What is Chalga? Starting the Cultural and Historical Discussion

I've been hesitant to dive into the confusing world of Chalga and Bulgarian Pop music because frankly its difficult to understand from a cultural and historical standpoint. Mostly Bulgarians would laugh at a statement like that because most deem Chalga as racy, crude and unintelligent; and certainly not worth discussing much less associating it with Bulgarian or Balkan Culture. Chalga, however, offers a great lens into Bulgarian culture and society; it may not be the self-proclaimed emblem of Bulgarian musical excellence but neither is Brittany Spears in America. Brittany, and all of the Mickey Mouse Club Gang, do however shape American culture; just like Chalga shapes Bulgaria (except we've got that confusing thing of nationalism in Bulgaria). I've decided to break up my discussion of Chalga in pieces and I'll be adding to it as i go. Just click the Chalga tag to get all the posts on Chalga.

Okay, let's Start at the Beginning: The Word "CHALGA"

Chalga is rooted from the Turkish word çalgı (chalgi) which means instrument. Chalga is a universal word throughout the Balkans but is most commonly used in Serbia, Macedonian and Bulgaria to describe Bulgarian Pop music. Even though it's a Turkish word, it sometimes it is loosely translated as "to play" or "to play an instrument" within the Bulgarian context. Other Turkish words solidify linguistic connection; çalgıcı (chalgisi) is Turkish for musician. The current embodiment of Chalga doesn't really represent the historical reality of what was Chalga during the Ottoman Empire. While the word is has origins in Turkey and Turkish culture, Chalga in Bulgaria is considered a type of Pop music that mixes everything from reggeaton to Arabic influences with a heavy slathering of Bulgarian, Greek and Turkish folk music.

So its not Turkish, but its from a Turkish word? . . . Not exactly

Chalga means to play in Turkish and it originates from the demand during parties and weddings for musicians, who where historically roma, to play music for the guests during the Ottoman Empire over 100 years ago. Much like any wedding (picture your typical American wedding with the symphony music along with the country music and the romantic R&B songs), these musicians had to be able to play many different styles of music and often switch styles with every song. Because there was such a demand for live music, these musicians often were paid well and were able to survive during the Ottoman Empire (and then later when Bulgaria re-became at a country; I'm not sure how to describe that). Additionally, the musicians were playing live continuously and often times with different band members; this caused the musicians to become adept and creative musicians and often playing off of each other. To increase their earnings and to standout from other musicians, the musicians would start to embellish and modify the songs. Someone who was able to play many types of music and skillfully improvise songs were called chalgadzhia (again rooted in the Turkish word musician, chalgasi). The roots of Chalga came from the Ottoman Empire but slowly changed throughout the years as Bulgarian and the Balkans gained political and social independence from the fallen empire.

A Time-line would look something like this:

1. Ottoman Empire - Chalga music is used predominately as entertainment, blending Turkish and other folk music from conquered countries for weddings, funerals, public events, etc.
   
2. Republic of Bulgaria Disowns Chalga Music - As a newly formed political state, Bulgaria strives to create a national identity and distances itself from the Turkish laced Chalga music by creating Bulgarian Folk Music ensembles like Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares and the work of Philip Koutev. This happens roughly in the 1950s.
3. Serbia Accepts Chalga with Open Arms (1960s-1980s, roughly) - Historically a more open member of Soviet Block--even granting passports and visas to western countries--Serbia was more open to Chalga music and it fostered there during the height of the communist era. It makes a slow transition to something more like Pop/R&B music, heavily influences by western pop music.
   
4. The Changes circa 1989 - Bulgaria becomes a democratic republic and all laws and morals for human decency go out the window; so Chalga comes back to Bulgaria in a crude, rough form. Mostly found in night clubs and other places of ill repute and tied with the Mafia (nightclubs, music, lack of moral decency, etc.).
   
5. Chalga Makes Money, Cleans up and learns Marketing- Chalga music becomes more professionalized through the selling of discs, music videos and professionally edited tracks. It cleans up its crime laden image but not its scantily clad women singers or lyrics. Every TV in Bulgaria has about 3-4 channels that some form of Chalga music through music videos and concerts; live concerts become popular with children and youth. Now all the youth of Bulgaria (starting ages 6 or so) start liking (and buying) chalga music. Chalga music becomes a form of simple, danceable pop music with simple lyrics and musical influences from all over the world (borrowed as they say, but sometimes directly lifting from other songs). Most intellectual Bulgarians are driven crazy by the ignorance of the simple-minded masses and repeatedly claim that it isn't Bulgarian cultural. Let the cultural wars begin.
   

"Chalga" and "Pop Folk"

What might have been termed "Chalga" during communist times certainly isn't what most people label as chalga now in Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia and other Balkan states. Chalga as a music form has changed into a commercialized form of Pop music. To help appeal to a large market (my guess), the marketing gurus of Chalga renamed Chalga music (in its pop music form) it "Pop Folk". This de-ethnicized the music from its Roma and Turkish roots into something that could appeal to most Bulgarians. Folk music is something all Bulgarians grow up with, so renaming the pop music to "Pop Folk" made the music familiar. This is something similar to Country-Pop and Faith Hill would be a good example.

From Ottoman Emipre Chalga to Preslava; Where did it make the jump?

In my limited research on the subject, I've yet to discover how exactly Chalga music made the cross over from live music played at social events (rooted from Turkish meaning of "musicians that just play") to our current form of pop music in Bulgaria and the Balkans. As far as I can tell, the only associations I can find between the two is really the name "Chalga" and that the music was popular with the masses. There are musicial influences from Turkish and Roma music in Chalga, but there are also influences from western rap and hip-hop too.So, I'm hesitant to claim that that is the common linkage. Possibly it was the Serbian (and European) influences. Regardless, I find it interesting how the term "Chalga" has stayed in the Bulgarian and Balkan culture, irrevently reminding Bulgarians of the Ottoman Empire, shocking cultured Bulgarians for its crudeness and giving dance music to teenagers across the Balkans.