Albania (Albanian: Shqipëri or Shqipëria), officially the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, North Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. With an area of 28,748 km2 (11,100 sq mi), it has a varied range of climatic, geological, hydrological and morphological conditions. Albania's landscapes range from rugged snow-capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus and Ceraunian Mountains, to fertile lowland plains extending from the Adriatic and Ionian seacoasts. Tirana is the capital and largest city in the country, followed by Durrës, Vlorë, and Shkodër.
Links to Peel[]
John Peel's Vaçe Zela - Trëndelinë - Popullore-2
Peel discovered Albanian music in the mid 80's, during a time when the country was isolated due to its Stalinist communist rule, and played an Albanian record from Vaçe Zela on his 02 November 1985 (BFBS) show sent by a listener.
Peel mentioned on his 13 May 1987 show, getting a copy of an Albanian folk LP written in French, L'Albanie Folklorique, when he was at the Eurovision Song Contest in Brussels, Belgium. He then played a track from it on his programme.
In 1988, Peel played another Albanian record on his 23 February 1988 show, which was recorded before he went to Russia.
On his 01 March 1989 programme, Peel mentioned discovering the Albanian Shop, where they sent him an Albanian record, which he played on his programme in preparation for England's football match against Albania. A year later on his 13 October 1990 programme, Peel mentioned that he once said the Albanian Shop was closed, but when he passed there, he found out it was still there, but not opened and played a track from a compilation album of Albanian folk music.
After 1990, the year when communism collapsed in the country, Peel never played any Albanian music on his shows, according to available tracklistings on this site.
All of the Albanian tunes that Peel played were traditional folk music.
Compilations[]
John Peel's Kori I Ansamblit Të Këngëve E Valleve - Kur Më Zbret Nga Voskopoja
(Tracks played by Peel from various artist (v/a) compilations featuring music from Albania. Please add more information if known.)
(LP - Marcel Cellier Presente: L'Albanie Folklorique) Disques Cellier
- 13 May 1987: Fatime Sokoli Et L'Ensemble D'Instruments Populaires Du District De Tropoja: Gloire Au Pays Où Tu Es Né
(7" - Pllake Me Kenge Dhe Muzike Shqiptare) Artexport
- 23 February 1988: Kori I Ansamblit Të Këngëve E Valleve: Kur Më Zbret Nga Voskopoja
(LP - Albania 2. Polifonia Vocale E Musica Strumentale) Fonit Cetra
- 01 March 1989: Various Artists: Quattro Parole Per Otto Punti[1]
- 04 April 1989: Various Artists: Siete Caduti Nel Fiore Della Gioventù[2]
(CD - There Where The Avalanche Stops - Music From The Gjirokastra Folk Festival, Albania, 1988, Volume One) Touch
- 13 October 1990: Fatmir Dandlii & Endri Fifo: Let Us Sing To The Brave Men - T'u Këndojme Trimave