Music
With original elements, Albanian music is a fusion of Southeastern European music including heavy eastern influences from the Ottoman Empire. Under Hoxha’s regime, music emphasized patriotic devotion to the party, and since the 1990s has looked increasingly outward for international influences. Albania has a classical music tradition and several well-known operatic singers with world fame, while modern pop, hip-hop and rock music feature common elements found in mainstream music, and electronic music is very popular as well.
Epic poetry through song is characteristic of Northern traditions with lyrics often carrying moral and social values, often accompanied by the lahuta and çifteli, one and two stringed instruments, as well as woodwinds like the clarinet. Softer polyphonic sounds are characteristic of the south, while violins and guitars are more common. Folk iso-polyphony was inscribed in 2008 on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (originally proclaimed in 2005).
Since 1990, the diversity of music genres and private businesses in music production and promotion has increased in the country. Besides regular complaints from the artists for not receiving support from the public institutions, the sector has had large support from private businesses and the media.
The Albanian Ministry of Culture and its subordinate institutions support several traditional, classical, instrumental and contemporary music events and festivals and has signed cultural agreements with other countries in order to organize collaborative and exchange events. Also, the Arts University and the Musical Professional High School (Liceu Artistic) organize and host many musical events.
Some popular music events in the country with or without public institution support are: UNUM, Turtle Fest, Mik Fest, Kala Fest, Guitar Festival, etc.
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