What is it?

An Iso-polyphonic group is made out of 4 or more people.

Spread among the TOSK and LAB region of Albania

The term iso comes from the latin word ison which translates to drone. (1)

The other 4 parts are:

  • Marresi (the starter of the song)- 1st voice

  • Kthyesi (the answerer of the song)- 2nd voice

  • Mbushesi (the filler of the song)- 3rd voice comes in with the drone

  • Drone (3-5 people singing)

Marresi is usually the leader of the group that starts the song and hedh zerin or “throws the voice”. The second voice comes in as a soloist and ja kthen or waits and responds to the first voice. Then we have the third voice that fills in any harmonies, and the drone which holds the voice. (10)

The longevity or length of the iso/drone varies in different regions:

(5)

There are two ways to do the dron:

  • continuously singing on the vowel "e" (TOSK),

  • or having a more rhythm based drone (LAB)

Rendered mainly by male singers, the music traditionally accompanies a wide range of social events, such as weddings, funerals, harvest feasts, religious celebrations, etc. (4)