Concert Program
Sounds
of Albania
Eleven works spanning centuries of tradition and regions of extraordinary beauty — arranged by Edmond Xhani.
11
Works
7
Artists
5+
Regions
Full Program
Arrangements and original compositions by Music Director Edmond Xhani, with original works by Megan Gould.
01
Tirana · Kruja · Përmet
A beautiful introduction to Albanian music. Through 4/4, 5/8, and 10/8 rhythms, it showcases the rich diversity of Albanian rhythmic tradition and gradually unfolds in all its elegance.
Medley
02
Korça Region
Scored for string quartet, honoring the openness and lyrical flow of Korça's revered songs. The arrangement allows the melodies to breathe with graceful harmonies and soft, intimate interplay.
String Quartet
03
Traditional
From Act I of "Zare Ethnomusical" by Edmond Xhani — reimagining the beloved traditional song devoted to Zare, a symbolic female figure embodying extraordinary beauty.
Arr. Xhani
04
Gac Çuni
A deeply personal ode to platonic love — a silent remembrance by Gac Çuni, a composer persecuted by Albania's Communist regime who spent his final days behind prison walls.
Art Song
05
Vlora Region
Minor diatonic scales transitioning into pentatonic textures — reflecting the South's musical identity. Incorporates "Tundu Bejke e Bardhë" and "Trëndelinë."
Medley
06
Tirana · Elbasan · Mat
A commanding overture unfolding into emotionally charged motifs. The constantly evolving rhythms create a living pulse, blending strength with refined artistry.
Medley
07
Tirana
A treasured traditional composition from Tirana, long established as a cornerstone of the Albanian musical canon, transformed into a work of refined artistic depth.
Arr. Xhani
08
Kosovo
Rooted in the northern landscapes of Kosovo — pastoral colors unfolding into spirited folk dance, accelerating into allegro, culminating in jubilant wedding melodies.
Medley
09
Original Composition
Violinist and composer Megan Gould honors Queen Teuta through a haunting and atmospheric piece drawing on the tonal colors and melodic contours of Albania.
Gould
10
Arbëresh Diaspora
Honoring the Arbëresh people's devotion to tradition across five centuries in diaspora — longing, dynamic passages, culminating in an exuberant folk dance.
Medley
11
Rexho Mulliqi
A panoramic tribute built around the shepherd's flute — a timeless emblem of pastoral life and the enduring connection between the Albanian people and their land. A captivating finale that brings the entire journey full circle.
Finale
Music Director
Edmond Xhani
The works in this program represent a lifetime of immersion in Albanian musical traditions — from the lyrical songs of Korça to the spirited dances of Kosovo, from the longing of the Arbëresh diaspora to the pastoral memory of the shepherd’s flute.
In arranging these pieces for chamber ensemble, the goal was never to simply transcribe, but to reveal — to find the inner architecture of each melody and allow it to speak in a new but faithful voice.
Southern Albania
Vlora · minor diatonic · pentatonic textures
Central Albania
Tirana · Elbasan · Mat
Northeast — Korça
Lyrical flow · graceful harmonies
Kosovo
Folk dance · pastoral · wedding songs
Arbëresh Diaspora
5 centuries of preserved tradition
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