

Vrni se, vrni, libe Mariče (Kostadinka Palazova, 2:29)

Crna se čuma zadade (Ljupka Rondova, 4:55)

Crna se čuma zadade (Vidanka Ǵorǵievska, 8:38)

Crna se čuma zadade (Dany Zonewa, 2:32)

Crna se čuma zadade (Blagoja Destovski, 3:18)

20 September 2021

Episode 47: Ḱerko, mori, Ḱerko

This love song from the Tetovo region is an example of how hidden love is expressed in the lyrics. Dragi also talk about Olga Sićan and his recent conversations with her family, and the Gavrovski trios.

Audio and Links for Episode 47

Episode 47: Ḱerko, mori, Ḱerko (31:56)

Ḱerko, mori, Ḱerko (Dragi Spasovski, Track 11)

Snošti Jovan od Stanbola dojde (Olga Sičan and Simo Gavrovski, 1:26)

Vrati mi ja lyubovta (Vesna Gavrovska, 4:10)

Narača Mitra (Olga Sičan, 4:10)

C'vtaj, ružo, c'vtaj (Olga Sičan and Trio Gavrovski, 2:19)

More dva se zmeja (Trio Gavrovski, 3:10)

Aj gorušice crnooko (Trio Gavrovski, 3:39)

Ajde dali znaeš pametiš Milice (Olga Sičan, 4:22)

08 July 2021

Episode 46: Ne spi, Jano

This song from SE centra Macedonia describes a brave woman who wards off a potential assault and joins her love to fight in the mountains. Dragi describes other songs with the theme of brave, strong women. He also describes a conversation he had with Vaska Ilieva about how she chose songs to record.

Audio and Links for Episode 46

Episode 46: Ne spi, Jano (14:30)

Ne spi, Jano (Dragi Spasovski, Track 10)

Ne spi, ḱerko, ne spi, dušo (Petranka Kostadinova and Milče, Vasilievski, 3:55)

Sirma vojvoda (Vaska Ilieva, 5:28)

Kruševo aber pristigna (Vaska Ilieva, 3:31)

Most mi sidaja devet majstori (Vaska Ilieva, 4:07)

Imala majka (Vaska Ilieva, 14:41)

16 June 2020