Savina presents the touching song “Zableyalo mi agantse” with a new arrangement

“Zableyalo mi agantse” (A Lamb Began to Bleat) is one of the most emblematic Bulgarian folk songs, imbued with deep sorrow. It tells the touching story of a little lamb bleating plaintively in the shepherd’s pen, lamenting the loss of its mother.

The renowned folk singer Boris Mashalov, who had been performing “Zableyalo mi agantse” since the mid-20th century, is regarded as the one who first brought the song to public attention. The song also gained particular popularity in Nadka Karadzhova’s rendition.

• “Zableyalo mi agantse”: the folk song that melts every heart 

Over the years, the song has been interpreted many times in various versions by performers from nearly every musical genre. Among them is the modernized version by the singer Savina, featuring an arrangement by Alex Nushev. He blends a contemporary ethno sound with traditional instruments such as the kaval, performed by Kostadin Genchev, alongside string orchestrations.

Savina has more:

“Unlike the classic a cappella or purely folk sound, Alex Nushev’s arrangement takes a cinematic approach. The use of a string orchestra and the deep sound of the kaval create a sense of scale while at the same time preserving the intimacy of the story in this profoundly sad Bulgarian folk song.”

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov