BULGARIA: MUSIC OF THE SHEPHERDS' TRADITION

Although pastoralism always meant hard work, the long hours spent keeping an eye on the animals left time for the shepherd to 'warm up' his fingers on the pipe of the flute or the bagpipe. Such a pipe was easy for him to carry slipped under his belt or rolled into his pouch. The shepherds practiced freely, playing long non-measured tunes by resorting to the entire potential of their instrument, rehearsing the best-known melodies, wake songs, wedding or dance tunes, etc. In proving their talent during a wake or a patronal festival where they played for the dance, the best of them quickly gained recognition and were hired for a wedding where they were called upon to perform the melodies required by the ritual or to supply the musical background during the wedding feast.