Shturtzite
Encyclopedia
Shturtzite is a Bulgaria
n rock
group. They are one of the most successful bands in Bulgaria during the 70's and 80's and still have many fans. The name of the band translated in English means The Crickets.
by Kiril Marichkov
, Petar Tsankov (both from Bandaratsite group), Petar Gyuzelev, and Veselin Kisyov (both from Slanchevi Bratya group). Their first performance was at a students party in VITIZ (The Bulgarian School for Performing Arts), and in 1967 they made their first records. At first Georgi Minchev took part in the group, too, and with him they made their first success: the song "Byala Tishina" ("Бяла тишина"; "White Silence") of the composer Boris Karadimchev, winning the national award of Zlatnia Orfei ("Златния Орфей", the Golden Orpheus
).
In 1968, the group issued their first EP record containing the songs "Veselina" ("Веселина", text: Radoy Ralin
), Zvan ("Звън"; Ringing), Malkiat Svetal Prozorets ("Малкият светъл прозорец"; Little Bright Window) and Izprashtane ("Изпращане", Dispatch).
It was not before 1976 until they record their first homonymous LP with its hit single "Day Mi Malko Nejhnost" ("Дай ми малко нежност"; "Give Me A Little Tenderness"). Their second album Shturtzite '78 two years later introduced band's new keyboard playing and singing star Valdi Totev. His influence took away the band far from its early pop sound to a new prog rock territory. The first song on the LP "Nyakoi Ot Vas" ("Някои от вас"; "Some Of You") is their first ever leading album song not to be sung by basic vocalist Marichkov, but by the new kid on the block, Totev. Despite his influence being more than obvious for the band's sound, Totev didn't write a single song for the album.
In 1982 Shturtzite issued their most mature work to date, the double LP Vkusat Na Vremeto ("Вкусът на времето", The Taste Of Time). Defined as a masterpiece, it is a brilliant encyclopedia of band's musical interests. For the local scene "Vkusat Na Vremeto" has the significance which Beatles's White Album has for the world pop and rock.
The album starts with hard-rocking title song, but instantly changes the mood with the ballad "Proshtavane" ("Прощаване", Parting). Afterwards predominant are the pop hits with great melodies (Tzvetelina/Цветелина; Valsheben Cvyat/Вълшебен цвят/A Miraculous Blossom; Oblog/Облог/A Bet; Ognen Znak/Огнен знак/A Fiery Sign; Zlaten dim/Златен дим/Golden Smoke) but the style palette still changes here and there from classic rock'n'roll (Момче от група/Momche Ot Grupata/A Boy From The Band; Imash Li Priyatel?/Имаш ли приятел?/Have You Got A Friend?, Alain Delon/Ален Делон), to more lightweight piano ballads (Poday Raka/Подай ръка/Give Me A Hand; Neobhodimost/Необходимост/A Necessity), to synth pop (Tarsim Svoyata Mechta/Търсим своята мечта/Looking For Our Dream; Den Parvi/Ден Първи/The First Day), to delicate Pink Floyd ripping off (Malkiyat Majh/Малкият мъж/The Little Man), to even blues and acoustic folk influences (Ochakvane/Очакване/Expectation; Vecherna Zabrava/Вечерна забрава/Evening Forgetfulness).
The band has had more than 2600 concerts and is still a popular music act.
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 rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group. They are one of the most successful bands in Bulgaria during the 70's and 80's and still have many fans. The name of the band translated in English means The Crickets.
History
The group was created in 1967 in SofiaSofia
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...
by Kiril Marichkov
Kiril Marichkov
Kiril Marichkov in Sofia is a Bulgarian rock musician.Marichkov was born in Sofia and played piano, clarinet, bass-guitar and guitar since young age...
, Petar Tsankov (both from Bandaratsite group), Petar Gyuzelev, and Veselin Kisyov (both from Slanchevi Bratya group). Their first performance was at a students party in VITIZ (The Bulgarian School for Performing Arts), and in 1967 they made their first records. At first Georgi Minchev took part in the group, too, and with him they made their first success: the song "Byala Tishina" ("Бяла тишина"; "White Silence") of the composer Boris Karadimchev, winning the national award of Zlatnia Orfei ("Златния Орфей", the Golden Orpheus
Golden Orpheus
The Golden Orpheus, is an international and Bulgarian song contest. It has been held annually between 1965 till 1999 in different concert halls located on the Sunny Beach.-External links:* *...
).
In 1968, the group issued their first EP record containing the songs "Veselina" ("Веселина", text: Radoy Ralin
Radoy Ralin
Radoy Ralin , born Dimitar Stoyanov , was a famous Bulgarian dissident, poet, and satirist.After the downfall of the Communist regime, he was urged to run for Parliament, but adamantly refused....
), Zvan ("Звън"; Ringing), Malkiat Svetal Prozorets ("Малкият светъл прозорец"; Little Bright Window) and Izprashtane ("Изпращане", Dispatch).
It was not before 1976 until they record their first homonymous LP with its hit single "Day Mi Malko Nejhnost" ("Дай ми малко нежност"; "Give Me A Little Tenderness"). Their second album Shturtzite '78 two years later introduced band's new keyboard playing and singing star Valdi Totev. His influence took away the band far from its early pop sound to a new prog rock territory. The first song on the LP "Nyakoi Ot Vas" ("Някои от вас"; "Some Of You") is their first ever leading album song not to be sung by basic vocalist Marichkov, but by the new kid on the block, Totev. Despite his influence being more than obvious for the band's sound, Totev didn't write a single song for the album.
In 1982 Shturtzite issued their most mature work to date, the double LP Vkusat Na Vremeto ("Вкусът на времето", The Taste Of Time). Defined as a masterpiece, it is a brilliant encyclopedia of band's musical interests. For the local scene "Vkusat Na Vremeto" has the significance which Beatles's White Album has for the world pop and rock.
The album starts with hard-rocking title song, but instantly changes the mood with the ballad "Proshtavane" ("Прощаване", Parting). Afterwards predominant are the pop hits with great melodies (Tzvetelina/Цветелина; Valsheben Cvyat/Вълшебен цвят/A Miraculous Blossom; Oblog/Облог/A Bet; Ognen Znak/Огнен знак/A Fiery Sign; Zlaten dim/Златен дим/Golden Smoke) but the style palette still changes here and there from classic rock'n'roll (Момче от група/Momche Ot Grupata/A Boy From The Band; Imash Li Priyatel?/Имаш ли приятел?/Have You Got A Friend?, Alain Delon/Ален Делон), to more lightweight piano ballads (Poday Raka/Подай ръка/Give Me A Hand; Neobhodimost/Необходимост/A Necessity), to synth pop (Tarsim Svoyata Mechta/Търсим своята мечта/Looking For Our Dream; Den Parvi/Ден Първи/The First Day), to delicate Pink Floyd ripping off (Malkiyat Majh/Малкият мъж/The Little Man), to even blues and acoustic folk influences (Ochakvane/Очакване/Expectation; Vecherna Zabrava/Вечерна забрава/Evening Forgetfulness).
The band has had more than 2600 concerts and is still a popular music act.
Artists
- Kiril MarichkovKiril MarichkovKiril Marichkov in Sofia is a Bulgarian rock musician.Marichkov was born in Sofia and played piano, clarinet, bass-guitar and guitar since young age...
- bass, vocal, clavier, composer - Petar Gyuzelev - guitar, vocal, composer
- Veselin Kisyov - guitar (until 1969)
- Petar Tsankov - percussion (until 1971)
- Konstantin Atanasov - guitar, vocal (1969–1971, 1973–1974, 1976)
- Atanas Atanasov - percussion (1973–1974)
- Georgi Markov - percussion (since 1974)
- Borislav Panov - clavier, vocal, violin (1974–1976)
- Vladimir Totev - clavier, vocal (since 1976)
Discography
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Shturtzite 76 |
| 1978 | Shturtzite 78 |
| 1980 | 20th Century |
| 1982 | The Taste of Time |
| 1985 | The Rider |
| 1987 | Musqueteer's March |
| 1988 | 20 Years Later |
| 1998 | 30 Years Later |
| 2004 | Anthology |
| 2008 | On The Doorstep of The Heart |