Bulgarian Bagpipes and Bagpipe Playing Officially Included in UNESCO’s List

The Bulgarian bagpipe and bagpipe playing are now officially included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The decision was taken during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which held in Delhi.

The recognition comes after Bulgaria prepared a national nomination for inclusion in UNESCO’s list.

Petar Yanev is a first-generation bagpiper, but through his mastery he has ignited the spark of the bagpipe tradition among those closest to him and among dozens of students.

For him, the recognition is natural.

Petar Yanev, bagpiper:
“Our Bulgarian bagpipe found its rightful place 40 years ago, exactly where it belongs. Which bagpipe is in space? The Bulgarian one. That, in my view, is the clearest and greatest sign that it is world cultural heritage.”

The doyen of bagpipers in Smolyan, Kostadin Ilchev, has trained hundreds of young bagpipers.

He himself is included in UNESCO’s National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage as both a bagpiper and a master craftsman of bagpipes.

Kostadin Ilchev, bagpiper:
“This is a very high recognition of bagpipe playing, of the craftsmanship, and of Bulgaria’s traditions. Our goal is to preserve and safeguard this art and to pass it on to the younger generation.”

Petar Yanev, bagpiper:
“Our music exists, it is alive. When I say it exists and is alive, I mean that we still play at weddings, festivals, and christenings.”

Kostadin Ilchev, bagpiper:
“Even in more difficult moments, when there is sorrow, the bagpipe heals that sorrow.”

For UNESCO to officially proclaim a practice or craft as intangible cultural heritage, it must be passed down from generation to generation and kept alive.

This is exactly what Bulgarian bagpipers do, and they rightfully receive recognition from the world organisation.