Archive N-Z
(Click here for A-M)
Note: this list includes tunes that the group has sung at some point since about 2012--many more than are considered active in current repertoire.
Na Horoto
Nebo i Zemlia (Heaven and Earth)
Russia and Ukraine
Laura introduced this for small group in Nov. 2024
Upbeat, country-ish version with lute, violin, balalaika and drum
Neda Odi
Bulgarian Romani chalga (popfolk) song with instruments
Taught to Planina in 10/2017 by Carol Silverman
Ne duj mori vetre
Nikola odi po gori (warm-up)
Bulgarian warm-up in 11, taught by Tzvetanka Varimezova
lyrics (3 Warm-ups from Tzvetanka)
Nova radasts' stala
Belarus, holiday (Christmas), in E, mixed, a cappella. We sing it upbeat like the Kitka version
OBESI VENAC
Serbia. As sung by villagers of Mrchajevci (between Chachak and Kragujevac in Serbia) and recorded by Dennis Boxell in 1985.
Ode e vogel me gelqere - See Albanian medley
Ofchar pojde niz gora zelena
Draginovo, Bulgaria
Women’s diaphonic, a cappella
Planina learned this on our 2018 trip
Ogrejala meseČinka (Ogreala mesechinka)
Oj, chorna
Ukraine, mixed, a cappella, A
pronunciation (Galina)
Oj, devojko, dušo moja
Lesnoto from Kosovo / Kosmet / Serbia
We learned it from Mary Sherhart in the mid-’90s
YouTube link 1: Guys singing with instruments
YouTube link 2: Woman singing a cappella
Oj Jovane
2/4 tune from Pirin, Macedonia (now Bulgaria), Goce Delčev region
Accompanied by tamburas
Oj to n'i v'echer
Russia, mixed, with inst.
OJ, TY RZEKO
Poland
Planina has been singing this as a women's song with frame drum
O moj mile
Serbia, mixed, a cappella, D#
Oy na Ivana
Kupala (Midsummer's Eve) song, Village of Pohorynnya, Rivne region, Ukraine
Some Planina women are learning as a small-group song, spring-summer 2026
Oy pan khazayin
Winter song from the Village of Vilshanka (Chornobyl zone).
Mixed chorus w/ violin, 2 parts
Oy tam na hori
Lyrical song from the village of Kriachkivka, Ukraine. Planina learned this from Nadia Tarnawsky, 2026.
Mixed chorus, 3 parts
Duet version - Inna Kovtun and Nadia Tarnawsky (YouTube link)
Oy za dnoyi horky
Lyrical song from the Chornobyl zone, village of Lyubyanka, Ukraine.
Mixed chorus, 3 parts
Până când nu te iubeam
Romanian song.
Valerie brought the song into the group in 7/2021 and will be performing it as a solo with accordion, violin, frame drum.
Link to lyrics, source recordings, some background on the song, and sheet music (not in our key)
We are using the Maria Tănase version.
Pevano kolo
Croatia, dance (Pevano Kolo), w/inst.
Pjoviau šiena
Lithuanian. We do this as a small group number with violin. One person (Laima) sings the first line, then others repeat it with her, then she sings the 2nd line and and others repeat it with her.
Pitat me Mamo
Song from Sandanski in the Pirin, Macedonia region of Bulgaria
Arranged, with instruments, mixed chorus. We learned this from Tatiana Sarbinska and performed it for several years as a small-group number. It is being revived in 2021 as a full-group number.
Pitat me mamo - score, lyrics, translation - IMPROVED 11-17-21
Polegnala e Tudora
Bulgaria, arranged, Filip Kutev. Piece done by Planina at various times in our history. Have done in the past as women’s only. Being revived 2/2025 as mixed chorus piece.
Polka with Horns (Polka su ragučiais)
Traditional Lithuanian dance (instrumental)
Popoj mi slugo careva
Macedonia. Solo lead with other voices holding a one-note drone. We do it with accordion, with other instruments playing intermezzi between verses.
Porushka
Russia, dance (no name for this dance), we have done it both a cappella and with inst., mixed, G
Posadila Baba
Pirin, Macedonia/Bulgaria, dance (2/4 horo), we do it as men's piece w/instruments, tambura tuning B/E
Pravo Medley
Planina has strung together different Rhodope pravos in medley form through the years. To find lyrics for individual songs from past medleys, look up those songs alphabetically. As of 2026, the songs in the current medley are also available in one document; scroll down to access those lyrics.
2000, approx.
Hajda, Kalino
A bre junache
Pustunu ludo
Momne le mari hubava (pravo version)
2009, approx.
Hajda, Kalino
Dimitro, sino Dimitro
Pustunu ludo
2016, approx.
Hajda, Kalino
Stiga mi sa momne le
Dimitro, sino Dimitro
Pustunu ludo
2019 and current
Hajda, Kalino
Dimitro, sino Dimitro
Krifkono fesče vidiš li
Pustunu ludo
Prehvrukna ptichka
Bulgaria, Koutev arrangement but now we are singing it in 11 rather than as 2/4, women, B
Pusta mladost
Pirin, Mac./Bulg., a cappella, men, A or G#
Pustunu Ludo
Bulgarian, dance (pravo), usually the closer in Pravo medley, a cappella, starting note A
R’abinushka
Russian. We do this as a small-group song.
Rada pere na rekata (warmup)
Bulgaria, pravo
Radi na Radka dumanshe
Bulgarian, arranged as a men's song
Radujsja nevesta nenevestnaja
Ramo Ramo
Serbian, Čoček
We have not performed this as a Planina song per se
Rano ranila mome dena (warmup)
Bulgarian, from Tzvetanka Varimezova
Rasti rasti, moz zeleni bore
Serbia, women's diaphonic, Ab
Romani chaj Amari
Macedonian Romani, we learned in 11/15 workshop with Carol Silverman, we do as mixed group, with inst., Dm
Rumela'j
From repertoire of Kalyi Jag, but not really Hungarian Rom, Kalyi Jag calls it a "Gypsy dance from the Balkans," dance (Jeni jol), w/inst., Dm
A summary of linguistic and cultural issues about this song and its translation
Rumena si
Croatia, lullaby, women, C, E, G
Rusi kosi imam
Bulgarian, dance (the folk dancers do a special choreographed dance for this tune), w/inst., Dm
Members of Planina and a few guests perform Rusi Kosi in a concert in Velingrad, Bulgaria, in 2018
s Merak, Lyubov I Pesen
Sabrali sa se nabrali
Draginovo, Bulgaria; Milyo taught this to us in 2009, we sing it as a women's song w/ inst., tambura tuning B/E
We often sing it in a medley with Junak se vikna
Draginovo song packet (this song is on page 6 of the packet)
Slow, dissonant diaphonic version #1 (with men singing) - source recording - we may use one verse of this prior to singing the all-women version; this is the version that the singers on Planina’s CD followed for the intro verse
Slow, dissonant diaphonic version #2 (with women singing) - source recording - we may use one verse of this prior to singing the all-women version
Sabrali sa se sabrali
Sadila baba luk chesnok
Russia, song-dance, mixed, with inst., usually key of D
Sadilo/Tropnalo medley
Pirin Mac./Bulg., dance (chetvorno), we do it as a men's piece, tambura tuning B/E
Saraj Donko (warmup)
Bulgarian.
This is the warmup Rose taught Planina on 9/20/18.
Here’s a YouTube of an ensemble doing an extended version of the tune.
Sarajevo
Bosnian, women, a cappella, we learned both a 2-part simple version and an arranged 6-part one, start on D, D# or E
Satsekvao
Ahmeta, Georgia
Planina learned this song in 7/2023 from Patara Kakhi in Telavi, Georgia
Sava je Dunav je
Croatia, mixed, with inst.
Sazeimo Perkhuli
Georgia, Svaneti region, mixed, a cappella
Ščedryk
Ukrainian Epiphany/New Year's carol
Composed by M. Leontovich
(became popular in the West with new lyrics as the Carol of the Bells)
Planina is singing as a women's choral piece
Version by "Eileen" (2nd time through, very clear Ukr. pronunciation)
Single-part recordings:
Single-part lyrics:
Sedeko tsikhe maghalo
Village Glola, Racha, Georgia
Planina learned this from Tornike Skhiereli, Ambrolauri, Georgia, 7/2023
Se po svrshi serbez Donka
Macedonia, dance (ruchenitsa), mixed, with inst.
Sheni Bralia
Georgia, men’s piece with panduri and bass line
Shto mi e milo
Macedonian, lesnoto, w/instruments, key of D
Shto si, Goro
Bulgarian, women's, arranged, a cappella, Koutev, A, E, C
Sidjala Janka na tlâka
Bulgarian warm-up from Tzvetanka Varimezova
Sini Sini
Bosnian, mixed
sheet music, melody only (good for seeing notation of one version of ornaments; this sheet music is in Am/G major)
sheet music, all three parts (ornaments not notated) (updated 5/4/21; this sheet music is in our new key of FM/Eb major)
Thorn singing the melody line (with ornaments)
YouTube - Orkestar Romanovic
YouTube - Zvezdane noci (interesting for instrumental but not a good example for the vocal due to many off-pitch notes)
Sjajna zvijezda
Bosnia, women's diaphonic, Eb
Sluzhba
Russian cossack, men's (plus one woman), G#
Snoshti e dobra kŭsna sedela (a.k.a. Snoshti e Dobra docna sedela)
Bulgaria, dance (chetvorno), women's diaphonic, tambura tuning F/C
Snoshti si zdode
Bulgaria, women's, arranged, 3-part song we learned from Donka Koleva
Note: If you are learning the bottom voice, download both Parts A and B. It's not an additional voice; the recording was just broken into the first part and the second part.
Sokol mi leta
Macedonian, we do as men's tune, could be dance (horo), tambura tuning F/C or F#/C#
Sos ma karash, majchinko (pravo)
Bulgarian, Rhodopes
Collected by Mary Sherhart
Recording is Mary Sherhart with Erik Butterworth, acc.
We will play in B minor
Soup Song, Russian - see Sup var’it’
Stani zapali, TinkE
Song from Macedonia, men and women with instruments, new to group 8/2016, the scores below are Pero's arrangements
Stiga mi sa momne le
Bulgaria, men, sometimes part of Pravo Medley
Stoine
Bulgaria/Macedonia, we do this as men's song, tambura tuning F/C or F#/C# or sometimes G/D
men
Sŭbrali sa se nŭbrali — NOW FILED UNDER SABRALI SA SE NABRALI
Sŭbrali sa se sŭbrali — NOW FILED UNDER Sabrali sa se sAbrali
Sup var’it’ (soup song)
Russia, song-dance-game
Svadba e Golema (folkdancers have a specific dance for this tune)
Bulgarian, Pirin
We will play in B minor
Svi Svatovi
Croatian, mixed, a cappella, C#
lyrics and translation
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
American, Negro spiritual
Tamo Daleko
Serbia, dance (waltz), with instruments
Tarnawsky, Nadia Ukrainian workshop - 2026
See the following songs:
Oy tam na hori
Oy pan khazayin
Oy za dnoyi horky
Tec, Peleite
Latvia, ritual song, mixed group, D
There are 2 parts; melody stays the same throughout, bottom changes
Planina shortened arrangement, lyrics + sheet music *** THIS is the important one to download
sheet music, full lyrics and translation from Kitka songbook If you're curious about background of the song
If you will be singing the bottom part, you may find this easier to work with (I think Wendi made this): Bottom part only sheet music & lyrics
If you will be singing the top part, you may find this easier to work with. Tec Peleite - words pronunciation translation only
This version is even easier if all you need is the words: Big, with translation
Telegramma dojde
Treno, shterko Treno
Draginovo, Bulgaria, we learned from Milyo, mixed, tambura tuning A/D
Tri bilbilja poev
Vardar, Macedonia, village of Kuchkovo
We perform as men's diaphonic with tamburas
A/D tuning
Triadafillia
Greek, region unknown
women’s, singing + doumbek
Planina is doing this as a small-group number
Planina performing this song in 2021 (introduction starts at about 25:56)
Trugnal mi Jane Sandanski
Pirin Macedonia/Bulgaria, dance (lesnoto), can be done as a solo with instruments or group song with instruments, men or women or both, tambura tuning A/D or F/C or we have also done with accordion
Tsangala da gogona
Georgian dance song, Planina learned this song in 7/2023 from Patara Kakhi in Telavi
The recording below is one demonstration of the whole song by Patara Kakhi. Additional class recordings are available on the Georgia 2023 Google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13wc7K1ZSWSuNdkPPAXHNFSTz6hjEr5Mc?usp=drive_link
Tsintsharo, B
Georgia, we do this as all or mostly men, a cappella, Bb
Tsvite teren
Ukraine
A cappella, mixed
Lyrics, transliteration, translation - improved!
Sheet music - now with lyrics written in!
Pronunciation: see below
Tuk mi, kazaha, Lazare
Bulgarian song we use as a warm-up, taught to Planina by Mary Sherhart
Tum balalaika
Yiddish/Russian, dance (waltz), mixed, w/ instruments
Planina performing Tumbalalaika in 2015 at Nevei kodesh (video)
U Kyjevi na rynochku
Ukrainian song
Michael Young taught this and one other song in a workshop for Planina’s men on 11/2/2017. As of 2025, it hasn’t been performed.
Ujezhal daljoka mili
Russia, arranged, with inst., mixed, key of Dm
Uncle Trifon
Russian, song-dance-game
Vajta N'Elbasan - see ALBANIAN MEDLEY
Vecheraj, Ang'o
Macedonia (Vardar), men's diaphonic, dance (lesnoto), tambura tuning F/C or F#/C#
Verila, Verila
Russia, dance (waltz), mixed, Fm
Verka, Kaludzherka
Serbian Rom, 9/8 with instruments
Warm-ups
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
American, based on a 1907 hymn
Yagmur Yagar
Turkish song from Macedonia, dance (lesnoto), mixed, with inst., key of B hijaz, 1st chord Em, vocal starts on B.
Yallama Yorim (Let's Dance, My Dear)
Uzbekistan (and in Uyghur culture)
Planina members learned this in a 2024 Boulder workshop on Uzbek music taught by Rozibi Khodjayeva
Video from Boulder 2024 workshop - group singing
YouTube: girls singing with guitar (our version doesn't include what the boys are singing here)
YouTube: 1982 stage performance with lots of instruments and one singer
YouTube: girls learning the instrumental (including cool strum) using the tonic as a drone
Yianni mou to mandili sou
Greece, dance (sta dhio), with inst.
Zajko kokorajko
Zamraknala e hubava Jana
Bulgaria, arranged, mixed, 3-part harmonies, C, E
Zemlianichka
Russia, mixed, with inst.
Ženi me, mamo
Dorkovo, Bulgaria - we do it as a men’s piece
Živovali, Drugovali
Dorkovo, Bulgaria. We have done it as a mixed piece but as of 2018 are planning to do it as a men’s piece with accordion.