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By:
Enis Bytyqi
- April 4, 2024 13:00 am
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The journey of the original concert by the composer Valton Beqiri after the stations in Prizren, Gjilan, Mitrovica and Pejë, has been finalized in Prishtina, at the "Prenk Jakova" music school, and the unfolding of the program is not only aimed at the recognition of his works . The mission is different, as reflected in the title of the concert: "Encouragement for young composers". "If we managed to encourage only five of these five music centers, then our mission has not been fulfilled, but maybe it would be exceeded", said Beqiri.
Some of them were once students of the high school of music in Prishtina, "Prenk Jakova". But now as accomplished musicians and soloists of classical music they came together for a new generation that intends to take the path of musical education. The author's concert under the leadership of the composer Valton Beqiri, within the framework of the project "Encouragement for young composers" with support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, brought together the soprano Zana Abazi-Ramadan, Gëzim Latif and Valbo Haxhibeqir on the violin, Arianit Shehu on viola, Fjolla Asllanajn on cello and Patris Berisha on percussion. With his five works, the piano accompaniment was done by Valton Beqiri himself.
The concert, which was performed in four other cities besides Pristina, has the basic aim that students who aspire to the musical journey will be introduced to the field of composition and conducting in the Music Department at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Pristina.
From his repertoire, Beqiri has chosen to convey messages to the public. Those that express the popular Albanian melos despite the contemporary touches that he makes to his compositions.
The concert started with some advice from Beqiri, who could hardly take off his teacher's cloak. For the students, he shared some theoretical details before announcing that the performance they were looking forward to hearing was for them, to motivate them to continue their composition studies.
"Quasi kaba" was the first piece that started the concert. Just like the title, there was no clarinet in the line-up, but its sounds were neatly imitated by the viola. It started with the melancholy that identifies the music of the south of Albania, slow but developing into a rhythmic tempo towards the end. The admiration from the eyes of the students was easy to read, as Beqiri, a professor at the University of Pristina, briefly describes the works and gives advice in between the works.
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The soprano Zana Abazi-Ramadani joins "Kroi i village tunno". Beqiri had given the original a new harmony, a freshness, but always respecting the original work. It is not by chance that he has decided that this repertoire also includes works which can be considered as arrangements of songs. Thus, he informed the students that a composer, in addition to creating works from scratch, can also intervene in existing ones.
Her participation in this project, according to Zana Abazi-Ramadan, was a special honor and a rare opportunity. As such, according to her, it seems to have been significant since the students' interest has started to be expressed immediately.
"Actually, after these concerts we had, students started contacting us through social networks and they are normally very welcome. As we are to them, so is the opposite. We are always open. In fact, artists should be open to help each other, especially future generations", said soprano Abazi-Ramadani.
Together with the soprano, the instrumentalists also performed the song "Mallangjimi" by Rashid Krasniqi, as well as "Moj e mira te pojata", a popular song which similar to the previous work, Baqiri has given his authorial touch by modifying it through a shredding the material as a different compositional approach.
For Valton Beqiri, this project started with a specific goal from the beginning. The same was done with the selection of the repertoire.
"Really, it was an idea and as a need more for stimulation and motivation of music high school students to seriously approach the profile of the composer and conductor. In the framework of these works that we performed were my works based on the national ethnos, to bring the listeners and future creators closer to these musical works", he said.
As the end approached, those present had the opportunity to listen to the four-time work composed exclusively at the request of the Japanese conductor Toshio Yanagisawa, a work which reflects all the shades of Albanian music.
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Before her execution began, Beqiri offered no advice. This time he instructed the students that clapping in the middle of the piece is forbidden, as the concentration of the instrumentalists must be respected.
The first chapter of the work "The spirit of tradition", entitled "Genesis", as well as the name itself, according to the author, represents the birth of Albanian music, its first steps. The two styles are included in it: the northern and the southern, while the imitation of the sounds of the lute is not missing either. Within this concert, which sometimes resembles a master class, there are also historical nuances. The second time entitled "Influence" also gave an overview of the influences that Albanian music has suffered over the centuries. Oriental sounds were also announced there as a reference to the centuries-old Ottoman occupation. In some cases, it seems like a war of dominance between native and oriental sounds, but the sounds harmonize naturally. In the third time with the title "Survival" the song from Shkodra is also touched. Meanwhile, at the end "The Game" also brings the percussions to the stage through the traditional sound of the drum. The musical composition here leaves the impression of a sound resume that touches almost every historical development in Albanian music, which as a result brings a joyful and rhythmic part, as a message of continuity. The enthusiasm shown at the end through the applause seems like a mirror which would serve to entice all the students present to choose the academic path of composition or conducting.
Valton Beqiri is realistic when asked about the expectations from this organization. According to him, it is important that at least someone is encouraged by such activities.
"In fact, in these situations we see talents or interested people that we can count on our fingers, but if we managed to encourage only five of these five music centers, then our mission is not fulfilled, but maybe it would be exceeded ", he said.
The students themselves appreciated this opportunity. Yll Haliti, a student engaged in the piano instrument, has considered the concert as a proper way for them to see closely the commitment that classical music requires.
"For me, this seems like a very good opportunity because the students who want to continue with conducting or composing, have the opportunity to see through this concert how professional music works in Kosovo, through the works of Professor Valton Beqiri. We can say more or less what awaits us in the future", said Haliti
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Similarly, the importance of a stimulating organization for the younger generations is also seen by the teacher at the "Prenk Jakova" high school of music, Linda Hakaj. He appreciated the role of Valton Beqiri, while again emphasizing the importance of such initiatives.
"I am very happy that I had professor Valton as a professor at the music academy and I have followed his creativity since I was a child. I am happy that he brought all these works with our folklore motifs in an artistic way, where through his notes the whole world can see that the creativity of Albanian folk music is very rich. However, this is exactly what the music school is for, to stimulate and guide students on the right path. As teachers, we always try to be the ones who give them advice during lessons and push them to continue in this direction", said Hakaj.
