Macedonian Postcards

David Bilides & Dragi Spasovski
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY

David Bilides and Dragi Spasovski are your hosts for discussions and samples of Macedonian folk songs and culture. We completed all 54 songs in Dragi’s 3-CD project in 2024. We are continuing with new songs, and stories about the recordings, musicians, Dragi’s life, and Macedonian culture in general.

  1. 02/20/2025

    Episode 59 Stefče Stojkovski interviews Dragi Spasovski on Macedonian National Radio

    On July 28, 2023, Stefče Stojkovski invited Dragi to his radio show on Macedonian National Radio, and interviewed him for the next 2 hours. He asked questions about his childhood, mother, interest in singing and dancing, music career, recordings, and past and current projects and performances in the United States. The interview includes 12 recordings from Dragi‘s CD with Stefče, and the audio from an international Macedonian song video project made during the pandemic. A bilingual transcript of this episode, with links, can be downloaded at https://izvormusic.com/podcasts/macedonian-postcards/episodes/transcripts/episode-59-dragi-interview-with-stefce-transcript-bilingual.pdf

    1h 57m

  2. 10/26/2024

    Episode 58 Bonda Dimiškova

    This episode begins our new series on singers and songs. Today we are featuring the legendary vocalist Bonda Dimiškova, who was related to and served as a role model for Vaska Ilieva. Dragi talks about how he came into contact with her family, details about her aristic and often tragic life, and her influence on other singers who followed her. A bilingual transcript of this episode can be downloaded at https://izvormusic.com/podcasts/macedonian-postcards/episodes/transcripts/Episode-58-Bonda-Dimiskova-transcript-bilingual.pdf

    45 min

  3. 07/03/2024

    Episode 57 Sva noḱ e Stanka sedela

    This episode marks the conclusion of the podcasts of the 54 songs in Dragi's 3-CD set. We will be continuing the show after this episode with more wonderful songs, but are delighted to have reached this milestone after 16 years. Dragi learned this song from his mother, Rajna, and it was the last song he talked with her about before she died. It is a ballad about two lovers with tragic consequences.

    34 min

  4. 03/22/2024

    Episode 56 Tri godini, Kate, bolen ležam

    Dragi discusses the long history of the Ohridski Trubaduri, who originally recorded this love song. He also talks at length about the wonderful vocalist Vanja Lazarova.

    43 min

  5. 06/07/2023

    Episode 55 Stani, bre sine Stojane

    Dragi talks about some of the traditions found in line dancing, and some ways romancing was carried out. He then spends the majority of the podcast talking about the extraordinary legendary vocalist Vaska Ilieva.

    52 min

  6. 04/17/2023

    Episode 54 Urva Fanka

    Dragi talks about the four major women's vocal groups from Aegean Macedonia, how they came to be formed, and the importance of cultural context and hidden meanings in songs.

    30 min

  7. 01/13/2023

    Episode 53 Snošti te prativ na voda, ḱerko

    This love song from the Debar region features the wonderful singer, Kiril Mančevski. Dragi also talks about ornamentation, and wedding traditions.

    37 min

  8. 12/06/2022

    Episode 52 Mome ore zeleni livadi

    Dragi discusses another of his mother's songs, from the Kumanovo area. He talks about the differences between čalgija, urban, and izvoren melodies, and how musical arrangement decisions were made for recordings.

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

David Bilides and Dragi Spasovski are your hosts for discussions and samples of Macedonian folk songs and culture. We completed all 54 songs in Dragi’s 3-CD project in 2024. We are continuing with new songs, and stories about the recordings, musicians, Dragi’s life, and Macedonian culture in general.

Information

  • Creator
    David Bilides & Dragi Spasovski
  • Years Active
    2007 - 2025
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Izvor Music
  • Show Website
    Macedonian Postcards