Tirana Times
TIRANA, April 4 – The National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances will give on Saturday, April 9, a gala concert with some of the ensemble’s best performances during its 55-year existence. The concert called “Dancing in this beginning of spring” will bring at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet performances with choreography by Besim Jazexhiu. The ensembles veteran soloists, dancers Rexhep Celiku, Liljana Cingu and singer Irini Qiriako will star in the concert scheduled for April 9 at 19.00.
Albania has a rich musical tradition and especially folklore. This is to be expected as the whole Balkan region is well known for its impressive musical heritage. The interpretation of Albanian folklore music varies a great deal from polyphony (songs without instruments) to flute or bagpipe polyphony to other kinds of songs and instruments altogether.
Northern Albania uses specific types of instruments such as: lahuta (single string instrument), 誦teli, sharki and drums. Meanwhile, in the south iso-polyphony is particularly popular. Besides folkloric music, Albania has a rich tradition in urban music from Shkodra (jahre songs), Elbasani, Kor衠(serenades) Vlora, P쳭eti, Leskoviku and Delvina (saze songs) and Berati.
The main folkloric activities are the National Folklore Festivals usually held in the museum city of Gjirokastra.
Albania also has a rich tradition of dances with a great variety of choreography and costumes mainly depending on the origin. There are epic as well as lyrical dances. Particularly famous for their elegance, rhythm and drama are the dances of Rugova, Tropoja, Devoll, Lunxh쳩a, the couples’ dance of Rrajca, southern dances and the Cham dance of Osman Taga.
