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Caval
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Gabrovo
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1980
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Cherry
wood
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Length:
70 cm
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The
"Alexandre Dumas" School of Foreign Language,
Bulgaria
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Bulgarian people
have always expressed their joy or sadness through folk songs often
sung to the accompaniment of typically Bulgarian instruments. One
of these instruments is the caval. In the texts of songs, the melodious
sound of the caval is often "confused" with the human voice, e.g.,
"Is this the song of a caval I hear or is it the voice of a young
girl?".
Shepherds fill the mountain air with the nostalgic music of the caval. It accompanies them to village dances and during popular celebrations. At one time, rebels against Ottoman slavery hid in the woods and called their sweethearts to meet them by playing a tune on the caval.
My first encounter with this instrument was several years ago. I was walking in the woods with my parents and we suddenly heard a charming sad melody. A little while later I saw a man playing the caval standing in the middle of a clearing surrounded by his sheep. Was this a lost love or friendship that he was lamenting? Who knows?
I left but for a long time afterwards the tears of the caval accompanied me on my way.
I was so affected by this encounter that I happily agreed later to a friend's suggestion to teach me how to play the caval. But I must admit that it is not very easy for a woman. You have to have a lot of breath.
However, I love playing this simple and yet complicated instrument. Am I happy or sad? You will be able to guess if you listen to my music.
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