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Lament song dedicated to Albanian warriors that fought the Ottoman empire during Albania's occupation by it.
Lyrics: Unknown
Song: Atje Lart te Shkembi i Bardh/ There, At the White Rock
Singers: Grupi i Starjes/ Starja Group- from the village of Starje
Region: Lab
drone enters
1st voice starts the song, with a lot of vocal embellishments and runs.
no second voice
Hasmi zu vatane.
Lulet u thane.
Flaka mbuloi fshane.
Foshnjat u qane.
O ju djemte tane.
Nxirrni jatagane.
Zini istikane.
Ne na kini prane.
Trima me palle.
O ju djemte tane!
The Enemy took his country.
The flowers withered.
The fire covered the village.
The babies cried.
Oh, our boys.
Take out the guns.
Occupy and protect,
We are always with you
The brave ones.
Oh, our boys!
(7)
Love Song: The song is about a man who is in love with a girl from the city of Vlora in Albania. He explains in detail what he feels whenever he sees her, every single time from the perspective of the moon, the sun, and the stars.
Lyrics: Unknown
Song: Vajze Vlonjate/ Vlonjate Girl
Singers: Jehona Labe/ The Lab Echo from the city of Vlora
Region: Lab
1st voice starts (the only soloist)
Then the filler comes in, along with the drone.
Doli hëna dhe të pa, hënë verore
Tha për tyja marshalla, ëngjëllore (2nd time with iso)
Tha për ty, moj tha moj tha për ty (with iso)
Qenka lezet mbi lezete
Aman mos, moj mos e vre me sy
Moj hëna që vjen, o vjen e vete
Dielli maleve ra, rreze drite (2nd time with iso)
Përmbi sytë e tu u nda, desh e fike
Tha për ty, moj tha moj tha për ty (with iso)
Qenka lezet mbi lezete
Aman mos, moj mos e vre me sy
Moj hëna që vjen, o vjen e vete
Yjet lart po bisedojnë, vetëm për ty (2nd time with iso)
Dalëngadalë po vezullojnë me xhelozi
Tha për ty, moj tha moj tha për ty (with iso)
Qenka lezet mbi lezete
Aman mos, moj mos e vre me sy
Moj hëna që vjen, o vjen e vete
Mbeti dielli dhe hëna nëpër shpate (2nd time with iso)
Lumthi ç'ka selitur nëna, vajzë vlonjate.
Tha për ty, moj, tha moj tha për ty (with iso)
Qenka lezet mbi lezete
Aman mos, moj mos e vre me sy
Moj hëna që vjen, o vjen e vete
The moon came out and saw you, summer moon
Said of you marshallah, angelic
Said about you, said about you
She is the fairer of them all
Oh no, don't kill him with your eyes
My moon, that comes and goes
The sun fell on the mountains, rays of light
In front of your eyes it split, you almost crushed it
Said about you, said about you
She is the fairer of them all,
Oh no, don't kill him with your eyes
My moon, that comes and goes
The stars above are talking, just for you
They are slowly flashing with jealousy
Said about you, said about you
She is the fairest of them all,
Oh no, don't kill him with your eyes
My moon, that comes and goes
The sun and the moon remained on the slopes
Happiness is what the mother has done, girl from Vlora.
Said about you, said about you
She is the fairest of them all
Oh no, don't kill him with your eyes
My moon, that comes and goes
(7)
Patriotic Song: This song is about the history of Albanians, that are thought to have been the successors of the Illyrian tribes in Southeastern Europe, since the 10th century.
Song: O Tomorr O mal i Larte/ Tomorr, oh highest mountain
Singers: Grupi i Skraparit/ The Skarapar Group (from the town of Skrapar)
Region: Tosk
1st voice starts, 2nd voice cuts it, then drone enters
this is a patriotic song, thus there are a few exclamatory remarks such as oi, oi
O Tomor, o mal i lartë
dëshmitar i gjithësisë
ju lutem, tregona pak
historinë e Shqipërisë
Ulu bir, dëgjo dhe shkruaj
tregoja gjithë njerëzisë
ne jemi këtu nga moti
që kur na krijoi zoti
O Tomor, O high mountain
witness of the universe
please tell me a little
the history of Albania
Sit down son, listen and write
I told all mankind
we are here since forever
Since God created us
(7)
This is an example of a nature song. A farmer is singing praises to his rose and basil seeds, that have grown more then he expected them to.
Song: Aman Trendafil, Aman Borzilok/ Oh Rose, Oh Basil
Singers: Ansambli vokal i Gjirokastres/ The Vocal Ensemble of Gjirokastra
1st voice enters
2nd voice responds
fillers sets the pitch for the drone
the whole drone enters
exlamatory remars as eh, oh are used throughout (characteristic of iso-polyphonic songs)
Unë të mbolla rrallë
ti më dole plot
aman trëndafil,
aman borzilok.
Ç’më ra havale
një i shkreti zog
aman trëndafil,
aman borzilok
Nuk më la farë
ç’do të mbjellë mot
aman trëndafil
aman borzilok
Unë e prisja dje moj
ai erdhi sot
aman trëndafil
aman borzilok
I planted you rarely
you came full of flowers,
oh rose
oh basil.
What did I mis?
said a poor bird
oh rose,
oh basil.
It left me no seed
what will the weather sow?
oh rose,
oh basil.
I was expecting it yesterday
he came today
oh rose,
oh basil.
(7)
These texts/lyrics have no author, as well as most of the very old Is0-polyphonic songs. The texts are simple, which for some researchers suggests that it is because of how ancient the songs are. These songs were transmitted orally. (4)
The songs are usually predominantly in scales of two, three, four or five tones (bi-, tri-, tetra- or pentatonic) (9)
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