Drita Albanian

Folk Orchestra

Drita (the light) was founded in 1982 by Ian Price in order to present the extraordinary traditional music of Albania to American audiences.

Ian began visiting Albania in 1968 and was able to conduct research into the folk music traditions of that country during a time when Albania was isolated from the Western world. During some 30 visits to Albania, he has developed contacts and collected hundreds of audio recordings, many books, instruments, costumes and videos.

In addition to founding and directing Drita, Ian is also a percussionist, string player, and vocalist for the band.

Drita's lead musician, Rob Stokes, has mastered many of the unusual clarinet techniques unique to the style of music from Southern Albania.

Rob also demonstrates considerable skill on the gajde, a goat-skin bagpipe, and the fyell, an end-blown flute.

Rob Stokes

Photo by Renee Cleary

Lead singer, Linda Levin, has received standing ovations from Albanian audiences for her passionate vocals sung in the difficult Albanian language.

"Vocalist Linda Levin proved especially artful in her Albanian interlude..." said Los Angeles Times critic Lewis Segal.

As vocal director of Drita, she has led the group in the performance of complex polyphonic songs.

Linda Levin

Photo by Louis Miller

Photos by Renee Cleary

Joe Carson (above left) plays llautë, çifteli, and sharki with Drita and plays many other Near- and Middle-Eastern string instruments. Joe is also an accomplished percussionist. He has been a folk musician for more than 30 years.

Letitia Lucca (above right), in addition to being an accomplished accordionist, plays çifteli with Drita and has studied and performed as a classical, jazz, and world musician for 40 years.

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