Main content

Albanian Urban Music

World Routes World Routes in Albania

In the footsteps of folklorist AL Lloyd, Lucy Duran visits Albania to record the little-known urban music of a country that was closed to the outside world for almost 50 years.

Heading off in the footsteps of folklorist AL Lloyd, Lucy Duran visits Albania to record the little known urban music of a country that was closed to the outside world for almost 50 years.

Lucy attends a garden party in the capital Tirana, where some of the city's best musicians get together over a glass of the local tipple, raki. She visits the Skanderberg castle in the town of Kruja, where the long standing vocal ensemble The Old Men of Kruja reflect on how life has changed since the fall of communism. Back in Tirana at a bar in the Bloku area, once home to the Party oligarchs but now the party capital of the city, she meets the Folk-Hip Hop group Westside Family, who are bringing traditional music up to date. Finally she heads to the town of Korca in the South of the country to attend a rehearsal of Grupi Lira, a choir that sings the patriotic serenades that are the trademark sound of the most cultured city in Albania.

Available now

1 hour

Last on

Sun 30 Oct 2011 22:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

More episodes

Next

Iso-Polyphony in Southern AlbaniaWorld Routes in Albania

See all episodes from World Routes

Music Played

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording - Garden party in Tirana

    • The Tirana Allstars

      I Saw You In White

      Performers: Artur Yzeiri (lahuta) Bujar Shtufi (accordion) Gazment Voka (tambur) Iris Beja (singer) Ismail Kavaja (clarinet)

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Tirana, Albania 2011.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording - Garden party in Tirana, Albania

    • The Tirana Allstars

      Kaba

      Performers: Artur Yzeiri (lahuta) Bujar Shtufi (accordion) Gazment Voka (tambur) Ismail Kavaja (clarinet)

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Tirana, Albania 2011.

    • The Tirana Allstars

      Medley of wedding songs

      Performers: Artur Yzeiri (lahuta) Bujar Shtufi (accordion) Gazment Voka (tambur) Ismail Kavaja (clarinet)

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Tirana, Albania 2011.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording - Kruja Castle, Albania

    • Grupi Karakteristik Pleqte E Kruje (The Old Men of Kruja)

      Maja Krahu

      Performers: Mustafa

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Kruja Castle, Albania 2011.

    • Grupi Karakteristik Pleqte E Kruje (The Old Men of Kruja)

      Last Night My Friends Told Me To Marry the Old Man

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Kruja Castle, Albania 2011.

    • Grupi Karakteristik Pleqte E Kruje (The Old Men of Kruja)

      My Bird

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Kruja Castle, Albania 2011.

  • West Side Family

    Kena Lind PΓ«r Γ‡ef

    • West Side Family.
    • Supersonic Records.
    • N/A.

  • West Side Family

    Hou Γ‡ike

    • West Side Family.
    • Supersonic Records.
    • N/A.

  • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording - Palace of Culture, Korca, Albania

    • Grupi Lira

      Traditional Patriotic Song

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Palace of Culture, Korca, Albani.

    • Grupi Lira

      Traditional Patriotic Song

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Palace of Culture, Korca, Albani.

    • Grupi Lira

      Traditional Patriotic Song

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Palace of Culture, Korca, Albani.

    • Grupi Lira

      Traditional Patriotic Song

      • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Location Recording.
      • Palace of Culture, Korca, Albani.

Broadcast

  • Sun 30 Oct 2011 22:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3

Featured in...