Polyphonic song of Epirus: Difference between revisions

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	==Polyphonic Music in Greece and Albania==		==Polyphonic Music in Greece and Albania==

			Among Greeks, polyphonic song is found in the northwestern Greek region of ]<ref>Ricky Holden, Mary Vouras: ''Greek Folk Dances'', 1965, page 10</ref><ref>Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham: ''World Music: The Rough Guide'', 1999, ISBN 1-85828-635-2, page 149</ref> (villages of ], ] and some villages north of ]), in very few villages in northeastern ] (], ], ], ]) and, mainly, among the Greek minority in southern Albania (]),<ref>Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham: ''World Music: The Rough Guide'', 1999, ISBN 1-85828-635-2, page 5, 127</ref> for instance in the villages such as ], ], ], ], ], and ].
	These days, polyphonic song is found in northwestern Greek<ref>Greek Folk Dances by Rickey Holden, Mary Vouras - 1965 - ,page 10,"The tonal variations produced on this instrument by Greek musicians, particularly
	in the music of Epirus"</ref> region of ]<ref>World Music: The Rough Guide by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham - 1999 - ISBN 1-85828-635-2,page 149,"The city of Ioannina in Epirus has long been an important centre of this style"</ref> (villages of ], ] and some villages north of ]), in very few villages in northeastern ] (], ], ], ]) and, mainly, in ]<ref>World Music: The Rough Guide by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham - 1999 - ISBN 1-85828-635-2,page 5,"south of Gjirokastër, has a sizeable ethnic Greek population, and their music is related to the music of Epirus,"</ref> some significant examples are the villages and towns were recognized Greek populations reside in southern Albania (Northern Epirus)<ref>World Music: The Rough Guide by Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham - 1999 - ISBN 1-85828-635-2,page 127 ,"The folk music ot Epirus (//игл.) exhibits strong connections with that of Northern Epirus (now in Albania)"</ref> (], ], ], ], ], ] and others).

	In both Albanian ethnomysicological literature and mass media the polyphonic song simply refers to the multipart songs of Southern Albania.<ref name ="European voices">European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., ~~Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 212 </ref> All~~ four regions of ], ], ], and ] have the polyphonic song as part of their culture.<ref>European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 210 </ref>		Among Albanians, all four regions of ], ], ], and ] have the polyphonic song as part of their culture.<ref>European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 210 </ref>

	~~Within~~ ~~Southern~~ ~~Albania~~ Labëria is particular region for multipart singing. Songs can be of two, three, or four parts. If two part songs are sung only from women, three part songs are more spread, but four-part songs are a Labëria specialty. Research has shown that four part songs have come after three part ones and that are the highest form of polyphonical singing.<ref>European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid pages 214-215 </ref>		The region of Labëria is particular region for multipart singing. Songs can be of two, three, or four parts. If two part songs are sung only from women, three part songs are more spread, but four-part songs are a Labëria specialty. Research has shown that four part songs have come after three part ones and that are the highest form of polyphonical singing.<ref>European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid pages 214-215 </ref>

	The National Folklore Festival of ] ({{lang-sq\|Festivali Folklorik Kombëtar}}), held every five years beginning from 1968, has typically included many polyphonic songs.<ref>European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 241 </ref>		The National Folklore Festival of ] ({{lang-sq\|Festivali Folklorik Kombëtar}}), held every five years beginning from 1968, has typically included many polyphonic songs.<ref>European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 241 </ref>

Revision as of 20:54, 27 April 2010

The Polyphonic song of Epirus is a form of traditional folk polyphony practiced among Albanians, Greeks, Aromanians and Macedonian Slavs in southern Albania and northwestern Greece.

The polyphonic song of Epirus is not to be confused with other varieties of polyphonic singing, such as the yodeling songs of the region of Muotatal, or the Cantu a tenore of Sardinia.

Origin

Although current research has not reached absolute conclusions, this polyphonic form is considered to be very old. The melodies of polyphonic songs of Epirus, including some more songs of Epirus and Thessaly, are the only ones in Albania and Greece that have preserved the pentatonic scale without semitones (a scale consisted of five tones without semitones). According to some musicologists, this scale is identified with the Doric way of the ancient Greek Dorians, the par excellence Hellenic harmony. Except from its scale, what pleads for the very old origin of the kind is its vocal, collective, rhetorical and modal character.

Polyphonic Music in Greece and Albania

Among Greeks, polyphonic song is found in the northwestern Greek region of Ioannina (villages of Pogoni, Parakalamos and some villages north of Konitsa), in very few villages in northeastern Thesprotia (Tsamantas, Lias, Vavouri, Povla) and, mainly, among the Greek minority in southern Albania (Northern Epirus), for instance in the villages such as Delvinë, Dropull, Pogon, Poliçan, Vuthroto, and Himara.

Among Albanians, all four regions of Myzeqe, Toskeri, Chameria, and Labëria have the polyphonic song as part of their culture.

The region of Labëria is particular region for multipart singing. Songs can be of two, three, or four parts. If two part songs are sung only from women, three part songs are more spread, but four-part songs are a Labëria specialty. Research has shown that four part songs have come after three part ones and that are the highest form of polyphonical singing.

The National Folklore Festival of Gjirokastër (Template:Lang-sq), held every five years beginning from 1968, has typically included many polyphonic songs.

The tradition of polyphonic singing has been contested and used by both sides of the Greek and Albanian border in a nationalistic manner.

Structure

Polyphonic groups of Epirus consist of four members at least. Each group has two soloists and a drone group, which provides and maintains the vocal rhythm of the song. The first soloist (Template:Lang-sq, Template:Lang-rup, Template:Lang-el) acts as the narrator of the song singing its main part and leader of the group. The second soloist (Template:Lang-sq, Template:Lang-rup, Template:Lang-el) repeats the lyrics sung by the first soloist, while the drone group ((Template:Lang-sq, Template:Lang-rup, Template:Lang-el) maintains the rhythm and the vocal base of the song.

The perfection of the rendition of the polyphonic song presupposes the existence and the unity of the several voices–roles of the polyphonic group. As a result, polyphonic song presupposes the collectiveness of expression and the firm distinction between the roles it reflects, and the unwritten hierarchy in the composition of the group and the distribution of the roles.

References

Bart Plantenga. Yodel-ay-ee-oooo. Routledge, 2004. ISBN 978-0-415-93990-4, p. 87 Albania: "Singers in Pogoni region perform a style of polyphony that is also practised by locals in Vlach and Slav communities communities .
Engendering Song: Singing and Subjectivity at Prespa by Jane C. Sugarman,1997,ISBN 0-226-77972-6,page 356,"Neither of the polyphonic textures characteristic of south Albanian singing is unique to Albanians.The style is shared with Greeks in the Northwestern district of Epirus (see Fakiou and Romanos 1984) while the Tosk style is common among Aromanian communities from the Kolonje region of Albania the so called Faserotii (see Lortat-Jacob and Bouet 1983) and among Slavs of the Kastoria region of Northern Greece (see N.Kaufamann 1959 ). Macedonians in the lower villages of the Prespa district also formerly sang this style "
Engendering Song: Singing and Subjectivity at Prespa by Jane C. Sugarman,1997,ISBN 0-226-77972-6,page 356,A striking counterpart from outside the Balkans is the polyphonic Yodeling of juuzli from the Muotatal region of Switzerland
Ricky Holden, Mary Vouras: Greek Folk Dances, 1965, page 10
Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham: World Music: The Rough Guide, 1999, ISBN 1-85828-635-2, page 149
Simon Broughton, Mark Ellingham: World Music: The Rough Guide, 1999, ISBN 1-85828-635-2, page 5, 127
European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 210
European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid pages 214-215
European voices: Multipart singing in the Balkans and the ..., Volume 1 By Ardian Ahmedaja, Gerlinde Haid page 241
Notes from the Balkans: Locating Marginality and Ambiguity on the Greek-Albanian Border,2005,ISBN 0-691-12199-0,page Back matter ,"... the appropriate manner(Adkins 2002; Adkins and Lury 1999; Skeggs 1997). 16. Theodosiou (2003); Nitsiakos and Mantzos (2003) note that polyphonic singing has become one of those traditions that is argued about by nationalist folklorists on both sides of the border, .."
Sugarman, Dave (1997). Engendering song: singing and subjectivity at Prespa Albanian weddings. Chicago studies in ethnomusicology. University of Chicago Press. p. 221. ISBN 0226779734.
Tziovas, Demetres. Greece and the Balkans: identities, perceptions and cultural encounters since the Enlightenment. Ashgate Publishing. p. 198. ISBN 0754609987.

External links

Songs in Greek

Songs in Albanian

v t e Greeks in Albania
History	Ancient Epirus Chaonians Omphales Dexaroi Despotate of Epirus Revolt of 1567-1572 Revolt of 1854 Revolt of 1878 Himara revolt of 1912 Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus Northern Epirus Protocol of Corfu Greco-Italian War in southern Albania Morava–Ivan Korytsa Saranda Himara Klisura Pass Trebeshina Italian spring offensive Hill 731 Northern Epirus Liberation Front
Society and culture	Himariote dialect Laiko Vima Polyphonic song of Epirus Postage stamps and postal history Lasso fund Education: New Academy (Moscopole) Zographeion College (Qestorat) Acroceraunian School (Himara) Dhuvjan Monastery (Dropull) Bangas Gymnasium (Korçë)
Geography	Ancient: Chaonia, Parauaea Medieval and modern: Dryinopolis, Kolonia
Settlements	Ancient: Phoenice Vouthroton Avlon Apollonia Thronion Amantia Antigonia Antipatreia Oricon Modern: Gjirokastër Korçë Himara Delvinë Sarandë Dropull Pogon Përmet Leskovik Bilisht Moscopole Zvërnec Vlorë Berat Durrës
Organizations	Omonoia Panepirotic Federation of America Panepirotic Federation of Australia Unity for Human Rights Party
Individuals	Benefactors: Apostol Arsache Evangelos and Konstantinos Zappas Ioannis Pangas Georgios and Simon Sinas Alexandros and Michael Vasileiou Christakis Zografos Literature: Theodore Kavalliotis Katina Papa Konstantinos Skenderis Takis Tsiakos Tasos Vidouris Stavrianos Vistiaris Andreas Zarbalas Politics: Fredi Beleri Georgios Christakis-Zografos Spiro Ksera Vangjel Dule Vasilis Bolanos Military/Resistance: Kyriakoulis Argyrokastritis Dimitrios Doulis Nikolaos Dailakis Konstantinos Lagoumitzis Zachos Milios Athanasios Pipis Ioannis Poutetsis Vasileios Sachinis Georgios Soulios Spyromilios Spyros Spyromilios Sports: Pyrros Dimas Sotiris Ninis Panajot Pano Leonidas Sabanis Andreas Tatos Clergy: Photios Kalpidis Vasileios of Dryinoupolis Panteleimon Kotokos Eulogios Kourilas Lauriotis
Includes localities with a substantial ethnic Greek population, or otherwise with any kind of cultural or other type of significance, historical or current, for the Greek minority in Albania. Includes individuals not necessarily of Greek ethnicity but with important contributions to Greek civilization.

v t e Cham Albanians
History	Pashalik of Janina Souliotes (Souliote Confederacy Catastrophe of Zalongo Assembly of Preveza Albanian Committee of Janina Këshilla
Issue	Cham Albanian Resistance during World War II 4th "Ali Demi" Battalion "Chameria" Battalion Cham Albanian collaboration with the Axis Këshilla Paramythia executions Expulsion of Cham Albanians Anti-Fascist Committee of Cham Immigrants Liberation Army of Chameria
Organizations	"Çamëria" Association Chameria Human Rights Association Party for Justice, Integration and Unity Democratic Foundation of Chameria Bilal Xhaferri Cultural Association Shoqata Çamëria Party of the Chameria Party for Justice and Integration Party for Justice and Unity
Culture	Cham Albanian dialect Music Iso-poliphony Song of Çelo Mezani Song of Marko Boçari Dance Dance of Osman Taka Dance of Zalongo Magazines Krahu i shqiponjës
Settlements	Chameria Konispol Konispol Markat Janjar Paramythia Filiates Igoumenitsa Katavothra Fanari Louros Kranea Derviziana Thesprotiko Parapotamos Mousiotitsa Sagiada Syvota Xarrë Anthousa Kanallaki Parga Pandalejmon Mavronoros Vrinë Perdika Margariti Kastri Karvounari
Individuals	Azis Tahir Ajdonati Aziz Çami Hamdi Çami Qamil Çami Thoma Çami Refo Çapari Ali Demi Musa Demi Niazi Demi Rexhep Demi Tahir Demi Abedin Dino Ahmed Dino Ali Dino Rasih Dino Shahin Dino Veli Gërra Muhamet Kyçyku Shpëtim Idrizi Tahir Muhedini Teme Sejko Dashamir Tahiri Hasan Tahsini Osman Taka Jakup Veseli Bilal Xhaferri
Settlements inhabited by communities known as Arvanites, and very rarely characterized as Cham

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