We're thrilled to announce that Trendafilka will perform a live concert at All Saints' Episcopal Church in River Ridge on Sunday, December 2nd, 7-8pm.

Admission is by sliding scale donation of $10-$20, with no one turned away for lack of funds.

About Trendafilka:

Trendafilka is a modern exploration of European polyphonic traditions. Founded in New Orleans in 2016, the group grew out of a common desire for group singing as well as a collective fascination of culture and ancient traditions. Trendafilka, named after the ancient Bulgarian word for wild rose, draws repertoire from specific areas of Europe - such as the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Eurasian Steppe - that hold rich cultural traditions of polyphonic singing.

Polyphony, from Greek polyphōnos ('many voices') is a style of music that has been found throughout the world since ancient times. Predating Western harmony, polyphonic music is archaic, yet still present to this day, and nearly-universal, occurring on nearly every continent on Earth. Often referred to as 'textured' and 'horizontal,' the style of singing is non-hierarchical: all voices represent relatively independent and equally important melodic lines within the song, rather than assigning some voices to dominate while others support. A "lawful coexistence" of vocal lines, polyphonic music requires the performer as well as listener to perceive multiple independent melodies as they simultaneously occur.

In Trendafilka's performances, songs from Bulgaria, Serbia, Latvia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Roma diaspora are represented in 3, 4, and 5 distinct vocal lines. Dissonances and harmonies weave and swell throughout each song as common human themes are explored: grief, love, loss, jokes, and magic. Shifting between styles with ease, the singers work to blend their eleven unique voices into one unified sound, creating a musical tapestry greater than the sum of its original parts.