Песни от София и за София
Songs about Sofia and from Sofia

Summary/Abstract: After the Liberation of Bulgaria (1877-1878) two types of songs coexist in Sofia: old local Shop folk songs, characteristic for the nearby villages, as well as for almost every quarter of the city; and urban songs, brought by immigrants from the towns all over Bulgaria — mostly intelligent people, who take part in the government of the state. No interaction between the old and the new urban song is observed, but still there are some types, especially political ones, which have the characteristics of both Shop song folklore and the urban song. During the 20-ies and especially the 30-ies, Sofia becomes the center of the new urban popular song. It is a direct continuation of the old Bulgarian urban romantic and love song, though it sounds in a different way. Still here some songs of the impoverished urban population appear, as well as other types of songs. No emblematic song of Sofia has ever been created. The author jokingly describes the arrival of a large Bulgarian cultural delegation, which had to take part in the Youth World Festival in Moscow in 1957. Since they found no other song with the name of Sofia mentioned in it, the "bearers of culture" (including the author), sang the following "sly" song: "Sofia, big Sofia, People eat and drink, And live a happy life.-"

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