"This is our debut album,” Veli says. “I think the title we chose is the life's motto of every musician. Of course, it is true for us - as artists, teachers, and family people. In the CD we have collected some of my songs, the rest are folk songs to which I made new arrangements. We invited many guest musicians. Among them is the remarkable shepherd's flute player Theodosiy Spassov, trumpeter Mihail Iossifov and others. The pieces are in different styles. We have also included two original Karakachan songs which I arranged specifically for the Spectrum vocal ensemble. The music of this ethnic group brings a kind of peace which modern man has long lost. I think that whoever can feel this state of deep relaxation is lucky."

The Karakachans are an ethnic group which in the past used to lead a nomadic life between the lands of present-day Bulgaria and Greece. The Karakachan language is a dialect of Greek. The whole family of Velichka from the paternal line originates from this community.

"Karakachans once used to raise cattle”, she explains. “Depending on the season they moved to places with pastures and suitable climatic conditions for cattle. With the establishment of state borders many of them remained in Greece. In Bulgaria there is a more concentrated population of Karakachans in the towns of Sliven and Kotel. They have preserved their patriarchal mores and customs. Even today they prefer to marry within their community. Their customs are dominated by masculinity - at the chain dance men start performing first, the women join the dance afterwards. First men start singing a song, and after them the women repeat the same melody in the same way. My father respected a lot traditional rituals. From him and from my grandfather I learned dozens of songs. I hope I would be able to make a more extensive study of Karakachan music in the future."

Veli was born in the town of Kotel where he graduated from the National School of Folk Arts. He is a representative of the Alevis - a small ethno-religious group that professes Islam, but at the same time observes the Christian traditions.

"Alevis in ​​this country are a relatively small group about which information is scarce”, says the musician. “Alevism has representatives in the eastern parts of the Rhodope Mountains and in northeastern Bulgaria - Razgrad and Omurtag. Their music is heavily influenced by Bulgarian folklore. My whole family consists of singers and instrumentalists. When we gather at family celebrations they turn into real concerts. My grandfather was a maker of musical instruments and he made for me my first “bulgariya” (an ancient stringed instrument). Maria Gradeshlieva was my first teacher, she put the tambourine into my hands and in school I was in the class of Hristina Koycheva. I graduated in composition in the class of Prof. Dimitar Tapkov from whom I keep wonderful memories. I also play other stringed instruments. Maybe that's why our daughter Diana now studies the violin. She sings very well."

In the studio of Radio Bulgaria little Diana performed the song she has learnt, of course to the accompaniment of the tambourine.

English Rossitsa Petcova