Artist: Various Artists

Title: Songbirds: Albanian Music From 78s 1924-1948 (Various Artists)

Condition:

Format: CD

Release Date: 2020

Label: JSP Records

UPC: 788065721626

Genre: International

Album Tracks

DISC 1:
1. Islam Jonuzi and Friends - E Qarë E Leskovikut
2. Çoban Arifi and Sabri Fehimi - Me Doçkën E Bardhë
3. Riza Bylbyli - Korba O Çeço
4. Vangjel Leskovikut - Kaba Me Gërnetë
5. Selim Asllani and Group - Valle Krushkave
6. Selim Asllani and Group - Laca Kapetani
7. Zonja Qerimé and Friends - Ballét Me Sedef
8. Riza Bylbyli - Pogonishte
9. Jonuzi and Friends - Valle Devolliçe
10. Andrea Pappas, Athanas Mone - E Mjera Unë E Mjera
11. Jonus Lamçe and Sabri Fehimi - Valle Devolliçe
12. Cercis Nesim - Dorën O Djal Dorën
13. Riza Bylbyli (Vlonë) - Kapitani I Vlonës
14. Riza Bylbyli - Bahje Dru Me Pershullim
15. Konitsa (Real Name Unknown) - Vallja E Manushaqeve
16. Z. Kjuj - Ngrehun Mahmudi
17. Grupi Sazet - Valle Kolonjare
18. Zoj Hatixhja - Ç'u Ngrys Herët NË Mjes
19. Riza Bylbyli - Kishin Uj Ata Burime
20. Paulin Pali (Of Shkodër) - Re Moj Vajz E Mas Qit Ojna
21. Girls Choir of the Franciscan Convent of Shkodë - Valle Shqipnijet

DISC 2:
1. Xhemal Asllani and Sabri Fehimi - Hunde Bukur Qelibar
2. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Viktori T'u BËFTË Nëna
3. Konitsa (Real Name Unknown) - Valle Me Dy
4. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Goca E Berberit
5. Musikantet Zotto (Thomas Zotto Violin) - Taksim-Sazesh
6. Rafail Bulgareci and Risto Pandavani - Nja Shtatë Kokona Duall NË Vodenë
7. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Untitase Me Sake
8. Z. Hamid Latifi - Prendoj Dilli Dha Aksham
9. Z. Islami Riza - Lace Gjinokastra
10. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Valle Sta Triya
11. Zoti Xhemal Asllani - Ne Rrapi NË Mashkullor (Gjinokastrite
12. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - E Qarë E Asllan Leskovikut
13. Riza Bylbyli - Sikur Merrje Xhemalin
14. Z. Kjuj - Kanga E Dhandrrit
15. Jonus Lamçe and Sabri Fehimi - E Qarë Me Gërnetë
16. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Tjalem T'ambël Seç Ma Ke
17. Jonuzi and Friends - Valle Beraçe
18. Ajdin Asllani (Nichola Doneff Violin, Beqir Hyman, Ilias Permeti Vocals) - KËNGË Si Hëna
19. Shoqnija Toshkrisht - Napuljoni Izet Bej Taksim
20. Riza Bylbyli - Osman Taka
21. Mati Kola (Instrumental Trio) - Ç'e Ninjova Ramazanin

DISC 3:
1. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - E Qarë E Selimit
2. Chiorchi Gazel - Delvino Zaza Delvina
3. Pando Opingari (Fyell, Spiridon T. Ilo Guitar) - Valle Kasapçe
4. Konitsa (Real Name Unknown) - Samari I Bariut
5. Z. Islami Riza - Bahje Dru Me Pershullim
6. Chiorchi Gazeli - Kapetan Kirjako
7. Çerçis Nesim and Sabri Fehimi - Kur MË Shkon Sokakut
8. Z. Sylejmani - Alija Fetah Rikut
9. Riza Berati - Ç'a Miku
10. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Hysnije Moj Dylbere
11. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Kush TË Ka Moj Ruskë
12. Rukia Me Gocat E Eumes Tiranë - E Bukur Je Fatime
13. Pando Opingari (Pando Opingari Fyell, Louis Rassias Lauto) - Valle Devolliçe
14. Selim Asllani - Valle Hasanajt, E Shtruar
15. Spiridon T. Ilo (Vocal, Pando Opingari Fyell, Louis Rassias Laouto) - Kënga E Bektashinjve
16. Z. Sadik Azbiu - Vajza E Valavet
17. Z. Cercis Nesim - Ballet Me Sadefe Korçarçe
18. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Dembe Katarose
19. Ajdin Asllani (Clarinet, Prob. Nichola Donnef Violin) - E Qarë Kaba Me Gërnetë I
20. Ajdin Asllani (Clarinet, Dino Ilias San) - KËNG E Gjethës
21. Rizai with Friends - E Qjare E Merenkes

DISC 4:
1. Riza Bylbyli - Taksim Myzeqarçe
2. K. Afes Shok and Selim Asllani - Vura Shkallët Mbi Avlli
3. Zoj. Havaja - Moj E Vogla Saj Mexhide
4. Vellajt Tija and Sabri Fehimi - E Qarë E Bajram Fehimit
5. Z. Cercis Nesim - E Tredelines
6. Chiorchi Gazeli - Kapetan Kirjako
7. Çerçis Nesim and Sabri Fehimi - Kur MË Shkon Sokakut
8. Mehdi Permeti - E Qarë Me Gërnetë, Kaba
9. Jonuzi and Friends - Viktori T'u BËFTË Nëna
10. Unknown Musicians - Valle Salushe
11. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Kur Jeçë Vetum
12. Riza Bylbyli - Kapitani Las
13. Jonuzi and Friends - Vome Kabá
14. Selim Asllani - Valle Janë Dy Kunata
15. K. Afes Shok and Selim Asllani - Keta Lesh Si Filli Arit
16. Llaqi and Friends (Sextet) - Çobankat QË Shkojnë Zallit
17. Z. Sylejmani - Medet, Medet Kam Nji Mik
18. Selim Asllani and Hafize Asllani - Dembe Katarose
19. Riza Bylbyli (Berati) - Ja Thoshte Bylbyli
20. Adjin Asllani (Clarinet, Unknown San, Nichola Donnef Violin) - E Trendelinës (Valle Dhe KËNGË)
21. Girls Choir of the Franciscan Convent of Shkodër - Ora E Shqypnis

Albania holds several groups of people within it's borders. The primary division lies between Ghegs, who inhabit the territory north of the Shkumbin river, and Tosks, who live south of it. There are only a small number of songs on this collection that might be labelled as 'Gheg' - characterized by monophony, well-defined rhythm and musical accompaniment (today often a two-stringed chifteli). The most distinctly so feature a single, strident voice and a triumphal tone that recalls the northern tradition of epic poetry. The Tosk musical dialect is defined by polyphony, imitative melodic lines and, prior to urbanization, a total absence of musical accompaniment. The Tosk sub-dialect is heavily represented in this collection, particularly by the Asllani family of Leskovik, who not only recorded prolifically but were also responsible for three of the labels represented on this collection. The eldest brother, Ajdin, owned and operated both MI-RE and ME-RE and, finally, BALKAN, making recordings in New York, Detroit, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Athens, and Istanbul. Most of the music is drawn from a very distinct 'acoustic niche' in a very particular place, southern Albania-a topography, a way of life-in a dialect laid down, layer upon layer, from parent to child, over many hundreds of years. This music is rendered in a musical dialect both very rich and very close to home. Imagine the former inhabitants of Leskovik coming home at the end of a long day pulling their grocery cart through the streets of Boston to drop the needle on one of these 78s, or tuning in to Nuçi Cujo's radio hour, and hearing their song. We may not have heard this song before, but with a little training conflict gives way to a singular harmony, and emotions ring crystal clear.