The second edition of Strandzha Gaidunitsa* bagpipe competition is to be held on 7 October in Kosti village, Tsarevo municipality. Kosti is one of the few places where nestinari dancing on live embers survived up until the mid-20^th century, when the tradition was dropped. Now, the heirs to the one-time nestinari (fire-dancers) have gradually been breathing life back into this practice.

• More about nestinari and fire dancing - a first-person story

One of the musical instruments used during this ritual are the bagpipes. Bagpipe players from all over the country and abroad will take part in this year’s bagpipe playing competition.

“With this competition we aim to popularize the instrumental music of the region of Strandzha, and to promote love of the art of bagpipe playing. We are expecting participants from Greece and Serbia as well,” says Georgi Iliev, chair of the Saints Constantine and Helena Thracian culture club in Tsarevo. The club is organizer of the colourful festival, with the support of the National Culture Fund, Tsarevo municipality, the mayor’s office in Kosti, as well as many sponsors.

* Gaidunitsa is the wooden pipe, an essential element of the bagpipe which produces the tones. It is the shorter pipe of the two, the longer pipe is called ruchilo and produces the keynote.

Albena Bezovska

Translated and posted by Milena Daynova

Photos courtesy of the organizers