Lorenc Antoni, composer, ethnomusicologist, pedagogue and choir leader, passed away in Pristina (Kosovo). He was born in Skopje (North Macedonia) in 1909. He received basic musical knowledge in his hometown and continued it privately in Belgrade. In 1941, he came to Kosovo, settling in Prizren, where he directed the choir of the cultural-artistic society “Agimi” (“Dawn”), with which he achieved success outside of Kosovo. In the years 1948-1956, he was the initiator and then teacher and director of the “Josip Slavenski” Elementary and High School of Music in Prizren. From this period come his published ethnomusicological works, such as: “Format muzikore dhe veglat popullore te shqiptarët” (“Musical forms and folk instruments of Albanians”) (1950) and “Ritmi i këngëve popullore shqiptare” (“The rythm of Albanian folk songs”) (1952), then the orchestral ones: “Në Prizrenin e bukur” (“In beautiful Prizren”) (1952) and the cycle of choral compositions published under the title “Kore shqiptare” (“Albanian Choirs”) (1957). In 1956, until his retirement, he was the editor of popular music at Radio “Prishtina”, then of the music production of Radio Television of Prishtina, where he led groups of singers. Lorenc Antoni further, with his activity as a melographer and research analyst, collected and bred nearly 800 Albanian songs and melodies in Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and the Presheva Valley. He continued his creative activity as the author of arrangements and composer of choral works, such as: “Kore shqiptare” (“Albanian Choirs”), “Jehonat e zemrës” (“Echoes of the heart”) (1960), the choral song “Skënderbeu ngadhënjimtar” (“Victorious Skanderbeg”) composed on the 500th anniversary of Gjergj Kastrioti-Skanderbeg (1968), works for mandolin orchestra with or without soloist “Dhëndri fëmi” (“Child groom”), “Moj e mira vashë e bardhë” (“Oh good white maiden”), several orchestral pieces: “Në Prizrenin e vjetër” (“In old Prizren”) (1959), “Tri valle shqiptare” (“Three Albanian dances”) (1962), “Malësorja” (“Highlander”) ( 1966) etc. (In the photo: Lorenc Antoni)
Text: The encyclopedic dictionary of Kosovo – Vol. I , Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Pristina, 2018, page 54–55.
Photo: © State Ensemble of Albanian Folk Songs and Dances, Republic of North Macedonia.
Graphic processing: AHCF
