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Albanian Culture - Instruments 🇦🇱 |

Published in Albania - Social interactions and entertainment - 5 - 24 Feb 21 04:42

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Albania_Royal_Army.jpg 

Geographically Albania is divided into two main regions: northern Ghegeria and southern Toskeria. The southern part (Toskeria) consists of two sub-regions, Toske
and Laberia. These share many commonalities yet the musical styles of each are
distinctly different. The Shkumbini River serves as a boundary between the two
main regions, as well as a cultural divide distinguishing the varying musical
performances and styles.

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Monodic music is practiced mainly in the north whilst polyphonic music is most
commonly performed in the south. These two diverse systems impact on the folk
songs of the two regions making them sound significantly different. In addition,
different folk instruments are used in both regions. The instrumental and vocal
monodic music of the north (Ghegeria) is based on the modal system, with Dorian,
Aeolian, Mixolydian, Phrygian, Lydian, Ionian and Hypolydian modes being used.

The songs of the north typically portray important historical events or heroic deeds,while the southern songs are not as nationalistic and cover various social themes.
They are in general a lot softer and more melodic in character.

The folk music of the south (Toskeria) is based on the pentatonic scale, with significant differences which
are noticed within the two sub-regions (Toske and Laberia).

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Unlike many other cultures that have excluded polyphonic music from mainstreamsociety, Albanian polyphonic music is known by most Albanians and is well
practiced and enjoyed by all age groups, and rural as well as urban Albanians,
regardless of their degree of formal musical training.

Each region has its own unique characteristics of performance, including theirvaried and distinctive traditional costumes and folk instruments, which differ in many
aspects from the north to the south.

The main instruments in the north are:
Lahuta, a one string fiddle instrument – with a similar appearance to a banjo,

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c3/77/c2/c377c214e478594d09d76f701f4a28d1.jpg

 Ciftelia, a plucked two-string lute in which the melody is played on the highest pitched string and the lowest string serves as a drone.

https://fakteplus.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/CD013E43-2C1F-4FBB-841E-228614ECC2F8.jpeg



One of the main instruments used in the polyphonic zone is

Cyla dyjare, a double flute built from a single piece of wood.

https://telegrafi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dyjare.jpg


Gajde is another popular instrument in the south, very similarto a bagpipe, which is very often used as a solo instrument.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/oj7kDS8fzAbI-iOCIXmPiewbDPS5IHQe_h8Pgugq_OlTDL5iopzy2lVvWXgzWRW1iV9cE1Lvdh_ZlyUzIwf8HKGog5GdRyOIY6s0--sU8a3qFahFP4SOqEacbL2JI9Usle_Pwl26cvZwp1fGo9Q


Because of its important and unique role in Albanian cultural tradition, polyphony and folk music is studied as a separate subject in art schools and in the Academy of
Arts where future ethnomusicologists are being trained.
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Comments (5)

24 Feb 21 06:31
Vojo

U mean serbian instruments? :D https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/singing-to-the-accompaniment-of-the-gusle-01377

24 Feb 21 06:36
Mandisa

hello, @vojo, no hate here at all, Im completely neutral, I wrote the article based on research on ALBANIAN culture and instruments and on my knowledge in general based on my childhood stories and all. No idea why youre so pressed about it. I checked your link, and, I respect that. I suggest you respect me back.

25 Feb 21 00:47
Aragonn

Albania is very beatiful contry

26 Feb 21 02:10
Vojo

Im just polite said u maybe mistakenly placed serbian instrument in the list, nothing more :)

26 Feb 21 03:12
Luani

👍