Boris Karlov
Encyclopedia
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Boris Karlov was a Bulgaria
n accordionist. He was born in Sofia
into a Romani (Gypsy) family. His father was the conductor of an orchestra that was often heard on radio Sofia.
At an early age Boris was already passionate about folk music, played first on the ocarina
and later on the tambura
in his father's orchestra. Here he acquired a feeling for the harmonic structure of Bulgarian music. At twelve years of age Karlov began to play the accordion, beginning with a simple 48-base Hohner
instrument, and progressing to a 120-base. Eventually he had a custom Italian Scandalli accordion
made for him.
In the years 1950–1960, Karlov was in demand not only in Bulgaria, but also in Yugoslavia
and Austria
. He had a busy concert schedule and favourable reviews. Karlov developed a style of playing which was new on the accordion. Based on generally short, simple, but fast musical phrases, frequently in the irregular rhythms that were originally played on traditional Bulgarian instruments such as the gaida
(bagpipe) and kaval
(end-blown flute), he innovated a rondo form where the special character of Bulgarian music nevertheless remained.
He died, still on tour, in Kraljevo
, of a kidney infection.
Boris Karlov was a Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n accordionist. He was born in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
into a Romani (Gypsy) family. His father was the conductor of an orchestra that was often heard on radio Sofia.
At an early age Boris was already passionate about folk music, played first on the ocarina
Ocarina
The ocarina is an ancient flute-like wind instrument. Variations do exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body...
and later on the tambura
Tambura
The tambura, tanpura, or tambora is a long-necked plucked lute . The body shape of the tambura somewhat resembles that of the sitar, but it has no frets – only the open strings are played to accompany other musicians...
in his father's orchestra. Here he acquired a feeling for the harmonic structure of Bulgarian music. At twelve years of age Karlov began to play the accordion, beginning with a simple 48-base Hohner
Hohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
instrument, and progressing to a 120-base. Eventually he had a custom Italian Scandalli accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
made for him.
In the years 1950–1960, Karlov was in demand not only in Bulgaria, but also in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. He had a busy concert schedule and favourable reviews. Karlov developed a style of playing which was new on the accordion. Based on generally short, simple, but fast musical phrases, frequently in the irregular rhythms that were originally played on traditional Bulgarian instruments such as the gaida
Gaida
The gaida is a musical instrument, aerophone, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag.The gaida, and its variations, is a traditional musical instrument for entire Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East....
(bagpipe) and kaval
Kaval
The kaval is a chromatic end-blown flute traditionally played throughout Azerbaijan, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, southern Serbia , northern Greece , Romania , and Armenia...
(end-blown flute), he innovated a rondo form where the special character of Bulgarian music nevertheless remained.
He died, still on tour, in Kraljevo
Kraljevo
Kraljevo is a city and municipality in central Serbia, built beside the river Ibar, 7 km west of its confluence with the Western Morava. It is located in the midst of an upland valley, between the mountains of Kotlenik in the north, and Stolovi in the south.In 2011 the city has population of...
, of a kidney infection.