Albania is a country blessed with a rich heritage of folk songs and an impressive range of vocal styles perhaps unequalled in the rest of Europe. Yet few recordings of Albanian vocal music have ever been released in the West and its many treasures remain largely overlooked. The album features a wide range of folk songs from the homophonic songs of the North to the polyphonic styles of the South with rural and urban styles. The recordings were made during the 1995 Berat Folklore Festival. Many of Albania’s finest provincial ensembles took part in this spectacular gala concert.
1 Shqiptaria Bashke Gjithmone (Albanians Forever Together)
2 Nje Thelleze E Shkruar Prilli (A Sea-Green Partridge of April)
3 Smarte Moj! (O Smarte!)
4 Kenge Vaji (A Lament)
5 Ne Jume Isha Dhe U Zgjova (I Was Sleeping and Woke Up)
6 Kenge Popullore Qytetare (Urban Folk Song)
7 Ne Maje Te Shelgut (On Top of the Willow)
8 Kam Shtepine Me Rasa (My Old Stone House)
9 Larg Nga Vendi I Bardhe Flori (Far from the Golden Place)
10 Fyell I Tanes (Tana’s Flute)
11 Bec Patani (Bec Pantani)
12 Ra Nje Lot Dhe Lagu Syt (A Tear Fell and Wet the Eyes)
13 Me Muar Malli Me Muar (I Am Filled with Longing)
14 Djale Te Bukur Te Beri Nena (Handsome Boy Whom Mother Gave Birth to)
15 Vajta Nje Dite Ne Pazar (I Went to the Bazaar One Day)
16 Qaj Moj Zemer, Qaj (Cry My Heart, Cry)
17 Zani I Nanes (The Mother’s Call)
18 Kenge Per Meco Bonen (Song for Meco Bone)
19 Ymer Aga (Ymer Aga)
20 Lan Vasha Ne Gure Te Luit (The Maiden Washes Clothes at the Rock…)
21 Moj Kosove, Trimneshe Dardane (O Kosvova, the Dardanian Brave)
22 Medet O Riza, Medet (Lamenting You O Riza!)
23 Dasmore Sot Asht Shqipnija (All Albanians Are Wedding Hosts Today)