The outstanding composer Tish Daija (1926-2003)!

#KinematografiaShqiptare #MuzikeShqiptare #KompozitoretShqiptare Tish Daija (1926-2003)
Academician, outstanding composer, “People’s Artist” and “Honour of the Nation”

Every January 30, we remember with longing, honor and respect, the great Albanian composer, Tish Daija. The one who, with his works, climbed higher than the mountains of the highlands, who loved them so much. The composer, who penetrated every Albanian heart with his music, so beautifully, with the energy and simplicity of his soul, which was reflected in the sounds, works and songs he composed.

A great father, man, friend, husband, father who left indelible impressions and memories on everyone who knew him closely. He remained and will remain immortal with his works, which are still applauded by the Albanian public, everywhere in the world.

Daija is one of the founders of Albanian art and will always be remembered as such. The legacy of these works will continue in eternity; therefore, he too is immortal, thank you for all that you have given of yourself.

Tish Daia was born on January 30, 1926, in Shkodër. Before reaching school age, he became a member of the “Frančeskan Choir”, where he took his first music lessons under the direction of Father Martin Gjoka and Filip Mazreku. The Choir’s repertoire included works by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, etc., which instilled a love for classical music, but also popular creativity.

At the age of 10, Daija became an instrumentalist of the musical band “Antoniane” led by Prenk Jakova. This formation successfully participated in the “Fiera del Levante” festival in Bari, Italy in 1938.

His music is very dimensional, and his patriotic spirit stands out, his love for Albania and his birthplace, Shkodra. The songs, which have remained in the priceless archive of Albanian music, such as, “Chikë o mori chikë”, “Sylarysha”, “Ndalo, bre vash”, “Kenga e krushqëve”, “Me lule t’bukra” were created by the Master of Music, who left an extraordinary legacy.

While the country languished under the fascist occupation, although still a teenager, Tish expressed his patriotic resistance by composing the battalion march “Antonio Gramshi” (1943), the original score of which can be found in Florence, Italy.

In 1946, he finished high school in Shkodër and was appointed a music teacher in Vlorë, a city that gave him so much youthful joy and inspiration. He completed his higher composition studies at the famous “PI Tchaikovsky” Conservatory in Moscow, where received a scholarship in 1951.

In 1956, graduated from the music department chaired by Dimitri Shostakovich, bringing to his homeland, in addition to his diploma, a number of accomplished works such as : “Festive Overture”, “A Picnic Day” Suite, “Verr topuz” film score (produced by Mosk-Film), and a string quartet.

Tish Dai’s early creativity is permeated by the impressions he experienced in his hometown, Shkodër, but also by the typical citizens of Vlora. After graduating in Moscow, he worked for several years at the Ministry of Education and Culture, and then continued his professional career, where his role as artistic director of the Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances (1962–1980) stands out.

Under the artistic direction of Tish Daija, for several decades, the ensemble cultivated and developed the musical and dance tradition of all Albanian regions, becoming a torch of national culture and extended its activity not only in Albania but also in many countries of the world where he was honored with international awards, including the Golden Necklace in Dijon, France (1970).

Tish Dai’s creative range is wide and varied. His work represents a high contemporary artistic level in all the genres he composed. In many ways, his creativity is a fundamental and innovative part of Albanian music. You cannot talk about Albanian ballet without Tish Daija, as the composer of the first Albanian ballet “Halili and Hajrija” (1963), but also of the ballet “Bijte e Peshkatarit” (1972).

At the same time, he composed some of the well-known operas of the Albanian repertoire, including the operetta “Lejlaja” (1957), the opera “Spring” (1960), the opera “Vjosa” (1980).

Also, Tish Daija has made a fundamental contribution to the creation and development of instrumental-symphonic music, chamber music and to the creation of a precious Albanian tradition of classical music.

The diverse program of his works includes, among others: “Three Symphonic Dances” / “Poem for Violin” / “Fantasy for Violin” “Concerto for Violin” / “Rhapsody for Flute” / “Concerto for Piano” etc.

Daisa’s musical activity was multifaceted. To the abundant creativity in the field of classical music is added the inherent contribution in the creation of a tradition of film music frames. Among the most popular films composed by Daija are: “Her children” / “Debatik” / “Commissar of light” / “Uprising in the palace” / “Sounds of war”.

With the vitality and optimism that characterized him, Tish Daija laid the musical foundations of the national film music tradition. Another distinctive and unique feature in his repertoire as a composer is the professional cultivation of Albanian folklore, the originality of light music and children’s music, as well as the development of traditional civic music, with which he was protected as a child.

Starting from the 60s, Tish Daija has composed songs that constitute a national wealth of light music such as “Spring wind”, “Snow and flame”, “Late night” performed by the People’s Artist Vaçe Zela.

Later they would follow: “Spring comes beautifully”, “With the voice of the Motherland”, “The days that await us”, “With beautiful flowers”, “Myzeqare motifs”, “New motif”, “Longing for the homeland”, “Albania has no age”, and “Bjeri gajdes gajdexhi”.

During his many years of activity, Tish Daija devoted himself to the cultivation of the national musical heritage among the younger generations. As a lecturer at the High Institute of Arts (today “University of Arts”) he contributed to the creation of the Albanian school of composition and the formation of several generations of composers, musicologists and instrumentalists.

For his academic activity and in musicology, he was accepted as a member of the Academy of Sciences of Albania (1999) and the Academy of Arts of Kosovo (2000). Together with other authors, the musical creativity of Tish Daisa, the many years of activity in the field of music, musicological and didactic studies of composition, constitute a valuable national asset which serves the coming generations as the cornerstone of Albanian music.

At the proposal of the Academy of Sciences, the outstanding academician and composer. Tish Daija was awarded the high decoration “Honour of the Nation” on the 90th anniversary of his birth by the President of the Republic of Albania.”

Composer of the first Albanian ballet, author of hundreds of musical creations with national and international recognition, pedagogue and academic, historical leader of the National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances. With his creativity over the years, he popularized the values of musical art and Albanian culture in general”, says the motivation of this assessment.

The great master passed away on October 3, 2003, at the age of 77.

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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Reference: Newspaper “Blic” – 2018 on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of his birth / Oxygen press – October 2019

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