Petko Gruev Staynov Foundation
 Biography
   Childhood and adolescence (1896-1914)
   Youth and student years (1915 - 1924)
   The 1920s (1925 - 1929)
   The 1930s (1930 - 1939)
   The 1940s (1940 - 1949)
   The 1950s (1950 - 1959)
   The 1960s and 1970s (1960 - 1977)
 Work
   Symphonic works
   Concert songs and ballads for a cappella choir
   Other songs
   Chamber works
  Social Activities
  Literary work

1930-1939 - a period of active creative, musical and public activity dedicated to the common goal of the contemporary Bulgarian composers, namely, “to create a Bulgarian national musical style”; writes his best-known symphonic works and his first choral ballads.

1930 - completes the symphonic suite “Fairy tale” in five parts: “Damned Tilileiski forests”, “Dragon”, “Lullaby”, “A thumb of a man with a cubit of beard”, and “A winding fairies horo”.

1930 - elected a member of the Editorial-Musical Commission of the Union of Folklore Choirs in Bulgaria, together with Dobri Hristov, Stoyan Brashovanov, Mihail Teofilov, and Ivan Hristov.

1930 - writes the songs “Darn it, Ivan!”, for a male choir, “The bright sun has risen”, for a mixed choir, and the Christmas horo “An aspen has grown”, for a female choir.

1930 - on Jan. 2, the premiere takes place of “Fairy tale”, performed by the Academic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sasha Popov.

1930 - receives the award of the Commission for Stimulating the Homeland’s Literature and Art for the symphonic suite “Fairy tale”.

1931 - writes the ballads: “Strouma’s secret” for a male choir, on lyrics by Teodor Trayanov; “Gypsies” for a mixed choir, on lyrics by P.P. Slaveikov; and the song “ A pine-tree is bending and swaying” for a female choir, on lyrics by Trifon Kounev.

1931 - elected chairman of the “Gousla” (rebeck) choir (until 1934).

1932 - harmonizes the folk song “I’m so happy and glad” for a male choir.

1932 - writes the song “ Come on, Yano” for a mixed choir, on folklore lyrics.

1932 - writes the ballad “Horse riders”, for a male choir, on lyrics by Nikola Fournadjiev.

1933 - becomes one of the eight co-founders, and on Jan 24 is elected the first Chairman, of the Society of Bulgarian Composers “Contemporary Music” (re-elected continually as its Chairman until 1944).

1933 - writes the ballad “Ourvich” for a mixed choir, on lyrics by Nikolay Rakitin.

1933 - in the month of May, is elected Chairman of the Union of Folklore Choirs (remains as its Chairman until 1944).

1935 - on Jan. 25, his second son, Stefan, is born.

1935 - writes the ballad “A hundred-and-twenty men” for a male choir, on lyrics by P.P. Slaveikov, and the song “The cocks are singing” for a mixed choir, on lyrics by Kiril Hristov.

1936 - writes the concert overture “Balkan”.

1937 [1938] - completes the symphonic poem “Thrace”.

1936 - “arranges” the folk song “Maidens from Loukovit” for a mixed choir, and writes the ballad “Maiden’s lament” (“Lively Vita”) for a mixed choir, on lyrics by Trifon Kounev.

1937 - awarded a silver “Science and Arts” medal.

1938 - on May 24, is bestowed the “Sts. Cyril and Methodius” award of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (by the Berlinov Foundation).

1938 - writes the concert piece “Symphonic scherzo”, and writes the song “A madcap” for a mixed choir, on lyrics by P.P. Slaveikov.

1939 - on Dec. 3, the symphonic poem “Thrace” is premiered, performed by the Czar’s Military Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sasha Popov.

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