Albanian Iso-Polyphony • Iso-Polifonia Arbërore/Shqiptare • “Pleqërishte“ (Song name “Sinan Labi“)

■ ALBANIAN ISO-POLYPHONY ▪︎ #Albanian iso-polyphony is a traditional part of #Albanian #folk #music. Included in UNESCO’s #intangible #cultural #heritage list as a “#Masterpiece of the #Oral and #Intangible #Heritage of #Humanity“ - proclaimed by UNESCO.  [See: UNESCO Culture Sector, Intangible Heritage, 2003 Convention. Link: ■ Traditional Albanian polyphonic music can be divided into two major stylistic groups as performed by the #Ghegs of northern Albania (#Gegënia) and the #Tosks and #Labs living in the southern part of Albania (#Toskëria). The term iso is related to the ison of Byzantine church music and refers to the drone accompanying polyphonic singing. The drone is performed in two ways: among the Tosks, it is always continuous and sung on the syllable ’e’, using staggered breathing. Among the Labs, the drone is sometimes sung as a rhythmic tone, performed to the text of the song. Rendered mainly by male singers, the music traditionally accompanies a wide range of social events, such as #weddings, #funerals, #harvest #feasts, #religious #celebrations and #festivals such as the well-known Albanian #folk #festival in #Gjirokastra. Albanian iso-polyphony is characterized by songs consisting of two solo parts, a melody and a countermelody with a choral drone. The structure of the solo parts varies according to the different ways of performing the drone, which has a great variety of structures, especially in the popular style adopted by all groups performing this music. Over the last few decades, the modest rise of cultural tourism and the growing interest of the research community in this unique folk tradition have contributed to the revival of Albanian iso-polyphony. However, the tradition is adversely affected by poverty, the absence of legal protection and the lack of financial support for practitioners, threatening the transmission of the vast repertoire of songs and techniques. The rural exodus of young people to the bigger cities and abroad in search of jobs compounds this danger. Given these conditions, at the present time, the transmission of this tradition is maintained through professional folk artists, rather than within the family structure. ■ PLEQËRISHTE ▪︎ A genre of Albanian iso-polyohony is called “#Pleqërishte“ (meaning “of old men“ or “of the old time“). It is typical for #Labëria and is principally identified with the city of #Gjirokastër and its environs. Polyphonic songs are an important part of #Tosk (southern Albanian) culture of all four regions of southern Albania (which are #Lalëria (#Myzeqe), #Toskëria, #Çamëria, and #Labëria). ▪︎ A similar and related form of polyphonic singing is also practised by northern Albanians (also called #Ghegs). In northern Albania (called “#Gegënia“) iso-polyphony is mostly practised in #Peshkopi and #Malësía. Also practised by Ghegs of #Kosovo, (southern) #Montenegro (by #Malësor; “#highlander“) and Northern #Macedonia (in #Polog, #Tetovo, #Kičevo and #Gostivar).