Pjetër Gaci (; 27 March 193127 March 1995) was an Albanian musician, composer and music teacher. He participated numerous times in

Festivali i Këngës (; ), commonly known as and also referred to as simply FiK or Fest, is an annual music competition in Albania organised by the national broadcaster (RTSH). Broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1962, the festival has determined th ...

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; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been List of o ...

, but grew up in Shirokë. His father was a known rhapsodist, 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 The Moscow Conservatory, also officially Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory () is a higher musical educational institution located in Moscow, Russia. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in musical performance and musical research. Th ...

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 ...

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. Histor ...

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 instrumental accompaniment, or without instrumental accompaniment (a cappella), in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but ...

, where he left an unforgettable repertoire, ranging from songs to opera. He was awarded the title of Merited Artist of Albania in 1989.

References

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