One of the most unique elements of the soundtrack of Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" comes from Albania. The sounds of labe iso-polyphony and traditional instruments of Albanian shepherds were used as inspiration for the film's soundtrack.
Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson traveled to southern Albania to record Albanian iso-polyphony – a tradition declared by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"I went to southern Albania and spent a week recording an ancient style of singing, called iso-polyphony, which I had never heard before in a film," the composer said in an account published by "New York Magazine."
In addition to Albanian iso-polyphony, the composer also recorded traditional instruments used for centuries by shepherds in the southern areas of the country.
"We recorded the fiddle that Albanian shepherds have played for thousands of years," said Göransson, sharing a special detail from the fieldwork.
According to the director, the recordings had to be completed every day before 18:00 PM, as the performers had to wake up around 04:00 AM to take care of their livestock.
The presence of Albanian iso-polyphony in a film of this magnitude is a testament to the universal value of our cultural heritage and its ability to dialogue with contemporary art, bringing the voice of Albania to screens around the world.
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