Bulgarian poet Nayden Valchev has passed away at the age of 98, his grandson Filip Valchev announced on December 3. Valchev was the author of the popular 1970s song “Edna Bulgarska Roza” (“One Bulgarian Rose”).
The Union of Bulgarian Writers described him as a doyen of Bulgarian poetry.
Born on 30 August 1927 in Brestnitsa, Yablanitsa Municipality, into a teacher’s family, Valchev completed his primary education in his village and attended the Pleven Boys’ High School, where he began writing poetry. In 1951, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, but chose to dedicate himself to literature rather than practice law.
Valchev first published his work in 1946 in the newspaper Lost. While at university, he was a member of the literary circle Vasil Vodenicharski. During his military service, he wrote poems inspired by soldiers’ daily life, which were later included in his first collection, On the Southern Border (1953).
He worked as an editor for Balgarski Voen and Narodna Armiya (1954–1955), Septemvri magazine (1956–1983), Savremennik (1983–1988), and was chief editor of Dariteli (1988–1989). From 1996 to 1997, he served as cultural attaché at the Bulgarian Embassy in Minsk, Belarus. Valchev was a member of the Union of Bulgarian Writers and, in 1983, became chair of its Poetry Section.
Seven decades of poetry
Valchev authored numerous poetry collections, including On the Southern Border (1953), Silent Victory (1954), Small Tale (1956), Colourful Palette (1960), Hymns and Tales (1964), Lilac Evening (1968), Lunapark (1970), Blue Flower, Train, Woman (1975), Golden August (1977), Northern Light (1965), Seeds for Sowing (1976), Two Snowflakes (1980), Written Maple Leaf (1984), Giant Slalom (1986), and selected works in two volumes (1987). His later works include The Young Moon and the Old Moon (2001), Paradise for the Sinners (2003), Crossing Three Waters (2004), and One Bulgarian Rose (Selected Poems, 2013). Between 2007 and 2016, his Travelling Encounters series of essays explored the lives of fellow Bulgarian literary figures.
In 2022, on the occasion of his 95th birthday, his poetry collection Swan was published. Valchev described it as a culmination of 70 years of poetry, including his first poem from 1952.
He also wrote poetry for children under the pseudonym Chik Chirik, producing collections such as Bulgarian Land (1963), The Little Bell Rings (1968), Photo Esperanto (1983), and Acorn with a Hat (2004).
Translator and lyricist
Valchev was a founding member of the Union of Translators in Bulgaria and served as its chair from 1989 to 1991. He translated works from Russian, including poetry by Alexander Pushkin, Adam Mickiewicz, Mikhail Lermontov, Sergei Yesenin, Robert Rozhdestvensky, and Bella Akhmadulina. He believed that a translator must faithfully convey the essence and power of the original author.
He also wrote lyrics for numerous popular songs, including “One Bulgarian Rose” performed by Pasha Hristova, which won first prize at the Golden Orpheus festival and was named Song of the 20th Century in Bulgaria. Other songs with lyrics by Valchev include “Big Song”, “Youth March”, “Silent Evening”, “I Waited for You”, and “We Are at Every Kilometre”, set to music by prominent Bulgarian composers.
Throughout his career, Valchev explored a wide range of themes, from intimate reflections and nature to heroic history and love for his homeland.
Awards and honours
Valchev received numerous Bulgarian and international awards, including:
- First prize for the song “Bulgarian Blood” (Ministry of National Defence, 1979)
- Translators’ Union Award for translation (1982)
- Debelyanov Poetry Award (1987)
- Medal For Merit in Border Protection (1976)
- Order of Cyril and Methodius, First Class (1977, 2013)
- Honoured Cultural Worker title (1982)
- Union of Bulgarian Writers’ Lifetime Achievement Award (1998)
- Belarus State Award Francisk Skorina (2000)
- Bulgaria’s highest distinction, Golden Century, for his 90th birthday and lifelong contribution to poetry and translation (2017)
Valchev leaves behind a legacy of seven decades of literary and musical contributions.
May his memory be honoured.
Чуй новините
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