Nikolay Kaufman
Encyclopedia
Nikolay Yankov Kaufman is a Bulgaria
n musicologist, folklorist and composer
, sometimes cited as Bulgaria's foremost scholar in his field.
Kaufman was born in the Danubian
town of Ruse to an Ashkenazi Jewish Bulgarian
family. In 1952, he graduated in trumpet
and music theory
from the National Academy of Music
in Sofia
. From 1952 to 1988, he worked at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
' Institute of Music; he then moved to the Institute of Folkloristics. Since 1978, he has been a lecturer at the National Academy of Music; he was awarded a doctor's degree
in 1973.
Kaufman's compositions include over a thousand arrangements of Bulgarian, Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewish folk songs, own songs in a Bulgarian folk style and piano
pieces. Some of the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir's recordings were based on Kaufman's arrangements of Bulgarian folk songs, including some in the choir's Grammy Award
-winning album Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Vol. II
.
Kaufman's work as a musicologist covers the recording of over 30,000 Bulgarian folk songs and tunes, the result of his theoretical and field studies. He has authored a number of books, collections and articles. Since 1997, he has been a corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
and an academician since 2003. He has received a number of professional prizes and awards.
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 musicologist, folklorist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, sometimes cited as Bulgaria's foremost scholar in his field.
Kaufman was born in the Danubian
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
town of Ruse to an Ashkenazi Jewish Bulgarian
History of the Jews in Bulgaria
The history of the Jews in Bulgaria dates to at least as early as the 2nd century CE. Since then, the Jews have had a continuous presence in the Bulgarian lands and have played an often considerable part in the history of Bulgaria from ancient times through the Middle Ages until...
family. In 1952, he graduated in trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
from the National Academy of Music
National Academy of Music (Bulgaria)
The Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music , also known under its former name, the Bulgarian State Conservatoire , is a university of music in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria....
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...
. From 1952 to 1988, he worked at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
' Institute of Music; he then moved to the Institute of Folkloristics. Since 1978, he has been a lecturer at the National Academy of Music; he was awarded a doctor's degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1973.
Kaufman's compositions include over a thousand arrangements of Bulgarian, Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewish folk songs, own songs in a Bulgarian folk style and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
pieces. Some of the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir's recordings were based on Kaufman's arrangements of Bulgarian folk songs, including some in the choir's Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning album Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Vol. II
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (album)
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares is an album of Bulgarian folk songs performed by the Bulgarian State Radio & Television Female Vocal Choir with guest-soloists Yanka Rupkina, Kalinka Valcheva and Stefka Sabotinova.The album was the result of fifteen years of work by Swiss ethnomusicologist and...
.
Kaufman's work as a musicologist covers the recording of over 30,000 Bulgarian folk songs and tunes, the result of his theoretical and field studies. He has authored a number of books, collections and articles. Since 1997, he has been a corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. The Academy is autonomous and has a Society of Academicians, Correspondent Members and Foreign Members...
and an academician since 2003. He has received a number of professional prizes and awards.