Yzeir Llanaj: The "Bylispolifonia" festival aims to preserve and transmit the values ??of polyphony to the future

The international festival of polyphony "Bylispolifonia" this year will have over 35 competing groups on stage. This year the festival will mark its 11th edition on September 22-23. In two days in Bylis, the most beautiful finds of polyphony from the most vocal polyphonic groups of the country, but also from other countries, will be revealed. The master of polyphony Yzeir Llanaj says that apart from the groups participating in the festival, historians, etc. are also invited. "The international festival of polyphony "Bylispolifonia" takes place once every two years. The last festival is in 2021 after the pandemic. This year, on September 22-23, the 11th edition is organized. The organization of this festival aims to preserve and spread the values ??of polyphony. More than 35 groups from Albania and other neighboring countries take part in the competition in this festival. This edition, in addition to the artists, historians, musicologists, ethnomusicologists, etc. are also invited, where on Saturday, when the festival takes place, there will be a panel discussion on polyphony in the morning. This year's festival takes place also under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences", says the polyphony singer Yzeir Llanaj "Merited Artist", "Great Master" and chairman of the "Albanian Polyphony" association with which he also organizes the "Bylispolifonia" festival. Before the development of this edition, the chairmanship of the Mallakastra Patriotic Cultural Association and the nationwide association "Albanian Polyphony" for two consecutive days discussed the realization of the 11th polyphony festival, which will take place in the ancient city of Bylis, in Hekal of Mallakastra, under the support of the mayor of Mallakastra and the prefect of the district of Fier. Polyphony singer Yzeir Llanaj says that the groups are from Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Kosovo, etc. "This is a festival even face to face with our neighbors and beyond. "Polyphonic groups from Rrajca, Myzeqeja, Skrapari, Saranda, Gramshi, Vlora, etc. take part from our country, that is, from all the regions of Albanian polyphony, Tuscany and Labe", says Llanaj.

Attention to polyphony

The "Bylispolifonia" festival in each of its editions has gathered different groups that have revealed the values ??of heritage. The singer Yzeir Llanaj says that through the festival messages are conveyed about the care and attention that should be shown to polyphony. "This festival is meant to mobilize all the provinces of the country to participate. This wealth here has its flow and its bearers come and unfold their beautiful songs. For polyphony, this is a request that draws the attention of the state to give up on this nationwide tradition that we are proud of with these values ??inherited from our forefathers over the centuries. That's why we do the festival here in Bylis, so that this is not forgotten, but transmitted to the future as they left it identical to us", says Llanaj.