KITKA & Tzvetanka Varimezova: Barem sa ergen mamo/Shen khar venakhi
Performed by Tzvetanka Varimezova and Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble
Kelly Atkins, Kristine Barrett, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Hannah Levy, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, Katya Schoenberg, Lily Storm
Joined by Kitka Alumnae:
Caitlin Tabancay Austin, Jeanne Benioff, Leslie Bonnett, Lucia Comnes, Catherine Rose Crowther, Juliana Graffagna, Cherrie Mae Golston, Irina Mikhailova, Ann Moorhead, Michele Simon, Corinne Sykes, Natalia Ukrainska
Since 2002, Tzvetanka Varimezova has been Kitka’s primary mentor in Bulgarian vocal technique and choral music. We were honored to have her as our special guest soloist and director of the Kitka Reunion Choir at Harmony & Dissonance: Kitka’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion Concert at First Congregational Church, Oakland, CA on March 10, 2019.
This piece is also recorded on the album Sanctuary (Diaphonica Productions), available from kitka.org/shop and kitka.bandcamp.com
BAREM SA ERGEN, MAMO, NAHODIH (WHEN I WAS A BACHELOR MAMA, I WANDERED)
Dobrudža region, Bulgaria, traditional, composite arrangement with “Shen khar venakhi” by Tzvetanka Varimezova
“When I was a bachelor, Mama, I wandered everywhere kissing beautiful girls from Sliven and slender, tall girls from Jambol. Bachelorhood, dear Mama, is a carefree life. Girlhood, dear, Mama, is a privileged life. How sweet life is while still living with Mama.”
SHEN KHAR VENAKHI (YOU ARE A VINEYARD)
Georgia, traditional, from the repertoire of the Rustavi Choir and the Telavi Women’s Chorus
A song of praise to the Divine Feminine and the Virgin Mary, dating back at least 1000 years. During the communist era, this song became a hymn to the female vineyard worker. Today, it is often sung at Georgian weddings in honor of the bride.
“You are a vineyard just blossoming, young and good, springing up in Eden. A fragrant poplar growing in Paradise. May God adorn you, no one is more worthy of praise. You are the sun, brilliantly shining.”
Learn more about Kitka at kitka.org
Learn more about Tzvetanka at kitka.org/tzvetanka
Video editing by Kelly Atkins
Videography by Rapt Productions
Audio recording by Greg Kuhn and Guy Brenner
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