Concerts and recordings followed. The politics of the Soviet Union changed and today, the Bulgarian Women's ChoirAngelite, is no longer a state-run company. The reformed ensemble travels freely, collaborating with Western and other musicians, most recently Eddie Jobson, an internationally renowned instrumentalist who has worked with many of the most important names in rock, including Jethro Tull, Yes, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa. He's best known for his early pioneering electric violin and synthesizer work with Curved Air and Roxy Music and today, as composer of a number of TV and film scores. Jobson's contributions are distinct, yet not intrusive, respecting this wonderfully dense and harmonically complex collection of folk themes arranged by contemporary Bulgarian composers.
Women traditionally perform Bulgarian vocal music.
Twenty or more singers make up the Bulgarian Women's Choir Angelite. Two groups of singers or two soloists alternate and complement one another in a unique glottal style, enhanced by circular breathing. At many times a soloist sings with heavy vibrato against a vibratoless choir. The sound of the choir is somewhat nasal, like our own Appalachian folk music. The women, in traditional costume, appeared flower-like and exotic.