BROTHERS MILADINOVI AND THEIR WORK-THE COLLECTION OF FOLK SONGS
The collection contains about 600 macedonian folk songs and 77 bulgarian. It was published on June 24, 1861 in Zagreb, Croatia.
KONSTANTIN MILADINOV’S WORK Konstantin Miladinov is considered to have been the founder of the Macedonian
artistic poetry, because his verses besides historical have an artistic value as well. He wrote only 15 songs among which "Bisera", "T'ga za Jug", "Zhelanie", "Golapche", and others. "Bisera", one of his most beautiful love songs, is written in the spirit of the folk poetry. Konstantin Miladinov's most emotional and beatiful song is considered to be "T'ga za jug - Longing for the south", written while he was staying in Russia. At that time he already felt ill, dissappointed and obsessed by the desire to go back to Macedonia. The "south" in the poem is Macedonia. Stambol is Istanbul, then a significant cultural center in the "south," and Kukus is a city that today belongs to Greece. Ohrid is the most significant cultural and historical city of Macedonia to this day, as well as Struga (where the writer was from).” Konstantin Miladinov succeeded to create poetry that is original in spirit and form. Hence, many anthologies of the Macedonian literature begin with his verses. His poetry, in particular the song "T'ga za jug" has been translated in many language.
Every year in the honour of the Miladinov brothers one of the biggest poetry festivals in the world takes place in their home town. The Struga Poetry Evenings are held for one week at the end of August with participation of many poets from all around the world.
LONGING FOR THE SOUTH (T'GA ZA JUG)
If I had an eagle's wings I would rise and fly on them To our shores, to our own parts, To See Stambol, to See Kukuš; And to watch the sunrise: is it Dim there too, as it is here?
If it meets me there as here, I'll prepare for further travels, I shall flee to other shores Where the sunrise, greets me
brightly, And the sky is sewn with the stars
It is dark here, dark surrounds me,
Dark for covers all the earth, Here are frost and snow and
ashes, Blizzards and harsh winds
abound, Fogs all around, the earth is ice, And in the breast are cold, dark
thoughts.
No, I cannot stay here, no; I cannot upon this frosts. Give me wings and I will don
them; I will fly to our own shores, Go once more to our own
places, Go to Ohrid and to Struga.
There the sunrise warms the soul, The sun gets bright in mountain woods: Younder gifts in great profusion Richly spread by nature's power. See the clear lake stretching white- Or bluely darkened by the wind, Look you at the plains or mountains: Beauty' everywhere divine.
To pipe there to my heart's content!
Ah! let the sun set, let me die.
THE ORIGINAL SONG“T’GA ZA JUG”
Orelski krilja kak da si metneh, i v nashi strni da si preletneh na nashi mesta ja da si idam, da vidam Stambol, Kukush da
vidam, da vidam dali s'nce i tamo mrachno ugrevjat kako i vamo.
Ako kak ovde s'nce me sretit; ako pak mrachno s'nceto svetit, na p't dalechni ja kje se
stegnam, i v drugi str'ni kje si pobegnam, k'de s'nceto svetlo ugrevjat, k'de neboto dzvezdi posevjat
Ovde je mrachno i mrak m'obviva i temna m'gla zemja pokriva, mrazoj i snegoj, i pepelnici, silni vetrishcha i vijulici, okolu m'gli i mrazoj zemni, a v gr'di studoj, i misli temni
Ne, ja ne mozham ovde da sedam,
ne, ja ne mozham mrazoj da gledam!
Dajte mi krilja ja da si metnam i v nashi str'ni da si preletnam; na nashi mesta ja da si idam, da vidam Ohrid, Struga da
vidam.
Tamo zorata greit dushata, i sn'ce svetlo zajdvit v gorata; tamo darbite prirodna sila so s'ta raskosh gi rasturila: bistro ezero gledash beleit, i si od vetar sino temneit: pole poglednish, ili planina, segde bozheva je hubavina. Tamo po srce v kaval da sviram, s'nce da zajdvit, ja da umiram
Konstantin and Dimitar Miladinov had a major role in the waking of the Macedonian people and their nationality. With their teaching activities and the collecting of the Macedonian folk literary works, they set the grounds for the modern Macedonian literature.
CREATED BY JOVANA BOZINOVSKA
7th grade student at St. Kliment Ohridski, Skopje Macedonia
