Click on image to order
Vocal Traditions of Albania [IMPORT]
Various
Artists - International - Europe - Eastern
FROM ALBANIA
WITH LOVE
Balkan folk music in
general is fascinating. Certainly it sounds more Middle Eastern than W.
European. It's a lot like the Western enjoyment of Raga (East Indian, Ravi
& Anouka Shankar, etc.) in that it appeals to two levels of Western taste:
(1) The musical professional who understands it from a technical level, and (2)
People like me who just really dig it.
The first category of listeners understand that Balkan folk music, like Raga,
is composed in a completely different tonal scale than Western music. When they
go wild over the music it is because they understand the nature of technical
expertise it takes to produce a musical result. The rest of us (and I'm not
excluding professionals from this category either) love it because it plays all
sorts of exciting games with our neurons--that is, it is conducive to
completely involved natural high.
Some people have said that the male Balkan chorus featured on some CDs sound
like tom cats in heat--and, well, frankly there's some truth in that if some
selections are heard from the perspective of an unaccustomed ear; but they
bring to my mind images of old time Western cowboys singin' and tellin' tale
tales over the campfire. The Cowboy & Romani cultures certainly have
distinct parallels. This particular CD showcases the "best of"
Albanian men's chorale. I believe any receptive, if not necessarily musically
trained ear, will enjoy the male choral selections.
When it comes to Balkan women's choral &
individual singing--there's no question I think in anybody's head who
appreciates it, that it is touches a perfect & harmoniously sublime
creative level. When I think lullabye, I hear a Balkan female voice singing it.
One of the other interesting things about Balkan music is the lyrics. It's been
said that the Balkan lanquages are among the most difficult to learn in the world.
In a way this is a plus, because most of the lyrics seem amazingly mundane in
comparison to the extraordinary spiritual depth of the music that supports
them. Things like, so-and-so traveled over the wide mountains to kill
so-and-so, a bloody Turk! Of course there are also many love & wedding
songs as well.
Lately a new genre of music seems to have emerged labeled
Gothic/Vampire--really, no kidding. Back in the late 70's I produced an
ill-fated & ill-conceived Vampire Play with Balkan folk music as a thematic
backdrop. The play was justly panned & garnered such reviews as,
"Oedipal nonsense a la Dracula-Meets-Lady Chatterly, but with a wonderful,
ethnic musical score."
Getting back to this particularly wonderful CD.
Many of the selections--if not all--are
excellent recordings from live performances. I am not a big fan of this type of
recording, primarily because the audience reaction (at least to me) seems to
get in the way. This CD has no problems in that arena at all, and, in fact,
wisely integrates the audience response. Applause is barely discernable in most
selections; but in some, particularly near the end of the 23 songs, it is most
appropriately included. I liked this because it demonstrated (1) the sheer
fervor of the audience for their folk superstars & musical national
treasure, and (2) draws the receptive listener into this really exciting
experience.
The closing number Dasmore sot asht tan Shiqinija, a wedding song, is one of
the most powerfully ecstatic & wild & passionately life-affirming songs
I've ever heard.
Balkan
Journeys Close to Home
Balkan:
Mysterious Voices of Bulgaria
Le
Mystère des Voix Bulgares
Music
of Bulgaria
Songs
and Dances from Albania
Transylvania
Carnival
Of Lost Souls
Necronomicon
Review: JEFarrow
Updated 11/07