Tsenko Minkin
composer, performer, public figure
11.08.1959Shumen – Bulgaria
Tsenko Minkin studied Composition with Professor Alexander Raychev. Aged 12 he made his first recordings at the Bulgarian National Radio as a pianist performing his own works. At the age of 15 he composed a percussion quartet, which was published by Musica Publishers. When he was 19 years old he had the first concert in Sofia made up of his own music (chamber and symphony works). At the age of 20 he began working as a freelance composer. He composed film and theatre music. Since 1998 he has worked as music editor at Balkanton.
He was among the founding members of MUSICAUTOR, the Bulgarian Copyright Society. Since 1992 he has been member of the Managing Body.
He composed over 110 chamber, vocal symphony or choral works. He wrote the music to over 50 feature films and documentaries 15 of which won prizes at international film festivals. His works were performed in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and other countries. He was twice a member of international juries at the film festivals in Budapest and Peking. He won the Sofia Music Award (1988) and the Honorable Diploma of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture for contribution to the Bulgarian culture (1998).
Since November 2014 he is a chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Composers.
Creativity
"Kiprovets - 1688"
Chorus-symphonic frescoes for a great mixed choir and orchestraPerformed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio and the National Philharmonic Choir "Svetoslav Obretenov".Conductor: Ivan VulpeConductor: Georgi Robev
"Great concert tango"
For a string quartetPerformer: String Quartet "Hors"
"Spring Cantata"
"Cantata Profana"
"Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra"
Soloist: Tatiana KolevaConductor: Deyan Savic, SerbiaPerformed by: Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
Choral-orchestral:
For mixed choir and symphony orchestra:
A Message, lyrics by D. Hristov (1981);
Choral-orchestral frescoes Kiprovetz 1688 (1988).
For symphony orchestra:
Symphony N1 Chamber (for small symphony orchestra) (1996);
Scenes from a Soldiers Life (1979);
Symphony Parable “The Dromos Bay”;
Symphonic Poem “The Sky Anchor” (2003).
Concertos:
Concerto for violin (1980);
Concerto for trumpet (1981).
For string orchestra:
Sofia Impressions (1987).
Chamber music:
Sonata for viola and piano (1984);
Lazaritza for clarinet, piano and percussion (1985);
Musette for flute and piano (also in a version for violin and symphony orchestra) (2002).
Vocal-instrumental music:
Apocrypha for high female voice and percussion (1980);
Antiphon, Psalm and Polyelei, three chamber sacred pieces for soprano, flute, clarinet, violoncello, harp and vibraphone (1983);
Ave Maria for soprano and organ (1985) (also in versions for flute, oboe and bassoon, 1986; for soprano, flute, viola, harp and piano, 1990; for soprano and strings, 1991);
Ave Maria for tenor and piano (2000) (also in a version for tenor and double symphony orchestra, 2003).
Choral music:
For mixed choir:
Ballad about the Ladder, lyrics by Liubomir Levchev, for big mixed choir and percussion (1980);
Divine Concert Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (2002).
For traditional music choir:
Spring Cantata for traditional music choir and percussion (1998);
Cantata Profana (“Butterflies”) for traditional music choir, bagpipe and drum (2003).
Film music to:
Acadamus, directed by L. Dyulgerov (1987);
Joseph and Maria, directed by M. Nikolov (1995).