Music of Albania

Music-of-AlbaniaSoutheasternEuropeanMusic, Kosovo Albania is a Balkan nation that was ruled by Enver Hoxhas socialism government for much of the later part of the 20th century. Even before Hoxhas reign began, Albania was long controlled by the Ottoman Empire and other conquering powers, leading to a diversity of influences that is common in the much-fragmented Balkan region. Albanians (and the ethnic-Albanian Kosovo of nearby Serbia) are commonly divided into three groupings: the northern Ghegs and southern Lab (Albania) and Tosks. Turkey influence is strongest around the capital city, Tirana, while Shkod˲ has been long considered the center for musical development in Albania. Music has always been a potent means of national expression for Albanians. Under Hoxhas regime, this was channeled into songs of patriotism devotion to the party, since the arrival of democracy in 1991, lyrics have come to focus on long-suppressed traditions like kurbet (seeking work outside of Albania) and support for various political party, candidates and ideas. Pop musicians have developed too, long banned under the socialists, with Ardit Gjebrea. Folk music was encouraged to some degree under the socialist government, who promoted a quinquennial music festival at Gjirokast˲ provided that the musicians expressed frequent support for the party leaders. After the fall of socialism, Albanian Radio-Television launched a 1995 festival in Berat that has helped to continue musical traditions.

Northern AlbaniaThe Ghegs from north of the Shkumbini River are known for a distinctive variety of sung epic poetry. The most traditional variety is called Rapsodi Kreshnike and is made by mustachioed men, now mostly elderly. Somewhat further south, around Dib˲ and K˲ǯvˠin Macedonia, Turkish elements are strong. Many of the epic stories are about Skanderbeg, a legendary 15th century warrior. Recent traditional artists include Muǡ-Mustafa, Fatime Sokoli, Sali Mani and Shaqir ǥrvadiku. Traditional instruments include the ǩfteli and sharki, which have been used in large bands since the Second World War to great popular acclaim. The city of Shkod˲ has long been the cultural capital of Albania, and its music is considered the most sophisticated in the country. Bosnian sevdalinke is an important influence on music from the area, which is complex, with shifts through major and minor scales and an oriental sound. Traditional musicians from Shkod˲ include Bujar Qamili, Luǩja Miloti, Xhevdet Hafizi and Bik Ndoja. Albanias capital, Tirana, is the home of Alb-pop, which is dominated by Roma (people) influences and has been popularized at home and in emigrant communities internationally by Merita Halili, Parashqevi Simaku and Myslim Leli. In recent times, influences from Western Europe and the United States in particular have led to the creation of bands of rock and roll, pop music, rapping, and of nearly every other musical form.

Southern AlbaniaSouthern Albanian music is soft and gentle, and polyphonic in nature. Vlorˠin the southwest has perhaps the most unique vocal traditions in the area, with four distinct parts (taker, thrower, turner and drone) that combine to create a complex and emotionally cathartic melody. The Tosk people are known for ensembles consisting of violins, clarinets, llautˠ(a kind of lute) and def. Eli Fara, a popular 魩gr頰erformer, is from KorNj, but the city of P˲met is the center for southern musical innovation, producing artists like Remzi Lela and Laver Bariu. Southern instrumental music includes the sedate kaba (listen to a Media:Albanian kaba.ogg in Ogg Vorbis format), an ensemble-driven form driven by a clarinet or violin alongside accordions and llaut˳, as well as the ethnic Greece inhabitants of Dropulli, whose music is very similar to that of Epirus in Greece. See also: music of Kosovo


ReferencesBurton, Kim. The Eagle Has Landed. 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 1-6. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0