Balkan band

Duo Hyperborea

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About Duo Hyperborea

from the indescribable and hypnotic rhythms of the Balkans, to the sinuous melodies of Ottoman and Arabic classical music.
Balkan band
Edinburgh
Public liability insurance of £5 million
Verified profile

Duo Hyperborea, formed by the Balkan and Medieval music specialists Helena MacGilp and Chris Elmes, perform songs and music from the Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey and further east, as well as medieval Italy. Along with the compelling voice of Helena MacGilp the duo perform on various combinations of Eastern instruments including ouds, bozuk, saz, Macedonian tambura, violin and percussion. We can also perform on Bulgarian gajda and tapan/tambura. Hyperborea regularly perform with other skilled musicians, adding variously percussion or kanun.

Encore badges
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
Musicianship
Genres:
Balkan, Arabic, Asian music, Armenian, Greek music, World music
See all genres
Event types:
Bar / Club / Venue event, Wedding, Hotel / Restaurant event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Birthday party, New Year's Eve, Wedding proposal, Theatre / Show
See all event types

Duo Hyperborea's Song list

Turkish
-Alaydım elin elime
-Bülbülüm altım kafeste
-Divane aşık
-Kırmızı buğday
-Ne feryad edersin
-Turnem gidersen
-Al sazını sen sevdiceğim
-Amed nesim-I subh dem
-Çektim elimi gayri
-Değdi saçlarıma
-Çiçek dağı
-Çeçen kızı
-Hicaz sirto
-Niavend sirto
-Sultaniyegah sirto
-Yağcılar zeybeği
-Various peşrev & semai
Iranian/Azeri
-Aghrabe zolfe kalat
-Balal balalom
-Bahare delneshin
-Pishdaramad Esfahan
-Morghe sahar
-Naz bari
-Simin bari
Arabic
-Samra ya Samra
-Foug e nakhal
-Adir lena
-Lammabada
-Hal asmer al loun
Bulgarian / Macedonian
-Ajde bre dilber
-Ajde, mala stana
-Ajde şto de djumbuş
-Çije e ona mome
-Çuka nekoj
-Dafino vino
-Dvaždi triždi
-Gajdana sviri
-Gjura beli belo platno
-Jas ke ti dojdam
-Jove male mome
-Kade se çulo
-Kalesh Kate
-Kinisalo male mome
-Koga me ma rodila
-Malke mome
-Maloj, mome
-Makedonsko devojçe
-Mori Zlata se e bolna
-Okopska raçenitsa
-Pavle me pie
-Raspukala, Šar Planina
-Stamena
-Tvojte oçi
-Črna Gorska oro
-Maleşevsko oro
-Osogovsko oro
-Petrovo zaramo
-Pirin dance
-Pravo
-Pajduşko
-Triti pati
-Triti stupki
-Tropnalo oro
-Veligdensko oro
-Zajko kokorajko
Greek
-Alexandris
-Manaki mou
-Min orkezesai
-Thalassa mavri
-‘Gaida’
-Ta xyla
-Palios Karsilamas
-Sabah Zeimbekiko
-Hicaz Zeimbekiko
-Zonoradikos
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

One of the most common comments about our performances is 'Transported!'. The combination of high quality performance of various musical styles, with the stunning look and presentation sets the mood perfectly.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Ross Daly for all our styles. Macedonian artists like Pece Atanasovski and Stefan Staojkovski. Turkish artist like Göksel Baktagir, Murat Aydemir and Şevval Sam. Various Iranian including Hüseyin Alizade and many female Iranian singers.

Do you have different line-up options?

Our standard is two performers with mix of voice, ouds, tambura, baglama saz, gajda and percussion. We can perform as a trio with a percusionist to add extra energy.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

We are usually quite flexible with reasonable changes in timings.

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

Yes, we can provide iPod service in breaks.

How much time do you need to set up?

Usually 1 hour is sufficient.

Can you roam around while you perform?

When playing acoustically we can move about. This would usually be instrumental though some vocal styles would be suitable.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

Yes, we can tailor out set lists to specific situations. We usually present a well considered mix of styles (Turkish, Persian, Bulgarian/North Macedonian, Arabic) but we can focus in on one particular style if prefered, and include specific requests from our lists.

Is all of the equipment (e.g. PA & lighting) included in your quote?

Our PA is included in the quote.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

We would do our best to learn and play specific pieces if they are within the scope of our instruments.

Duo Hyperborea's Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hour£550
Up to 2 hours£600
Up to 3 hours£700
Duo Hyperborea
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5 out of 5
2 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Duo Hyperborea's Reviews

From Encore customers:

FD
Fraser D
2 years ago
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5 out of 5

Absolutely brilliant! Brought something unique and special to our Christmas party, our team were blown away. Highly recommended!

SS
Silvia S
4 years ago
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5 out of 5

Highly recommended duo! Amazing performance, highly professional approach!

From other customers:

BT
Borders T
9 years ago

One of the most distinctive and delightful duos in Scotland...their mesmerising performances have earned them a growing fanbase all over Scotland and the north of England.

EU
Edinburgh S
8 years ago

The Middle Eastern Society was lucky enough to have Duo Hyperborea play music for our Annual Middle Eastern Charity Ball. They were so talented and the music was absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much and I hope we have the opportunity to listen to your music soon!

Read all 3 reviews