PERFORMANCE PRACTICES AND “HORO SONGS” ON THE SOUTHERN SLOPES OF SREDNA GORA

Abstract

This paper examines the specific characteristics of songs and performance practices documented during fieldwork in the village of Starosel, Hisarya Municipality. The horo song repertoire is analyzed on the basis of recorded materials featuring local singer Rada Kakanаsheva, within the context of the Sredna Gora folklore region. The study explores genre characteristics, musical and textual morphology, and the evolution of the traditional syncretism between vocal performance and dance movement. Using a comparative approach, it identifies points of convergence with songs from other musical-folklore dialects. This sheds light on historical migration waves and on the adaptation of musical material to the needs of local dance practices.