Vocal Traditions of Albania

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.