by Alex Henderson
A highly ambitious and chance-taking project, Mountain Tale unites the Bulgarian Voices (a 24-member vocal choir from Bulgaria) with the Moscow Art Trio and the Tuvan ensemble Huun-Huur-Tu. The songs, which include &Sad Harvest& and &Dancing Voices,& are traditional, but what the participants do with them is quite experimental. Elements of Bulgarian folk are combined with Russian and Tuvan folk as well as European classical music; occasionally, traces of jazz and Scandinavian folk can also be heard. The vocal harmonies that the Bulgarian Voices provide are simply amazing; one shouldn't even think about doing this type of singing unless he/she has serious chops -- members of the Voices obviously do. Mountain Tale is highly recommended to those who are seeking something fresh and adventurous from world music.
Arranged By [Arr.] – M. Alperin (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 9)
Artwork – FUEGO-Ateliers, Friedel Muders
Conductor [Angelite] – Valentin Velkov
Engineer – Andy High, Tim Haertel
French Horn, Flugelhorn, Voice – Arkady Shilkloper
Grand Piano, Melodica, Voice, Cowbell [Cowbells], Directed By [Musical Director], Liner Notes – Mikhail Alperin
Mixed By, Mastered By – Jan Erik Kongshaug
Mixed By, Mastered By, Directed By [Musical Director] – Mikhail Alperin
Other [Assistance] – Douglas Murphy
Producer, Photography By [Photos] – Ulrich Balss
Vocals – Tzetza Bekova, Ekaterina Bogdanova, Tatiana Douparinova, Elka Simeonova, Tonia Iankova, Nadejda Illieva, Kostadinka Inkova, Youlia Peneva, Kera Bogdanova, Krastina Krasteva, Nadejda Karporova, Nadia Vladimirova, Nekla Petkova, Staimenka Outchikova-Nedialkova, Petia Tzvetanova, Kostadinka Ratzova, Sonia Iovkova, Tania Tzambova, Tania Velitchkova
Vocals, Byzaanchi, Homus [Khomuz], Performer [Amarga] – Anatoly Kuular
Vocals, Clarinet, Reeds [Folk] – Sergey Starostin
Vocals, Doshpuluur, Morinhoor [Marinhuur], Guitar – Sayan Bapa
Vocals, Drum [Tungur], Rattle [Dazhaaning Khavy] – Alexey Saryglar
Vocals, Igil, Doshpuluur [Toschpulur], Chanzy [Tschansy] – Kaigal-ool Khovalyg
Written-By – M. Alperin (tracks: 4), Stojan Gagov (tracks: 10), trad. (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 9)