Celebrated Bulgarian poet Dobri Chintulov wrote the famous poems Stani Stani Unak Balkanski, Kade Si Vyarna Ti Lubov Narodna and Vyatar Echi Balkan Stene in the middle of the 19th century. According to some sources, the humble Bulgarian teacher was an author of the melodies for his patriotic texts.

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Those songs gained huge popularity very quickly. They have been re-written and re-printed in song books, but quite often their author was not mentioned. They sounded across Bulgaria in the period preceding the April National Uprising (1876). After the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 they contributed to the development of the new music culture of the Bulgarian citizens.

The song named De e Bulgaria (Where is Bulgaria) gained huge popularity in the first years of the 20th century. Renowned Bulgarian poet Ivan Vazov wrote the lyrics to the song. Multiple arrangements were made to the song De e Bulgaria. Today it is performed on various occasions.

One of the most beloved marches Tih Byal Dunav (Still White Danube) was also written by the Patriarch of the Bulgarian literature Ivan Vazov. He wrote that poem once he learnt that Hristo Botev and his detachment disembarked on Bulgarian land in the town of Kozloduy.

“Our forefathers left us a legacy-a sacred legacy, written with sword and blood. Children of Bulgaria- guard your lands and protect them no matter if you live here or abroad…..” The song Edin Zavet was written by Ivan Yonchev. The music to the piece was written by maestro Georgi Shagunov. It was written back in 1915 in the town of Samokov (Southwestern Bulgaria) and became one of Bulgaria's most influential patriotic songs.

 The song Shumi Maritza (The Maritza is Tumultuous) was sung by the Bulgarian volunteers during the Russo-Turkish Liberation War. Later it was one of the songs which raised the spirit of the Bulgarian military men the most and was an integral part of the Bulgarian victories across the battle fields. After the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885 Shumi Maritza became a national anthem of Bulgaria and remained such until 1948.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov

Audio contains the following songs:

- Kade Si Vyarna Ti Lubov Narodna to the rendition of the Bulgarian National Radio Folk Song Ensemble

-2   De e Bulgaria

-3 Tih Byal Dunav to the rendition of mixed choir and the BNR Symphonic Orchestra

- 4 One Legacy to the rendition of male formation and mixed choir of the Bulgarian National Radio

-5 Shumi Maritza to the rendition of Gusla chior

-6 Stani, Stani Unak Balkanski , to the rendition of male group and mixed choir of the Bulgarian National Radio

-7 Vyatar Echi, Balkan Stene