International Folklore Festival Veliko Tarnovo

Foreign Ensembles
have taken part in the Festival:

The group has conducted in-depth research with a view to the accurate restoration of the musical tradition of Gavoi.
The instruments used by S'Isprone ("spur" in translation) are among the oldest in the Mediterranean region: su pipiolu - shepherd's flute made of reed, su tamburinu - drum made of goat skin, su triangulu - triangle made of wrought iron. A diatonic organ with eight basses was included in recent years as well. Very often the rhythm of the jumps in the dance are set by the voice of the performers, the lyrics of the songs being borrowed from the traditional oral folk poetry.

"CHITA DI RAKALMUTO" FOLKLORE GROUP, Rakalmuto, Cicely

The "Chita di Lakarmuto" folklore group was founded in December 1975. It consists of young people - students and workers. They are united by their love for their native Cicely and its cultural traditions.

I STRINARI DI CALABRIA

"I Strinari di Calabria" was founded in 1974 in the City of Catanzaro and quickly have take place in the nucleus of the most brilliants italian folk groups for own accurate organization and for the maximum respect of the popular traditions between one rigorous scenic transposition.

The group was founded in 1995 but it was unify to San Paolo Group. Since 2001 the company “Limpiados” is an independent group. It took part to the most important festivals in Europe and in the world.
The group presents the Sicilian’s customs and in particular the traditions of the city of Licata in the south Sicily. Licata is a city on the sea so the group represents the old sailor’s and fisherman’s traditions. The city of Licata is located on the plain that is extend to many kilometers, so the agriculture was the best activity for the inhabitants; in the centuries this plain was cultivated by the man with vine, harvest and other vegetables, so the farmer’s traditions are very strong in Licata, that is why the group represents the works and the life, the day of feast in the country. Their customs in the centuries was influence by the civility that has conquered the island of Sicily. In particular Licata that is located in the south of Sicily and was a biggest navy port of Sicily in the past was the first objective for the Turkish pirate and Grecian colons. Every civilization has left a big mark of its presence. In fact their dance, rhythms, typical musical instruments, the language was influenced of Turkish, French and Balkan regions.


Foreign Ensembles have taken part in the Festival:
*ITALY* - THE FOLKLORE GROUP S'ISPRONE - GAVOI - SARDINIA - "LA BRIANZOLA " - FOLK GROUP OLGIATE MOLGORA /LC/ - "CHITA DI RAKALMUTO" FOLKLORE GROUP, Rakalmuto, Cicely - I STRINARI DI CALABRIA - FOLK COMPANY "LIMPIADOS", Licata			ALBANIA, ARMENIAN FOLKLORE ENSEMBLE, BELGIUM, BULGARIA, BURYATIYA, CANADA, CHINESE TAIPEI, CROATIA, COLUMBIA, COSTA RICA, DENMARK, EGYPT, GEORGIA, GREECE, HUNGARY, INDIA, INDONEZIA, IRAN, ISRAEL, ITALY, JAPAN, JORDAN, LATVIA, MACEDONIA, MEXICO, MORDOVIA, NIGERIA, PERU, POLAND, PORTUGAL, PUERTO RICO, ROMANIA, RUSSIA, SCOTLAND, SERBIA and MONTENEGRO, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, TAIWAN, THAILAND, TURKEY, UKRAINE, USA
THE FOLKLORE GROUP S'ISPRONE - GAVOI - SARDINIA
		The group has been existing under that name since 1988. In recent years the group has participated in numerous international music and dance festivals: in 1990 - Northern Ossetiya, 1992 - Kazakhstan, 1993 - Russia, 1994 - Spain, 1994 - France, 1995 and 1997 - Romania, 1996 - Hungary, 1996 - Germany, 1997 and 1998 - Bulgaria, 1999 - Galicia, 2000 - Egypt and Morocco.
The group has conducted in-depth research with a view to the accurate restoration of the musical tradition of Gavoi. The instruments used by S'Isprone ("spur" in translation) are among the oldest in the Mediterranean region: su pipiolu - shepherd's flute made of reed, su tamburinu - drum made of goat skin, su triangulu - triangle made of wrought iron. A diatonic organ with eight basses was included in recent years as well. Very often the rhythm of the jumps in the dance are set by the voice of the performers, the lyrics of the songs being borrowed from the traditional oral folk poetry.

"LA BRIANZOLA " - FOLK GROUP OLGIATE MOLGORA /LC/
	Aim of the group consisting of 52 elements /24 musicians, 12 dancers and 16 singers / is to make people know the authentic aspect of Brianza traditions with the help of music, dances and songs. The "La Brianzola" folk group has won numerous prizes and taken part to many national and international events.
The group has established in 1858 and then renewed in 1959 with the addition of dancers and the creations of copies of the original costumes, which the farmers of Brianza used to wear around 1630. Costumes originally worm by Renzo and Lucia /two characters of Manzoni's masterpieces "The Betrothed" - "I Promessi Sposi"/, are enriched by some traditional accessories: a felt hat decorated by a heron feather for men, wooden sabots, silver hair clips /raggiera/ and, on the bodice, ribbons in feast-day liturgical colours for women. The group "La Brianzola" has a wide program of tunes, songs and marches of different periods. It has to be pointed out that this folk group uses only reed instruments, that create an interesting polyphonic effect. It is much more difficult to gather this kind of sounds but the resulting melody is completely original. The ballet executes waltzes, mazurkas, polkas and saltarellos of different periods: some of them may be even dated back to the 17-th century.

"CHITA DI RAKALMUTO" FOLKLORE GROUP, Rakalmuto, Cicely
	The "Chita di Lakarmuto" folklore group was founded in December 1975. It consists of young people - students and workers. They are united by their love for their native Cicely and its cultural traditions.
The purpose of the folklore group, which delves into the folk traditions, is to preserve the dances, songs and proverbs of their predecessors. The most important and spectacular of the latter are presented in the shape of original folklore shows which have a lasting impact. They draw on the old narrative songs as a means of expression. The dances along with the typical Sicilian costumes create a unique atmosphere. The shows are remarkable for their specific scenography. During the show, songs about love, anger, work and leisure are sung. The show itself consists of two parts: a pageant along the streets of the town, and shows in theatres, squares, or in the open. The group consists of 35 performers, and the show lasts an hour and a half.

I STRINARI DI CALABRIA
		"I Strinari di Calabria" was founded in 1974 in the City of Catanzaro and quickly have take place in the nucleus of the most brilliants italian folk groups for own accurate organization and for the maximum respect of the popular traditions between one rigorous scenic transposition.
Group's name it's bind to pagan tradition of greek-roman period dedicated to dea "Straenia" that during centuries became Christmas roman catholic tradition and it's fruit, at the some way of the "pictures" of the most traditional moment's of calabrian folklore that the Group show during performances, of imposing and minute work of research conduct by Popular Tradition Study Center "Nino Padella", founded and direct by Artistic Director of the Group, Diego Platico, since 1980. In the same year, was born the children Group, called "I Piccoli Strinari", in which actually take part it's about 30 boys and girls, between 6 and 14 years, for give serious and prepared love to own history and culture to the future components since younger. " I Strinari di Calabria" have take part in more of 1400 performances all around the world, representing Italy in the most important Festivals and exhibitions how you will see in our palmares.
FOLK COMPANY "LIMPIADOS"

The group was founded in 1995 but it was unify to San Paolo Group. Since 2001 the company “Limpiados” is an independent group. It took part to the most important festivals in Europe and in the world. The group presents the Sicilian’s customs and in particular the traditions of the city of Licata in the south Sicily. Licata is a city on the sea so the group represents the old sailor’s and fisherman’s traditions. The city of Licata is located on the plain that is extend to many kilometers, so the agriculture was the best activity for the inhabitants; in the centuries this plain was cultivated by the man with vine, harvest and other vegetables, so the farmer’s traditions are very strong in Licata, that is why the group represents the works and the life, the day of feast in the country. Their customs in the centuries was influence by the civility that has conquered the island of Sicily. In particular Licata that is located in the south of Sicily and was a biggest navy port of Sicily in the past was the first objective for the Turkish pirate and Grecian colons. Every civilization has left a big mark of its presence. In fact their dance, rhythms, typical musical instruments, the language was influenced of Turkish, French and Balkan regions.