Kastriot Gjini, a well-known Albanian composer, passed away in Rome (Italy). He was born in Tirana, in 1949. At the age of 5, he became active in the Variety Theatre of Gjirokastra, as an accordionist. The first composition was the song for pioneers “Fyelli i bariut” (“The Shepherd’s pipe” (1961), to which was awarded a prize at the First Festival of Pioneers in Tirana. He studied music in a self-taught manner. He graduated from the University of Tirana, majoring in English. In these years, Kastriot Gjini created songs that were awarded prizes at national festivals on Albanian Radio Television, such as: “Duart e tua” (“Your hands”), “Fqinja” (“The Neighbour”), “Sytë e tu” (“Your eyes”) etc. Kastriot Gjini has created about 75 songs for children and adults and orchestral music. He is the co-author of the music for the film “Korrierët” (“The Couriers”) (1976). He enriched the Albanian music in the song genre with new sounds and artistic findings, especially in terms of melody, harmony, rhythm and theme. His songs stood out for their inspired melody, emotional clarity, wide and varied subject matter, and expressiveness. (In the photo: Kastriot Gjini)
Text: Josif Papagjoni
Photo:©https://gjirokastraonline.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/08/28423828_1370927736386689_3590855155384174763_o-1.jpg
Graphic processing: AHCF
