Diko Iliev- composer, conductor, a sui generis talent, a unique phenomenon in Bulgarian culture- authored dozens of marches, waltzes, horo chain dances, ruchenitsi and brass band music. For decades, Diko Iliev’s Dunavsko Horo has been invariably played in Bulgaria on New Year Eve.
Diko Iliev's love for music is due to the fact that the folk music from the north of Bulgaria was in abundance in his childhood. In his memoirs he frequently goes back to the colourful picture of people dancing in the square to the sound of folk music. He was a music student in the military brass band in Orhanie (now Botevgrad) and was only 14 when he enlisted in the 16th Lovech Infantry Regiment, part of the First Bulgarian Army.
During World War 1 Diko Iliev fought in the battles on the Serez front. There, in the trenches, in 1917 he composed his first horo- Iskarsko Horo. We bring you a recording from the Bulgarian National Radio archives to the rendition of the Wind Orchestra of Todor Kableshkov Higher Military School of Transport in Sofia, conductor Diko Iliev.
You can learn more about Diko Iliev's life and creative work in Radio Bulgaria’s publication "Remembering Diko Iliev".
Editing by: Krasimir Martinov
English version: Kostadin Atanasov
On November 15, the second longest fasting in the Bulgarian Orthodox tradition begins, which is preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. It is believed that, although it lasts 40 days, the Christ's Nativity fast is not as..
After the Russo-Turkish war of 1878, with the Treaty of Berlin, the Bulgarian ethnic land was divided. Northern Dobrudja was handed over to Romania, and Nis and Pirot regions - to Serbia. The Principality of Bulgaria, a vassal of the Ottoman Empire,..
The biggest holiday for Muslims, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, is Eid al-Adha. It begins in the evening hours of the day of Arife (June 27), when Muslims pay respect to their deceased relatives..
Holy Thursday is one of the two days in the Holy Week when we dye eggs for Easter. Tradition dictates that the oldest woman in the family takes on this..
Thunderstorms 
Rain
Occasional showers