Mediterranean Polyphonies

Featuring Zadeja Group . Iso.Polyphony . Paghjella . Tanti Suspiri . Pleiades In Uga Clara . Thessaloniki . A Lanterna . Dedicata A Genova . Polyphonic Singing . Epirus . Tenores Di Bitti . Santu . Polyphonies Corses . A Filetta . Murales . Linguaggio . Tenore Di Orgosolo . Albanian . Greek Polyphonic . Trallallero . Biondina . Matteo Merli .

Polyphonic.gr : The melodies of the Epirus Polyphonic songs, including some more songs of Epirus and Thessaly, are the only ones in Greece that have preserved the five-tone scale without semitones (a scale consisted of five tones without semitones).

Tenores di Bitti : The Tenores di Bitti “Mialinu Pira” have a special place amongst the many groups in Sardinia. Having a style which is slightly less rough than that of other quartets, exemplary researchers in their heritage, impeccable executors with exceptional vocal quality, adorable people, they have reached a level of excellence and of admiration which is without equal in Sardinia and in the whole world.

World Music Central : To be honest, the best way to learn about Corsican polyphony is to learn the Corsican language and discuss the music with Corsican polyphony vocalists. The rest of us are merely grappling in the dark with a tiny flashlight to illuminate the journey.

Albanian Folk Music on Myspace : The traditional Albanian polyphonic music can be divided into two major stylistic groups as performed by the Ghegs of northern Albania and Tosks and Labs living in the southern part of the country. The candidature file id dedicated to the iso-polyphonic music performed by the Tosks and Labs of southern Albania. The term iso is related to the ison of Byzantine church music and refers to the drone, which accompanies the polyphonic singing.

Music of Sardinia on Wikipedia : Rural polyphonic chanting known as cantu a tenore is sung with four vocal parts. They are bassu (bass), mesa boghe (middle), contra (counter) and boghe (leader and soloist). The most popular group is Tenores di Bitti, and others include Tenores de Oniferi. In November 2005 The A Tenore vocal style of the Sardinian pastoral culture was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Eda Zari : Eda walks the fine line necessary to both genuinely carry the Iso’s tradition and bring it freshness for today. Her performance style captures the raw emotion that characterizes the genre, but with her own personal twist.

Musical Traditions Internet Magazine : The practice of singing in a squadra di canto probably reached its height in the early years of this century, when the bars of Genova’s waterfront played host to informal singing on a very regular basis, and formal competitions between the various groups were great social occasions. In the 1920s and ’30s it is said that there were over a hundred squadre (each from distinct professions as diverse as the bakers and the male nurses) all active in these competitions.

All Music Guide : There are some similarities between the harmonies employed by Tenores de Oniferi (one of Sardinia’s most well-respected traditional vocal groups) and the harmonies used by Catholic monks in Italy, Spain and Portugal.