AWmusic

So instead…

Welcome to the Albanian Wedding! a lovingly atmospheric and bombastic soundscape celebration hailing from the Balkan region of Europe. Of which the nation of Albania is situated like an ignored gem, a little ways beside the heel of the Italian boot and splashed by the Adriatic Sea (hooray for geographic knowledge.)

Fanfara Tirana (Tirana being the Albanian Capital) is a brass heavy band, comprised of 12 members ranging on instruments from saxophone, trumpet, flugelhorn, tuba, and clarinet. The band came together as like minded musical friends from an Albanian Armed Forces Band background. They began toying with an idea to become their own entity and see where it could take them. They then upped their ante with the recruiting of Hysni Zela; a renowned soloist from the Albanian National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble. Hysni provides over 30 years experience, a bit of vocals, and a wicked pair of shoes I wish I had. Their musical idea eventually would take them all over Europe playing a vast quantity of live shows and some of Europe’s largest music festivals such as Roskilde in Denmark and Sziget in Hungary.

I have a strong affinity for music from lesser known European locals (stemming from the fact that both my parents are from an Eastern European country that no longer exists.) I’ve always greatly enjoyed the sounds of a rich traditional sense and style coming from places of lengthy heritage. Hearing Fanfara Tirana’s warmth conjures up my own memories of Europe and my cousin’s Slovak wedding; a repetitive cycle of eating, drinking, and the far advanced, fun and expressive dancing techniques that I had to work hard to keep up with, well past 1 am.

The album is comprised of song selections that the band played initially while working as wedding musicians, hence the album title. They play what’s known as kaba, which is improvisational instrumental music originating from Southern Albania, where local fans claim; “they make the dead dance”. I can attest to this as I saw them perform at their 2008 Roskilde Festival appearance. During their show it did feel like a European wedding dance roaring through the wee hours of the morning and keeping the almost “dead” (people either tired or on questionable substances) uplifted and moving frantically… I believe that the “brides” and “grooms” of the audience probably won’t divorce from their Albanian brass listening habits after such a lively show.

Fanfara Tirana – Mediterranè #1
Fanfara Tirana – Te Lutem M’U Pergjigj [Give Me an Answer]
Fanfara Tirana – Merre Lehte [Take It Easy]

(FYI, I’ve been writing under my middle name; Paul, since my beginning here, but I’m now taking over with my first name as there was previously another Adam writing for this site.)

Tags: album