Albanian Intangible Heritage in CD
Contributors: Albanian Music Council, member of IMC/UNESCO
Publisher: UNESCO-ALBANIA
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Tirana, ALBANIA
Description: Vasil S. Tole 








“Albanian intangible heritage in CD”


				UNESCO-ALBANIA







































Introduction by Vasil S. TOLE



I. “On the Albanian folk Iso-Polyphony”


It is commonly known that other art genres such as music, architecture, sculpture and painting were not unknown in Albania, and at some time even reached a high peak, as can be seen from the archeological data. Despite the romantic dressing of the following statement, it is said that in the old times “the Albanians dedicated the city of Apollonia to the Goddess of music” and “the locals called their place Myzeqe”. According to Konica, a well-known Albanian man of letters, there is an assumption that the polyphonic music must have had its source in Albania, which did not fail to escape the attention of the Italian visitors. Further on, antiquity authors have mentioned common folk tales on the mythization of the music on the part of the Illyrians (forefathers to Albanians). One of these folk tales is related to the death of Great Pan. According to Pluto, a ship first announced his death by the Lake Pelod (Lake Butrinti, South Albania), which was followed by mourning in group, as if a number of humans were mourning in chorus. It is yet unclear why the reference is made to the Lake Butrinti, but it is thought that the polyphonic mourning would therefore be the most complete requiem for the famous Pan’s death.