Photo: Veni Markovski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Theodosii Spassov
Person · male · Bulgaria · Isperih · born 1961 · recording since 1990
Bulgarian musician
official homepageofficial homepageticketsdatabasedatabasedatabase
Also known as Theodosii Spassov · Theodosii Spassov · Teodosij Spassow · Theodosii Spassov · 西奥多西·斯帕索夫
Timeline
17 events▣ Album 14◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1✦ Award 1
1960s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Sand Girl
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography443 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1358059792
Biography
Theodosii Spassov Yordanov (Bulgarian: Теодосий Спасов Йорданов, [teoˈdɔsi spɐˈsɔf jorˈdɑnof], born 4 March 1961) is a Bulgarian Folklore and jazz musician who plays kaval.
Theodosii Spassov began his early training on the kaval at the Kotel Music School and The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv/Bulgaria. The kaval, an eight-hole wooden "shepherd" flute, is one of the oldest Instruments in Europe, rich in tone and technical possibilities. Theodosii Spassov has developed his own unique style of playing the instrument by synthesizing traditional folklore with jazz, fusion and classical music.
For over 20 years, Theodosii has toured all over Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and United States. In 1994, he performed with Sofia Women's Radio Choir which was awarded with a Grammy award for "Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares". In April 1995, "Newsweek" magazine recognized Theodosii Spassov as one of the most talented Eastern-European musicians in its "best of the East" article, noting that "Spassov... is not merely surviving the post-communist cultural wasteland. He has actually invented a new musical genre."
Theodosii Spassov has contributed to 20 CDs, four of his own. He has composed and performed numerous film scores including a French-Bulgarian feature film "Granitza", ("The Border") 1993. Also he recorded themes for films by Italian composers Carlos Siliotto and Ennio Morricone, entitled "An Italian Story" and "The Breakout of the Innocent". At the fourth European Jazz Night, Theodosii Spassov was a featured performer along with other jazz musicians, including Winton Marsalis.
In his native Bulgaria, Theodosii Spassov is a figure of national importance and prominence, and was recently honored with the Musician of the Year Award. He is the Artistic Director of the "PHILIP KOUTEV Ensemble Of Music, Drama And Dance".
Theodosii is a historical member of the Riverdance traditional music and dance company (1998-2001). Currently, he is a solo artist with the Bulgarian National Radio.
Musical training
The Music School in Kotel and
The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv.
Artists he worked with
Jazz Linia, "Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares", Trio Bulgarka, National Radio Sofia Orchestras, Ivo Papazov, Yldiz Ibrahimova, Vesselin Nikolov, Milcho Leviev and Katoomi (Karen Briggs, Nedra Wheeler, Tootie Heath), London Chamber Players, Borislav Yotzov, Acoustic Version, Dave Liebman, Dimitrios Vassilakis, Andy Sheppard, Jamey Haddad, Ivan Yanakov (pianist), Albert Mangelsdorf, The Four Pianists, Mark Johnson, Trilok Gurtu, Kazumi Watanabe, Glen Velez, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Matt Darriau, Boyan Zulfikarpasic, Dionisis Savopulos, Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, Billy Cobham, The Shin, Ennio Morricone, Kristjan Järvi, Vlatko Stefanovski, Nayden Todorov, Miroslav Tadić
Concerts as a soloist
Spassov has done concerts in the following countries as a soloist; Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Holland, India, Israel, Japan, Nepal,
Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S..
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 8 | 49.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 14 | 94th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 17 | 92.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 35 | 74.2th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 14 studio albums)
Albums · 14
1990 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 9 tracks · 47:33
1Scherzo13:402Monologue2:193Litovoiska Lyubenitsa (Watermelon From Litovoya)1:414Mouha v Bourkan (A Fly in a Jar)4:425Tatvata Rabotilnitsa (Daddy's Workshop)2:576Bozadjiyata (The Boza Vendor)4:587Gourbetchiiski Moabet (Get-Together of Men Working Abroad)7:268Proviknal se Todor (Todor Called Out)2:009The Sand Girl Suite: I. Brazaya, II. The Sand Girl, III. Racing the Danube7:501994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 57:33
1Tum-pa-ta-ta, takun-ta-ta4:482Galeno horo5:083Ruchenitsa-Ruchkanitsa5:014Lalitsa (feat. Yanka Rupkina)2:575Momina muka (The Maiden's Grief)3:066Krai selo na bairite (By the Village, On the Hills)3:237Unnamed (feat. Yanka Rupkina)1:288Nyakude v Rodopite (Somewhere in the Rhodopes)5:079Graovo Dance4:0110Byal samolet (A White Plane) (feat. gadulka: Georgi Petrov)7:0411Manipulation5:2812Balada za edna naduta gaida (Ballad about a Puffed up Bagpipe)6:0313Welkya (Night Tawny Owl) (feat. Boika Velkova)3:591998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 58:27
1Horo with Kawal5:502Rhodope Song4:273Old Wives' Tales6:544Paleontologomania2:575Satin Doll5:556Pendata2:297Song about the Couscous6:208Samba Rachenitsa4:449Gyurkata5:0310A little Something out of Nothing2:0311Rada4:1312For Nicky4:4013Christmas Eve with Bells2:521999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:03:06
1Kakvo mi chudo stanalo8:272Clarinet solo10:573Gano, gano2:094Kine le10:375Chorbajiyskata5:006Kaval solo10:517Kakvo mi chudo stanalo15:05Дълъг Път ІІ / The Long Road ІІ
2000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:01:11
1Дълъг Път / The Long Road2:462Спомен / Reminiscence3:403Раздяла / Parting3:024Гурбетчийски Мохабет / Chat Of People Who Work Abroad To Make A Living7:205Овчарски Мелодии / Shepherd's Melodies3:576Право Пловдивско Хоро / Straight Plovdiv Horo4:457Бавна Мелодия / Slow Melody1:518Белченски Ръченик / Belchenski Ruchenik3:069Монолог / Monologue2:1210Мелодии За Кавал И Оркестър / Melodies For Kaval And Orchestra4:5411Литовойска Любеница / Water-Melon From Litovoya1:3512Муха В Буркан / A Fly In A Jar4:3713Татовата Работилница / Daddy's Workshop2:5214Бозаджията / Boza- Vendor4:5215Провикнал Се Тодор / Todor Called Out1:5516Пясъчното Момиче / The Sand Girl7:472000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 14 tracks · 51:48
1Karchenitsa 216 (Morning Back Crack 216)4:252Tatovata Rabotilnitsa (Father's Workshop)2:583Tui-To! (That's It!)5:124Sveti Georgi 17.01 h. (St. George 5:01 PM)0:255Na Nicki (For Nicki)5:416Selo Isgrev 23.16 h. (Isgrev Village 11.16 PM)0:237Tudorka (Tudorka)5:038Ponyakoga-Nikoga (Sometimes - Never)6:409Tramvaina Spirka 9.23 h. (A Trainstop 9.23 AM)0:4310N-N-Natatak (And S-S-So On)6:0311Ribite Se Mollyat Za Deujd (The Fish Are Praying For Rain)5:4112Selo Isgrev 17.18 h. (Isgrev Village 5:18 PM)0:3313Vesta (Vesta)7:2114Molitva (Prayer)0:402001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:01:29
1Рада = Rada10:012Теодосий Спасов Соло = Theodosii Spassov Solo2:163Рапшип, Сапшип, Рапшипсарап = Rapship, Sapship, Rapshipsarap10:254Татарски Блус / Енвер Измайлов Соло = Tatar Blues / Enver Izmailov Solo5:095По Море = At Sea13:146Барабар = Barabar7:567До Грозда = Near The Grapes6:548Утро = Utro / Morning5:342001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 52:42
1Day After Day6:002In Infinity3:363A Chinese Vase4:284Oh You Lass3:045A Strange Occasion8:036Todor’s Compliant5:147Kite4:118Beyond the Frontier3:159Kalla Pattar6:4710Yunus Emre5:0411End of the Game3:002005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks
1Theo's Gambit2Maichinko3Paidushko4Point5Faux6Free Gaida7Čoček i Gong8Tudorka2005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 58:16
1Say Bob3:572Прескочи кобила (Preskochi Kobila)7:333Вино пия (Vino Pia)4:584Кине (Kine)5:305Майчинко (Maichinko)6:086Подножие (Podnojie)4:347Сливенска праскова (Slivenska Praskova)7:318Чичковото дете (Chichkovoto Dete)3:469Нещо прекрасно (Neshto Prekrasno)8:2010VЯRА5:59Theodosii Spassov & Heavenly Strings
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks
1Следвай ме / Follow Me2Островът на козите / The Goat's Island3Златоград / Gold Town4Джаной / Janoy5Тамир ага / (Tamir Agha)6Елено / Eleno7Огнен празник / Fire Feast8Пуста младост / Pusta Mladost9Пазач на души / The Warden Of Souls10Йовка / Iovka11Цигански танц / Gipsy Dance12Нещо прекрасно / Something Beautiful13Сей, Боб / Say Bob14Замисленият ангел / Toughtful Angel15И в рая има ад / And Heaven Is Hell2016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 55:50
1Женска ръченица8:322Гана8:293Вара Варвара7:474Бавна6:545Старозагорска ръченица6:406О Майно хоро11:227Бучимиш6:062018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 41:10
1Anticipation4:102The Lost Whales4:523Humility4:034The Cloud Creator5:005Dad's Portrait3:496Infusion3:197I Fly Forward4:018Silent Song3:459The Technique of Ecstasy3:4210We’ll Stay in Touch4:292022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 33:57
1Изгубените китове5:322Глухарче3Ние сме вода3:404Беломорска песен6:495Епруветка2:496Яфо хоп5:477Право - Ново3:488Копнение5:32
Album · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Live in OhridSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 39:291Mila moya mayno lyo5:45 2Awakening2:57 3Mari Mariiko3:36 4Legends4:05 5The Moon4:52 6The Rock3:42 7The Beginning5:23 8Captain Petko voivode9:09 | Live | 2003 |
Single · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Вече знамSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 3:111Вече знам3:11 | 1 October 2025 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Theodosii Spassov head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 8 | 49.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 14 | 94th |
| Awards recorded | 2 | 92.6th |
| Timeline events | 17 | 92.4th |
| Recording span (years) | 35 | 74.2th |
| Genres | 3 | 80.4th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | UNESCO Artist for Peace | won | |
| 2017 | UNESCO Artist for Peace | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| БALKANSKY(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Theodosii_Spassov_in_NYC.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/928c6a6d-28c3-4b08-b43e-d9c65cc27524discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/928c6a6d-28c3-4b08-b43e-d9c65cc27524core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q983270genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q983270seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosii_Spassovbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosii_Spassov
Why this artist is in the database
- List of Bulgarian musicians and singers
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Veni Markovski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q983270 · MusicBrainz: 928c6a6d-28c3-4b08-b43e-d9c65cc27524
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