Васил Чолаков в българската възрожденска фолклористика
Vassil Cholakov in the Folklore of the Bulgarian National Revival

Summary/Abstract: The activity of Vassil Cholakov within the framework of Bulgarian folklore in the National Revival period is the subject of this article. The periods, in which the views on folklore of this remarkable figure of the National Revival period were formed, are specified. His interest in folklore was aroused in him while he was stilt a pupil of Neophyte Rilski and it grew strong and developed during his studies in Russia. The publication of Bulgarian Folk Miscellany in 1872 was the result of many years of work in the country, collecting folklore material; but before publishing his Miscellany, Cholakov greatly assisted K. Miladinov, providing him with songs from Panagyurishte, Sofia and Samokov, and taking a direct part in transcribing the songs taken down by the Miladinov brothers, in preparing and publishing their Bulgarian Folk-Songs. The history of Bulgarian Folk Miscellany is briefly reviewed. In preparing for it Cholakov published articles in the press, wrote letters and established contacts with other folklorists of the National Revival period. The theoretical formulations and principles which guided him in interpreting the folklore texts, and also in his practical work on the terrain and in publishing the folklore material which he had collected, are apparent from the material which has come down to us. Cholakov also helped O. Down in collecting songs from Turnovo and Pirdop. He also prepared a second part of his miscellany which remained unpublished. The appearance of Bulgarian Folk Miscellany is much appreciated in present-day Bulgaria. In Czechoslovakia, J. Holeček has translated songs from Cholakov’s Miscellany; in Germany, G. Rosen also translated songs, while Fr. Kraus translated stories from the same Miscellany.

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