The International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) was one of the Founding Members of the International Music Council - UNESCO in 1949, and is currently an NGO in formal consultative relations with UNESCO. Through its wide international representation, the Council acts as a bond among peoples of different cultures and thus serves the peace of humankind.

The Study Group on Multipart Music is the newest one within the ICTM. It was established in July 2009 after the ICTM World Conference in Durban, South Africa. After the very successful first symposium in Sardinia (Italy) in September 2010, the second one was prepared and has been held in Tiranë, Albania in April 2012. The local organizer was the Ulysses Cultural Foundation assisted by the Institute for Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. The patronage of this activity was taken by his Excellence Prime minister Dr. Sali Berisha the Austrian ambassador in Albania, his Excellence Florian Raunig.

More than 30 researchers from 20 countries in Europe, Northern and Southern America as well as Asia discussed issues of creative processes, connections between local and religious music, and questions related to awards given to local music and dance in public presentations.

This was the first time an ICTM symposium has been held in Albania. Concentrating on multipart musical practices it emphasises the importance they have for the cultural and musical identity of the country. The discussions has been focused on three themes. The first one has been “Multipart music practices as creative processes”, stressing their individual, collective and collaborative dimensions. The second theme “Multipart music in religious practices” highlights the diversity of the roles, powers, symbolism, meanings and values given to multipart music in specific cultures and their religious rituals. The third – “Multipart music awarded” – has to do with the ways it is presented in public and the discussions about them.

Another essential part of the project have been performances and workshops of folk musicians from Albania and abroad, exhibitions as well as film presentations linked to the symposium’s themes.

Ulysses Foundation realease fort he first time the earliest recordings ever made among Albanians, from 1903 and 1957. These Historical Recordings come from to collections of the Phonogram Archive of Berlin.