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The Magic Became Alive Again in the Village of Gela

Georgi Georgiev

In the beginning of August the Bulgarian bagpipes filled with sound the hills above Ilinden area, in Gela Village again. On 4th and 5th August according to the traditions was time for Gela Bagpipes Playing Competition and that is why for a next year in a row people started coming to the hills with tents and sleeping bags in their cars and good moods and music in their hearts. Thus the rising sun above the Rodophean Mountains in Saturday shone on the enthusiastic camp, spread on the hills, and later on, the first magical sounds of the first bag pipes filled the fresh air.

The playing competition started around 10 am. The participants were divided into three age groups – up to 15 years of age, from 15 to 20 years and over 20 years. Since the beginning the public was fascinated by the youngest artists. Prizes went to the 5-year-old Borislav Tonev and his 7-year-old sister Atanaska. While the little boy was playing his bagpipe, the girl was singing a nice Rodopean song and the public happily applauding them. Players, who last year performed with the youngest participants this year got certificates in the second age group and surprised everybody with their fast developing talent in music.

The rivalry amongst the third group was the biggest, of course. After hours of playing, the third place was won by the Australian player Cory Dale, the second one by the virtuoso Peter Yanev and the last year winner Ivan Balabanov deserved the first place again. This year there was new participant – the Holland player Meiss Muller, who played in honour of his teacher Stefan Zahmanov. After Muller showed his skills, gained during the last 13 years he was also rewarded. Special prize was given to the Japanese Yutaka Ban, whose regular and exotic presence literally turned him into a remarkable face of the Bagpipe Competition in Gela. Besides his interesting repertoire, Yuta has added a thick beard to his appearance. The 84-year-old Atanas Ivanov from Gela Village was rewarded for entire contribution to the bagpipe music art.

During the breaks the public wasn’t bored, but charmed by the unique voice of the Rodophean singer Rumen Petov and by the melody, flying out from Stefan Yanev’s bagpipe. Not long after that the meadow was covered by people dancing the typical national “horo” dance. Unfortunately they were interrupted by the heavy rain, that poured down later in the afternoon. The downpour made most of the participants in the fair to pack up and leave the magic place. But the most stubborn and the most prepared from the 12 000, who visited Gela stayed. At dawn the camping fires were lit beneath the spreading fog in the meadows and soon the appetizing smell of roasted meet and baked potatoes flew in the air. The warmth of the good wine and the hot “rakia” challenged the good spirits of the camping girls and boys and so the fun, the music and the dances kept on till the morning.

That is how the fifth Bagpipe Playing Competition above the village of Gela went off. Next year we will definitely be there again and will honour the traditions and the costumes of the Rodophean bagpipe – the most unique Bulgarian instrument.

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