Pjetër Dungu
Encyclopedia
Pjetër Dungu was an Albania
n piano accompanist and composer-arranger of urban folk music
. He is known in the history of the music of Albania
as the first compiler of Albanian folk songs.
Dungu was born in Shkodër
, where he took music lessons from composer Martin Gjoka. He played oboe and trumpet, while studying piano and harmony.
In the 1930s, Dungu gained a reputation as a piano accompanist for urban lyric song, reaching a height around the end of the decade. In 1940, Dungu published Lyra Shqiptare (Albanian Lyra), the first collection of 50 folk melodies. The compilation was published by Instituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara
, in Italy
. In 1942, he accompanied tenor Kristaq Antoniu
on the piano for eight songs recorded for the Columbia Recording Company in Italy. Dungu also conducted an orchestra for seven of Antoniu's recordings.
Other composer-arrangers in Albanian lyric folk music in this period, include Lola Gjoka and Kristo Kono.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n piano accompanist and composer-arranger of urban folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. He is known in the history of the music of Albania
Music of Albania
Albanian music displays a variety of influences. Albanian folk music traditions differ by region, with major stylistic differences between the traditional music of the Ghegs in the north and Tosks in the south. Modern popular music has developed around the centers of Korça, Shkodër and Tirana....
as the first compiler of Albanian folk songs.
Dungu was born in Shkodër
Shkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
, where he took music lessons from composer Martin Gjoka. He played oboe and trumpet, while studying piano and harmony.
In the 1930s, Dungu gained a reputation as a piano accompanist for urban lyric song, reaching a height around the end of the decade. In 1940, Dungu published Lyra Shqiptare (Albanian Lyra), the first collection of 50 folk melodies. The compilation was published by Instituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In 1942, he accompanied tenor Kristaq Antoniu
Kristaq Antoniu
Kristaq Antoniu , also known as Cristache Antoniu in Romanian, was an Albanian and Romanian operetta tenor, baritone, and actor...
on the piano for eight songs recorded for the Columbia Recording Company in Italy. Dungu also conducted an orchestra for seven of Antoniu's recordings.
Other composer-arrangers in Albanian lyric folk music in this period, include Lola Gjoka and Kristo Kono.