Excellent New Kaval Video Posting From Aleksandar Jurgec !

topic posted Sat, October 3, 2009 - 3:20 PM by  Aleksandr Iliev
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I wanted to take this opportunity to draw everyone's attention to a beautiful new YouTube posting by Aleksandar Jurgec, a member of our group - [ internet coordinates: www.youtube.com/watch ]
of classic Thracian kaval music featuring the "kaba" register (lowest octave.) This video is magnificent on many levels:

1. It reminds us, in this day of the "clarinetization", the "Sofia Holiday Inn Jazz Lounge" influences
on the kaval... to what it's pre 80s reality in Bulgarian music was.

2. In this school, the kaba is the heart and soul of the kaval...

3. Until recently in lower Thrace and Strandzha (Dolna Trakia i Stradzha...), it was not uncommon for groups of two, three or more players to play in unison, in a brotherly, collective spirit ...

I highly recommend that members of this group that love the Bulgarian kaval subscribe to the "aleksandarjurgec" channel on YouTube,
He is one of the very few people who routinely post the greatest number of rare, high quality Bulgarian kaval videos...
I could go on... but panegyrics are not read over the living ...
posted by:
Aleksandr Iliev
Seattle
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  • wow, that was such a beautiful performance. Thank you for posting a link here and for your commentary! Please list more recommended videos.
    • I am happy that you liked it !

      It may be difficult to imagine for those that have not heard it in person,
      but the kaba of the kaval players of lower Thrace, Strandzha and
      Dobrudja can be louder than a trumpet ... When you hear this in person,
      the tone is much richer and cleaner (they had to play close to the microphone
      individually in the beginning of the video.)

      It always made an impression on me, that when groups of kaval players played
      together, individuality disappeared, great effort was made to play exactly in unison...
      • How would someone play in the kaba range more forcefully? The lips have to be touter, and the breath softer? I've been experimenting with this and got some results, but it is nowhere as loud and bold as in this video.
        • gib
          gib
          offline 0
          It is a bit intimidating making comments on technique in Alex's tribe, but here goes anyway.

          1. Do not despair, you will get it !
          2. Practice more often for shorter times to build up embouchure "strength". My experience is that once you get tired additional practice does not help develop your embouchure. I like mornings and evenings. Even if you only play for 5-10 minutes in the morning, it will help your body to remember what it is supposed to do.
          3. Think of having a direct, open passage (including your throat) from your diaphragm all the way up and then down through the kaval. This means that you should face forward, head up, and have your air passage as straight as possible. Move your arms around to position the kaval so you can make this happen.
          4. Have the kaval as straight out in front of you (not to the side) as you can manage with your chin up and nose pointing straight-ish ahead.
          The second player in this video is a good example:
          www.youtube.com/watch
          (please note, some of the best kaval players don't look anything like what I am describing)
          5. Why body position? It is the air support that will drive the "wind" which is the source of the kaba sound. Keep in mind that *everything* must eventually be loose and relaxed, arms, shoulders, fingers, lips, mouth, throat... that may take a while. Use a mirror, preferably a full-length one that you can stand in front of.

          I will make some suggestions on lips, mouth, and throat in another posting.

          Good luck !

          ...john
  • That sounded really amazing. I liked listening to the Kaba range of the kaval. This was a regular kaval in the key of D played in the lowest octave?

    Thanks,
    Shahram
    • gib
      gib
      offline 0

      kaba comes from two "registers"

      Wed, December 2, 2009 - 5:05 PM
      Keep in mind that the kaba sound comes from two octaves played together, not just one. The lowest octave when played by itself has the same range as the kaba, but not the power, or it's unique quality. Sound from one octave up from the lowest is added by the player to give more power, and an interesting sound, but does not change the "perceived" pitch up to the second octave. I do not know the physics of this, just that it is what happens.

      Practicing playing in the lowest octave without adding the upper one (for kaba) will help you to play the kaba better when you go to add in the additional octave.

      Best wishes,

      ...john
  • gib
    gib
    offline 0
    Finally... recorded kaba with some power !!! :)

    Love this youtube vid.

    ...john

    My post on YouTube (CAkaval)... Information from Nikolay Doktorov of Varna.
    My sources tell me that the kaval players are Stoyan Stoilow with Shtiliyan Tihow and Krasimir ( but not sure of his family name)