By Mari Nicholson
daily bruin senior staff
mnicholson@media.ucla.edu
Students usually steer clear of libraries when they desire
soothing study music. But at 4 p.m. today, the folk sounds of
SuperDevoiche will hit Powell Library’s second-floor
rotunda.
Translated literally as SuperGirl, SuperDevoiche refers to
UCLA’s six-year-strong Bulgarian women’s choir.
SuperDevoiche’s performance is part of “UCLA Powell
Music Concerts in the Rotunda,” a larger concert series
featuring various musical sounds.
“We rehearse every Monday and try to perform as often as
possible,” said Angela Rodel, a graduate ethnomusicology
student and member of the group.
She said many people don’t know that ethnomusicology is a
major at UCLA, and it’s good exposure for the choir to get
out of the music building and perform for different audiences.
Rodel is one of SuperDevoiche’s earliest members, and
remembers its beginnings.
Laurel Isbister, a graduate ethnomusicology student, founded the
group when she was a student here, Rodel said. After Isbister left,
Rodel took over as teaching assistant, and Tzvetanka Varimezova is
the current director.
Some of the 22 undergraduate, graduate and community members of
SuperDevoiche said an hour of harmonizing is just what
Bruins’ study sessions call for.
“In the past, students have really gotten into the sounds
and feelings we emanate,” said Carmen Doane, who just
graduated with an ethnomusicology degree, and has been a member of
the choir for two-and-a-half years.
“Rarely does someone studying get up and leave,”
Doane added.
This event marks SuperDevoiche’s return to Powell, after a
few of years of not performing there.
“It’s exciting because we haven’t sung at
Powell for almost two years, and it’s a great venue for
us,” Doane said.
“The acoustics in there are incredible; they really suit
our unique sound,” Rodel added.
The choir will perform 10 to 15 pieces from 4 to 5 p.m., usually
a capella but with the occasional complementary drum
accompaniment.
“All are three- to six-part arrangements of traditional
Bulgarian folk songs,” Rodel said.
The vocal qualities associated with Bulgarian music are
different from anything else in the Western classical language,
Doane said of the ensemble’s specialty.
“Everything we do is in Bulgarian, but you don’t
have to know the language,” Doane said.
The music is easy for the ensemble and their listeners to relate
to because the choir learns and sings everything phonetically,
Doane added.
This Powell performance will be good practice for an upcoming
spring concert, Rodel said.
SuperDevoiche’s spring concert will be held in Schoenberg
Hall, on May 16.