Songbirds: Albanian Music From 78S 1924-1948 / Var Songbirds: Albanian Music From 78S 1924-1948 / Var CD

Albania holds several groups of people within it's 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 Nu?i 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.

1. Islam Jonuzi and Friends - E Qar? e Leskovikut 2. ?oban Arifi and Sabri Fehimi - Me Do?k?n e Bardh? 3. Riza Bylbyli - Korba o ?e?o 4. Vangjel Leskovikut - Kaba me G?rnet? 5. Selim Asllani and Group - Valle Krushkave 6. Selim Asllani and Group - Laca Kapetani 7. Zonja Qerim? and Friends - Ball?t me Sedef 8. Riza Bylbyli - Pogonishte 9. Jonuzi and Friends - Valle Devolli?e 10. Andrea Pappas, Athanas Mone - E Mjera Un? e Mjera 11. Jonus Lam?e and Sabri Fehimi - Valle Devolli?e 12. Cercis Nesim - Dor?n o Djal Dor?n 13. Riza Bylbyli (Vlon?) - Kapitani i Vlon?s 14. Riza Bylbyli - Bahje Dru me Pershullim 15. Konitsa (Real name unknown) - Vallja e Manushaqeve 16. Z. Kjuj - Ngrehun Mahmudi 17. Grupi Sazet - Valle Kolonjare 18. Zoj Hatixhja - ?'u Ngrys Her?t n? Mjes 19. Riza Bylbyli - Kishin Uj Ata Burime 20. Paulin Pali (of Shkod?r) - Re Moj Vajz e Mas Qit Ojna 21. Girls Choir of the Franciscan Convent of Shkod? - Valle Shqipnijet 22. Xhemal Asllani and Sabri Fehimi - Hunde Bukur Qelibar 23. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Viktori t'u B?ft? N?na 24. Konitsa (Real name unknown) - Valle me Dy 25. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Goca e Berberit 26. Musikantet Zotto (Thomas Zotto violin) - Taksim-Sazesh 27. Rafail Bulgareci and Risto Pandavani - Nja Shtat? Kokona Duall n? Voden? 28. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Untitase Me Sake 29. Z. Hamid Latifi - Prendoj Dilli Dha Aksham 30. Z. Islami Riza - Lace Gjinokastra 31. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Valle Sta Triya 32. Zoti Xhemal Asllani - Ne Rrapi n? Mashkullor (Gjinokastrite 33. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - E Qar? e Asllan Leskovikut 34. Riza Bylbyli - Sikur Merrje Xhemalin 35. Z. Kjuj - Kanga E Dhandrrit 36. Jonus Lam?e and Sabri Fehimi - E Qar? me G?rnet? 37. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Tjalem t'Amb?l Se? Ma Ke 38. Jonuzi and Friends - Valle Bera?e 39. Ajdin Asllani (Nichola Doneff violin, Beqir Hyman, Ilias Permeti vocals) - K?ng? Si H?na 40. Shoqnija Toshkrisht - Napuljoni Izet Bej Taksim 41. Riza Bylbyli - Osman Taka 42. Mati Kola (Instrumental trio) - ?'e Ninjova Ramazanin 43. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - E Qar? e Selimit 44. Chiorchi Gazel - Delvino Zaza Delvina 45. Pando Opingari (Fyell, Spiridon T. Ilo guitar) - Valle Kasap?e 46. Konitsa (Real name unknown) - Samari i Bariut 47. Z. Islami Riza - Bahje Dru me Pershullim 48. Chiorchi Gazeli - Kapetan Kirjako 49. ?er?is Nesim and Sabri Fehimi - Kur M? Shkon Sokakut 50. Z. Sylejmani - Alija Fetah Rikut 51. Riza Berati - ?'a Miku 52. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Hysnije Moj Dylbere 53. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Kush T? Ka Moj Rusk? 54. Rukia me Gocat e Eumes Tiran? - E Bukur Je Fatime 55. Pando Opingari (Pando Opingari fyell, Louis Rassias lauto) - Valle Devolli?e 56. Selim Asllani - Valle Hasanajt, e Shtruar 57. Spiridon T. Ilo (Vocal, Pando Opingari fyell, Louis Rassias laouto) - K?nga e Bektashinjve 58. Z. Sadik Azbiu - Vajza e Valavet 59. Z. Cercis Nesim - Ballet me Sadefe Kor?ar?e 60. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Dembe Katarose 61. Ajdin Asllani (Clarinet, prob. Nichola Donnef violin) - E Qar? Kaba me G?rnet? i 62. Ajdin Asllani (Clarinet, Dino Ilias san) - K?ng e Gjeth?s 63. Rizai with Friends - E Qjare e Merenkes 64. Riza Bylbyli - Taksim Myzeqar?e 65. K. Afes Shok and Selim Asllani - Vura Shkall?t Mbi Avlli 66. Zoj. Havaja - Moj e Vogla Saj Mexhide 67. Vellajt Tija and Sabri Fehimi - E Qar? e Bajram Fehimit 68. Z. Cercis Nesim - E Tredelines 69. Chiorchi Gazeli - Kapetan Kirjako 70. ?er?is Nesim and Sabri Fehimi - Kur M? Shkon Sokakut 71. Mehdi Permeti - E Qar? me G?rnet?, Kaba 72. Jonuzi and Friends - Viktori t'u B?ft? N?na 73. Unknown Musicians - Valle Salushe 74. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Kur Je?? Vetum 75. Riza Bylbyli - Kapitani Las 76. Jonuzi and Friends - Vome Kabß 77. Selim Asllani - Valle Jan? dy Kunata 78. K. Afes Shok and Selim Asllani - Keta Lesh Si Filli Arit 79. Llaqi and Friends (Sextet) - ?obankat q? Shkojn? Zallit 80. Z. Sylejmani - Medet, Medet Kam Nji Mik 81. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Dembe Katarose 82. Riza Bylbyli (Berati) - Ja Thoshte Bylbyli 83. Adjin Asllani (Clarinet, unknown san, Nichola Donnef violin) - E Trendelin?s (Valle dhe K?ng?) 84. Girls Choir of the Franciscan Convent of Shkod?r - Ora e Shqypnis