Pjetër Gaci (; 27 March 193127 March 1995) was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

musician, composer and music teacher. He participated numerous times in Festivali i Këngës as composer and lyricist, winning 2 first prizes in 1966 and 1972.

Life and career

Gaci was born in Shirq, a village near

Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra) is the fifth-most-populous city of the Republic of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. The city sprawls across the Plain of Mbishkodra between the southern part of Lake Shkod ...

, but grew up in Shirokë. His father was a known

rhapsodist A rhapsode ( el, ῥαψῳδός, "rhapsōidos") or, in modern usage, rhapsodist, refers to a classical Greek professional performer of epic poetry in the fifth and fourth centuries BC (and perhaps earlier). Rhapsodes notably performed the epic ...

, so from a young age Gaci learned to play multiple instruments, among them guitar, violin, mandolin and accordion. After finishing elementary school in Shkodër, he studied violin at the Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum in Tirana from 1948 to 1952. He would continue higher studies in Russia, at Moscow Conservatory from 1953 to 1956. After returning to Albania he worked as a violin teacher at the Jordan Misja Artistic Lyceum in Tirana. In 1970 he became a full-time solo composer and in 1976 moved permanently from Tiranë to Shkodër. There, he again taught violin lessons at the ''Prenk Jakova Artistic Lyceum''. Gaci created the first violin

concerto A concerto (; plural ''concertos'', or ''concerti'' from the Italian plural) is, from the late Baroque era, mostly understood as an instrumental composition, written for one or more soloists accompanied by an orchestra or other ensemble. The typi ...

in Albanian history, the first ballad for violin and piano, and was a member of the first instrumental trio at the

National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania (Albanian: ''Teatri Kombëtar i Operas dhe Baletit - TKOB'') is a theatre in Tirana, Albania. It is the largest theatre in the country, and hosts music and dance performances year round. History ...

in 1956. However his most important work was in

vocal music Vocal music is a type of singing performed by one or more singers, either with musical instruments, instrumental accompaniment, or without instrumental accompaniment (a cappella), in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which ...

, where he left an unforgettable repertoire, ranging from songs to opera. He was awarded the title of

Merited Artist of Albania Merited Artist of Albania ( sq, Artist i Merituar) was a state honorary title for the decoration of outstanding art performers of People's Socialist Republic of Albania. It was created by law in 1960 and amended in 1980. The title was no longer gi ...

in 1989.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaci, Pjetër 1931 births 1995 deaths Albanian composers Musicians from Shkodër Festivali i Këngës winners