A concert by the Kaynak Bagpipers (Bulgarian).
The hypnotic melodies, complex time signatures, and raw physicality of Kaynak Pipers Band’s kaba gaida music will forever change the way you think of the bagpipe and bagpipe music. Kaba gaida, the Rhodope Mountains bagpipe, is a distinctive symbol of folk music in Bulgaria, having retained its original form, sound and purpose. Kaynak Pipers Band continues in the centuries-old traditions of gaida performance, accompanying weddings and other village celebrations, playing rhythms that astounded Bartok and infectious melodies that distill myriad central Asian and middle eastern influences into Bulgaria’s own unique culture. The band’s appearance at MIT is part of their first US tour, an effort to make kaba gaida accessible to more people globally, while exposing the Boston community to the progressive musical qualities of this traditional form, which creates an avant-garde compositional experience of their folk roots.
Kaynak means “source” and is used to describe a state of the player when the music that he plays comes straight from his soul. The Kaynak Pipers Band, founded in 2013, is comprised of three gaida players, a drummer and a vocalist. The band promotes and popularizes the kaba gaida music through concerts and workshops. In particular, they have worked extensively in musical therapy workshops and performances for children. Indeed, the music of this region is known for its deeply therapeutic character, aspects of which can lead to musical catharsis. The band also actively trains the next generation of kaba gaida performers.
This event is a part of The MIT Sounding Series presented by CAST, The MIT Center for Art, Science & Technology and Music and Theater Arts.
To learn more, visit Kaynak Pipers Band
