A unique and masterful look at the amazing Folk Music of Albania compiled by the Grammy Award winning Chris King.

Albania holds several groups of people within its borders. The primary division lies between Ghegs, who inhabit the territory north of the Shkumbin river, and Tosks, who live south of it. There are only a small number of songs on this collection that might be labelled as 'Gheg' - characterized by monophony, well-defined rhythm and musical accompaniment (today often a two-stringed chifteli). The most distinctly so feature a single, strident voice and a triumphal tone that recalls the northern tradition of epic poetry. The Tosk musical dialect is defined by polyphony, imitative melodic lines and, prior to urbanization, a total absence of musical accompaniment. The Tosk sub-dialect is heavily represented in this collection, particularly by the Asllani family of Leskovik, who not only recorded prolifically but were also responsible for three of the labels represented on this collection. The eldest brother, Ajdin, owned and operated both MI-RE and ME-RE and, finally, BALKAN, making recordings in New York, Detroit, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Athens, and Istanbul. Most of the music is drawn from a very distinct 'acoustic niche' in a very particular place, southern Albania--a topography, a way of life--in a dialect laid down, layer upon layer, from parent to child, over many hundreds of years. This music is rendered in a musical dialect both very rich and very close to home. Imagine the former inhabitants of Leskovik coming home at the end of a long day pulling their grocery cart through the streets of Boston to drop the needle on one of these 78s, or tuning in to Nuçi Cujo's radio hour, and hearing their song. We may not have heard this song before, but with a little training conflict gives way to a singular harmony, and emotions ring crystal clear.

Track Listing

• Islam Jonuzi and Friends - E Qarë e Leskovikut
• Çoban Arifi and Sabri Fehimi - Me Doçkën e Bardhë
• Riza Bylbyli - Korba o Çeço
• Vangjel Leskovikut - Kaba me Gërnetë
• Selim Asllani and Group - Valle Krushkave
• Selim Asllani and Group - Laca Kapetani
• Zonja Qerimé and Friends - Ballét me Sedef
• Riza Bylbyli - Pogonishte
• Jonuzi and Friends - Valle Devolliçe
• Andrea Pappas, Athanas Mone - E Mjera Unë e Mjera
• Jonus Lamçe and Sabri Fehimi - Valle Devolliçe
• Cercis Nesim - Dorën o Djal Dorën
• Riza Bylbyli (Vlonë) - Kapitani i Vlonës
• Riza Bylbyli - Bahje Dru me Pershullim
• Konitsa (Real name unknown) - Vallja e Manushaqeve
• Z. Kjuj  - Ngrehun Mahmudi
• Grupi Sazet  - Valle Kolonjare
• Zoj Hatixhja - Ç'u Ngrys Herët në Mjes
• Riza Bylbyli - Kishin Uj Ata Burime
• Paulin Pali (of Shkodër)  - Re Moj Vajz e Mas Qit Ojna
• Girls Choir of the Franciscan Convent of Shkodë - Valle Shqipnijet

• Xhemal Asllani and Sabri Fehimi - Hunde Bukur Qelibar
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani  - Viktori t'u Bëftë Nëna
• Konitsa (Real name unknown) - Valle me Dy
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Goca e Berberit
• Musikantet Zotto (Thomas Zotto violin)  - Taksim-Sazesh
• Rafail Bulgareci and Risto Pandavani  - Nja Shtatë Kokona Duall në Vodenë
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Untitase Me Sake
• Z. Hamid Latifi - Prendoj Dilli Dha Aksham
• Z. Islami Riza - Lace Gjinokastra
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Valle Sta Triya
• Zoti Xhemal Asllani  - Ne Rrapi në Mashkullor (Gjinokastrite
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani  - E Qarë e Asllan Leskovikut
• Riza Bylbyli - Sikur Merrje Xhemalin
• Z. Kjuj - Kanga E Dhandrrit
• Jonus Lamçe and Sabri Fehimi  - E Qarë me Gërnetë
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani  - Tjalem t'Ambël Seç Ma Ke
• Jonuzi and Friends - Valle Beraçe
• Ajdin Asllani (Nichola Doneff violin, Beqir Hyman, Ilias Permeti vocals) - Këngë Si Hëna
• Shoqnija Toshkrisht  - Napuljoni Izet Bej Taksim
• Riza Bylbyli - Osman Taka
• Mati Kola (Instrumental trio) - Ç'e Ninjova Ramazanin

• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - E Qarë e Selimit
• Chiorchi Gazel - Delvino Zaza Delvina
• Pando Opingari (Fyell, Spiridon T. Ilo guitar) - Valle Kasapçe
• Konitsa (Real name unknown) - Samari i Bariut
• Z. Islami Riza - Bahje Dru me Pershullim
• Chiorchi Gazeli  - Kapetan Kirjako
• Çerçis Nesim and Sabri Fehimi - Kur Më Shkon Sokakut
• Z. Sylejmani  - Alija Fetah Rikut
• Riza Berati  - Ç'a Miku
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani  - Hysnije Moj Dylbere
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Kush Të Ka Moj Ruskë
• Rukia me Gocat e Eumes Tiranë  - E Bukur Je Fatime
• Pando Opingari (Pando Opingari fyell, Louis Rassias lauto) - Valle Devolliçe
• Selim Asllani - Valle Hasanajt, e Shtruar
• Spiridon T. Ilo (Vocal, Pando Opingari fyell, Louis Rassias laouto) - Kënga e Bektashinjve
• Z. Sadik Azbiu - Vajza e Valavet
• Z. Cercis Nesim - Ballet me Sadefe Korçarçe
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Dembe Katarose
• Ajdin Asllani (Clarinet, prob. Nichola Donnef violin) - E Qarë Kaba me Gërnetë i
• Ajdin Asllani (Clarinet, Dino Ilias san) - Këng e Gjethës
• Rizai with Friends - E Qjare e Merenkes

• Riza Bylbyli  - Taksim Myzeqarçe
• K. Afes Shok and Selim Asllani  - Vura Shkallët Mbi Avlli
• Zoj. Havaja  - Moj e Vogla Saj Mexhide
• Vellajt Tija and Sabri Fehimi - E Qarë e Bajram Fehimit
• Z. Cercis Nesim - E Tredelines
• Chiorchi Gazeli - Kapetan Kirjako
• Çerçis Nesim and Sabri Fehimi - Kur Më Shkon Sokakut
• Mehdi Permeti - E Qarë me Gërnetë, Kaba
• Jonuzi and Friends - Viktori t'u Bëftë Nëna
• Unknown Musicians - Valle Salushe
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani  - Kur Jeçë Vetum
• Riza Bylbyli - Kapitani Las
• Jonuzi and Friends - Vome Kabá
• Selim Asllani  - Valle Janë dy Kunata
• K. Afes Shok and Selim Asllani - Keta Lesh Si Filli Arit
• Llaqi and Friends (Sextet) - Çobankat që Shkojnë Zallit
• Z. Sylejmani  - Medet, Medet Kam Nji Mik
• Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Dembe Katarose
• Riza Bylbyli (Berati) - Ja Thoshte Bylbyli
• Adjin Asllani (Clarinet, unknown san, Nichola Donnef violin)  - E Trendelinës (Valle dhe Këngë)
• Girls Choir of the Franciscan Convent of Shkodër  - Ora e Shqypnis

Additional Details

Label: JSP Records

Genre: World

Language: English

Run Time: 210 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 04/24/20

UPC: 788065721626