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 September 13 and 14 th the Orthodox Church celebrates the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, which is one of the greatest Christian holidays, celebrated with special solemnity. In Bulgaria it is widely known as..
On September 8, when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Nativity of the Holy Theotokos), we take a look at the beautiful valley of Gabrovnitsa River and the Monastery of the Holy Theotokos, better..
Bulgaria is celebrating 145 years of the Shipka Peak epopee - the heroic six-day epic battle in which the native defenders proved that freedom is not a gift, but was won with the blood and sacrifice of thousands of Bulgarians. The Balkan peak of Saint..
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Cloudy
Overcast, rain