Traditional and Contemporary Elements in Albanian Folk Music

Abstract

This study is an account of characterizing traditional and contemporary elements in our popular folk music. It is stressed that some of the forms containing elements of the old musical tradition are pertaining to work, the calendarian cycle, the farming tradition, the ballads, the legendary epic ones, the love songs, etc. Also discussed is the distinction that has emerged in the recent musical tradition as a result of the use of electronic devices. These distinctions as segments of the recent creations in our folk songs can be seen in many artists of the present and are achieved by mixing the elements of our ancient tradition with elements from other countries, so that there is influence of Orient, Turkish – Arab, Roma, Greek and Slavic music. In addition the novelties in Albanian musical creativeness are discussed, which, compared to European one, have specific eleme-nts. Some professional estimotions with critical connotations about negative features of present folklore among are also being done.