The path to genre mixing
Almost all musical genres have their distinct features and tend to preserve their originality. The features of musical genres, including performing and reverence towards a specific musical genre, frequently serve as indicators of affiliation with a particular (sub)cultural group. Traditional folk music is regarded as one of the least flexible genres subject to changes due to its emphasis on authenticity and its deep-rooted connection to an “unalterable” past. Nevertheless, the contemporary music scene is experiencing a fusion of various genres in music. A rather uncommon example of blending of genres within Kosovo scene may be regarded the one in the 1990s of the 20th century, when two renowned popular singers of our traditional music, Hashim Shala and Tahir Drenica, collaborated with the well-known pop singer and lyricist Aida Baraku. Not only did the challenge lie in blending different musical genres, but it also lied in the provocative nature of the song's lyrics. The lyrics depicted a deviation from the traditional “model personality” of an Albanian man, which is represented through the appearance and example provided by traditional folk singers. This paper delved into various aspects, including how the collaboration took place, the underlying motives for that, any potential hesitations surrounding this partnership, how did the public of traditional songs perceived it and how it was received by the target audience of this song. The data for this study were gathered through interviews conducted with Aida Baraku -the singer, (as both singers of the traditional popular music are deceased now) and the fans. Additionally, the research was conducted by examining magazines from that period related to the subject matter concerned.
“Besa‑besë” – fluiditeti i konotimit të këngës në kontekst (sub)nacional
Kënga folklorike e titulluar “Besa–Besë” fillimisht ishte një këngë lirike e titulluar “Lulja me erë”, e kompozuar nga etnomuzikologu i shquar shqiptar Ramadan Sokoli nga Shkodra gjatë viteve 1940. Kjo këngë së fundi është e njohur si këngë e cila shenjon Përfaqësuesen e Futbollit të Kosovës dhe fansat e saj “Dardanët”. Duke marrë parasysh që kjo këngë këndohet si një këngë që shpreh përkatësi të ndryshme lokale dhe rajonale e kënduar nga këngëtarë të ndryshëm të njohur lokalisht e kombëtarisht, si dhe nga tifozë të klubeve të ndryshme të futbollit në Kosovë, Maqedoni të Veriut e Shqipëri, është e qartë se është ajo është aq fluide sa të konotojë rende të ndryshme të pamjeve mendore, nga ato lokale, pastaj (subnacionale) e deri në atë kombëtare. Analiza kronologjike e historisë së këngës dhe konteksteve të përdorimit të saj do të mundësojë gjithashtu kuptimin e mënyrave të prodhimit dhe riprodhimit të kombit përmes saj
Kulla in Dukagjini plain – storage of memory and cultural identity
“Kullas” (eng. Towers) in Rrafshi i Dukagjinit in Kosovo are residential buildings which are distinguished not only for the uniqueness of their architectural style, but also for the representation and manifestation of the certain way of life. In this paper we will present the findings from the research of spiritual life in kullas, in which case by analyzing the organization of life in kulla, i.e. as a cultural object and space, we see what were and are cultural values that were cultivated there, what was practiced once and what is practiced nowadays in them, what knowledge was transferred, what skills stand out from that lifestyle, how they are remembered by the community today, what were and what are the ways of representation in them, how all or most of these continue to be reproduced in present times and what are the ways of people’s identification with them today. In order to get a more holistic overview, this research was based not only on the fieldwork findings that were gathered based on the observation method and conversations with current and former inhabitants of the kullas, but also on the consultation of adequate national and international scholarship and knowledge related to cultural heritage in general and kullas in particular.