Gologan

SBORNA FORMACIA "ARTISTI ZA PRIRODATA" - NE MOGA DA SE RAZDELIAGologan is a Bulgarian group that performs a unique mix of ethno-rock. The group was founded in 2004, when poets Ivan Hristov (kaval, vocals) and Petar Tchouhov (electric guitar) began playing experimental art rock; they eventually began to add ethno elements as well. They were later joined by Angela Rodel (vocals and tambura), a doctoral student in ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was in Bulgaria conducting dissertation field research on Bulgarian vocal music. Fellow writer Emanuil A. Vidinski (drums and percussion) also joined the group, playing live and on studio recordings until 2006. In 2006, Ivan Vulev (bass) and Grisha Manikatov (drums and percussion) came on board, thus completing Gologan’s current line-up.In addition to using modern instruments such as electric guitar, electric bass, and drum set, Gologan also uses traditional Bulgarian folk instruments such as kaval (wooden end-blown flute), tambura (long-necked plucked lute), dvoyanka (wooden fipple flute with two chambers), and tarambuka (hand drum). Their aim in mixing these ancient and modern sounds is not simply to provoke listeners by the juxtaposition of these traditional instruments in an atypical sonic environment, but to create a true synthesis between methods of sounds production from different historical eras. The musicians attempt to give a specific local sound to cosmopolitan rock culture, while at the same time attempting to renew the local musical tradition.The group’s performances have primarily been connected with different types of musical and literary performances. Since 2006, Gologan has performed outside Bulgaria in Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Macedonia.