TALL POPPIES RECORDS New and classical music by Australian composers and performers

Songs With Mara

The music originated as the score for Meryl Tankard's Australian Dance Theatre show of the same name. Mara and Llew Kiek perform and arrange this mostly traditional Bulgarian repertoire.

Mara Kiek vocals, frame drum [daireh], finger cymbals [zil], bowed drone, music director
Llew Kiek tambura, bouzouki, baglama, davul [tapan], vocals, music director
Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre chorus, percussion
Prue Lang vocals, percussion
Mia Mason vocals, percussion
Meryl Tankard vocals, percussion
Steev Zane vocals, percussion
Gavin Webber vocals, percussion
Ingrid Weisfelt vocals, percussion
Michelle Ryan vocals, percussion
Grayson Millwood vocals, percussion
Shaun Parker vocals, percussion
Vincent Crowley vocals, percussion
Tuula Roppola vocals, percussion
John Koukouzeles composer
Maria Kuteva lyrics
Mara Kiek songwriter
Llew Kiek songwriter
Philip Koutev arranger
Zhivka Klinkova arranger
Dobri Hristov arranger
Koushlevi Sisters arranger
Nadka Karadjova arranger
Christo Todorov arranger
Mara Kiek arranger
Llew Kiek arranger

The score draws on Bulgarian traditional song, with arrangements by Mara and Llew Kiek and by Bulgarian choral figures including Philip Koutev, Dobri Hristov and others. Two short original pieces by the Kieks sit among the folk material.

It was recorded at The Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre, in August 1995, with the company providing chorus and percussion.

Artists

No photograph: Mara Kiek

Mara Kiek

Mara Kiek sings the close intervals and open-throated force of Bulgarian traditional song, drives it on frame drum and tapan, and arranges village horo, ballad and dance scores that stay fierce, precise and bodily alive.

No photograph: Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre

Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre

Tracks

  1. Glava Li Ta Boli, Sino Moi Arr: Mara Kiek 7:20
  2. Prelude Llew Kiek :51
  3. Ovdovyala Lissichkata Arr: Philip Koutev Llew Kiek 2:49
  4. Zaspala E Fida Arr: Philip Koutev Llew Kiek 2:19
  5. Planino 4:50
  6. Ogslu Arr: Llew Kiek 6:29
  7. Terirem [Excerpt] John Koukouzeles 2:18
  8. Zamruknala E Yana Arr: Philip Koutev 2:50
  9. Ti Li Mi Vleze Arr: Zhivka Klinkova Mara Kiek 1:29
  10. Mari Mome Arr: Dobri Hristov 1:41
  11. Zazheni Sa Volchi Sin Arr: Koushlevi Sisters 1:22
  12. Cobweb Mara Kiek Llew Kiek 3:05
  13. Shar Planina Arr: Mara Kiek 4:42
  14. Kumanovsko Oro Arr: Llew Kiek 2:02
  15. Zaliebich Si Edno Libe Arr: Mara Kiek 1:53
  16. Trugnalo E Dete Arr: Mara Kiek 1:22
  17. Rada Pere Arr: Mara Kiek 2:01
  18. O Potaino Rada 2:45
  19. Bistritsa Sevens Arr: Llew Kiek 2:47
  20. Zablyalo Mi Agantse Arr: Nadka Karadjova Christo Todorov Mara Kiek 5:05
  21. Maika Mi Llew Kiek :43
  22. Prehfrukna Ptichka Maria Kuteva Arr: Philip Koutev 2:43

Performers

Composers

No photograph: Koushlevi Sisters

Koushlevi Sisters

No photograph: Dobri Hristov

Dobri Hristov

No photograph: Nadka Karadjova

Nadka Karadjova

No photograph: Llew Kiek

Llew Kiek

Llew Kiek brings Balkan string and drum colour to chamber, choir and dance scores, arranging traditional Bulgarian song and writing folk fusions that sit as easily beside baroque viols as under open-throated voices.

No photograph: Zhivka Klinkova

Zhivka Klinkova

No photograph: John Koukouzeles

John Koukouzeles

John Koukouzeles shaped the kalophonic style of Byzantine chant: long, ornamented melodies for liturgical texts that still circulate in Orthodox practice. A Terirem excerpt sits among Bulgarian traditional song on Songs With Mara.

No photograph: Philip Koutev

Philip Koutev

No photograph: Maria Kuteva

Maria Kuteva

No photograph: Christo Todorov

Christo Todorov

Contributors

No photograph: Régis Lansac

Photography

Régis Lansac

No photograph: Stefan Kozuharov

Translations

Stefan Kozuharov

Where to listen

Songs With Mara is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.

Songs With Mara is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.

Product details

Catalogue number
TP082
Total playing time
63 minutes 26 seconds
Producer
Llew Kiek
Recording Engineer
Jane Rossetto
Julien Gibson
Mastering Engineer
Rick O'Neil
Venue
The Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
Thanks to
John & Gwen Stade
Credit
Régis Lansac
Stefan Kozuharov
Release date
Label
Tall Poppies
Musical work
copyright
© 1996 Tall Poppies Records
Sound recording
copyright
℗ 1996 Tall Poppies Records
Category
Other Lands
Genres
Folk, World & Cross-cultural
Barcode
EAN 9399011008220

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