Tish Daija was born in Shkodër, composer, People’s Artist, academician, external member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosova. His approach to music started in his childhood years: at the age of 6 he sang in the franciscan choir of Martin Gjoka, then he was a member of Prenk Jakova’s brass band. He completed higher studies and graduated in composition at the conservatory “P. I. Tchaikovsky” (Moscow, 1951-1956). He worked in the Ministry of Education and Culture and as artistic director of the State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances (1962–1980). The beginnings of his compositions, some folk-style songs (“Çike o mori çike”, “Me lule t’bukra”) influenced by the urban music of Shkodra, belong to the 1940s of the 20th century. In the second half of the 50s of the XX century, his creativity recognized genuine professional developments with instrumental and orchestral works, such as the first String Quartet (1955) and the orchestral suite “Një ditë pikniku” (“A piknik day”) (1955). With the operetta “Lejlaja” (1957) and the opera “Pranvera” (“The Spring”) (1960) he ranks among the first creators of these scenic genres; with the ballet “Halili dhe Hajrija” (“Halili and Hajrija”) (1962) he became the creator of the first Albanian ballet. He composed almost all musical forms and genres, including film music. As one of the most original representatives of the Albanian song, Tish Daija showed true emancipatory tendencies for the time (“Erë pranverore” (“Spring breeze”), “Natën vonë” (“Late night”) etc.). He passed away in Tirana, in 2003. (In the photo: Tish Daija)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 408.
Photo: © https://ata.gov.al/2022/11/03/perkujtohet-artisti-i-popullit-kompozitori-tish-daija/
Graphic processing: AHCF
