The creative career of Stefan Kanev is an unusual one. “God has given me a soul of a wanderer and thrown me into the river of folk music – looking for the banks or swimming against the current in order to reach the pure and eternal spring,” the musician said about himself.

Stefan Kanev started his development from classical music before he completely devoted himself to folk music. "There is nothing more wonderful than the folk song and its melody. It seems to me that I was writing such music before I knew the notes. The uniqueness of Bulgarian folklore lies in its melody and dramatism, as well as in its incredible diversity for such a small country," he once said. The work of Stefan Kanev attracts with its sincerity in seeking the right harmonies in transformation of original folklore. "For Stefan, just like Bela Bartok, a folk song was not inferior to a Mozart sonata or a fugue by Bach.Therefore, hewas extremely careful when handling folk music," ethnomusicology expert Lyuben Botusharov says.

In 2015, we marked the 85th anniversary since the birth of Stefan Kanev. On this occasion Kalinka Zgurova - renowned Strandzha singer and wife of Stefan Kanev, assisted for releasing an album titled "Mesechinkolyo" that collects works and arrangements by the composer. This year she also participates in organizing a concert dedicated to Stefan Kanev.

“We are on the eve of the anniversary of his birth,” she says. “Folk bands from all over Bulgaria, performing his wonderful songs and the singers of "The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices", will meet in “Tears and Laughter” (Salzaismyah) theatre in Sofia. The concert on Saturday starts 11:00. Bands from VelikoTurnovo, Bourgas, Targovishte, Elin Pelin, Zlatitsa and Chavdar will come to the concert. ‘Slavyanskabeseda’ community center is the host of the event. It was in this community center where 20 years ago the "Stefan Kanev"Choir was established, conducted by the great folklorist Mihail Bukureshtliev. There is a street namedafter maestro Stefan Kanev and a music school called "Kanev - Zgurova." We released a CD with selected instrumental, choral and solo works. In this CD we included performances by Bulgarian iconic musicians - Nikola Ganchev, Kostadin Varimezov, Mikhail Marinov, as well as singers Sonia Kancheva, Valya Balkanska, Pavlina Gorcheva. I am happy that there are musicians who perform his works and I think this is a way for Stefan Kanev to live through his work with us. I want to invite all fans of Stefan Kanev’s music to come to the concert on November 26, which is free. I am grateful to God for meeting Stefan Kanev, for having his son, who is alsonamed Stefan Kanev. We will continue to preservethe work of the great composer."

English: Alexander Markov