The Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir is an internationally renowned World Music ensemble that blends traditional six-part a cappella repertoire with modern arrangements. It is most recognized under the recording name Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. First created as the Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir in Bulgaria in 1952 by Philip Koutev, "the father of Bulgarian concert folk music," the choir is now under the direction of Dora Hristova. Koutev also created and conducted the Ensemble of the Bulgarian Republic in 1951.
Though the choir became widely known when the trend-setting English alternative record label 4AD released a pair of anthology albums in 1986 and 1988 with the now famous title Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, their recordings date as far back as 1957. The first pressing of the Voix Bulgares album was the result of fifteen years of work by Swiss ethnomusicologist and producer Marcel Cellier and was originally released in 1975 on his small Discs Cellier label. Ivo Watts-Russell (founder of 4AD) was introduced to the choir from a third or fourth generation audio cassette lent to him by Peter Murphy, singer from the band Bauhaus. He became thoroughly entranced by the music, and tracked down and licensed the recordings from Cellier. The group has since performed extensively around the world to wide acclaim and were honored with a Grammy Award in 1989 for their second album.

OH SUSANNA, 1850's
Lyrics:
I came from Alabama Wid my banjo on my knee, Im gwan to Louisiana My true love for to see, It raind all night the day I left, The weather it was dry, The sun so hot I frose to death; Susanna, don't you cry. Chorus: Oh! Susanna, Oh! don't you cry for me, Ive come from Alabama, wid my banjo on my knee. I jumped aboard de telegraph, And trabbelled down de ribber, De Lectrie fluid magnified, And killed five hundred Nigger De bullgine bust, de horse run off, I realy thought Id die; I shut my eyes to hold my breath, Susanna, don't you cry.
I had a dream de odder night When ebery ting was still; I thought I saw Susanna, A coming down de hill. The buckwheat cake war in her mouth, The tear was in her eye, Says Im coming from de South, Susanna, don't you cry. Chorus: I scon will be in New Orleans, And den Ill look all round, And when I find Susanna, I fall upon the ground. But if I do not find her, Dis darkie I surely die, And when Im dead and buried, Susanna, don't you cry.

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