Baki Kongoli, a renowned composer, passed away. He was born in Elbasan in 1913. He received his education at the “Normal” school, where he also learned to play the violin. He began his career as a teacher in Lushnjë, Fier, and Korçë. In 1937, he graduated from the Pavio Conservatory in Turin with a focus on the violin. There, he gained comprehensive musical knowledge in areas such as composition, orchestration, and art history, shaping him into a true musician and creator. After working for a time at the “Normal” school, Kongoli was employed at the Ministry of Culture in Tirana in 1947. Following 1950, he concentrated on his creative endeavors, composing well-known songs such as “Vajza e Kombinatit” (“Girl from Kombinati”) and “Tangoja shqiptare” (“Albanian Tango”). The talented musician Baki Kongoli left behind a rich legacy of 200 folk songs and two operas. He also played a significant role in establishing musical institutions, including the music department at Radio-Tirana, the Tirana Symphony Orchestra, the music department at the Culture and Arts Committee of the Ministry, the Tirana Philharmonic, the Opera and Ballet Theater, and the State Conservatory. Throughout his career, he made space for fellow instrumentalists from Elbasan and possessed an extensive knowledge of the folk songs and dances from that region. Kongoli was one of the founders of the National Folk Festival and worked within the League of Writers and Artists. He served as the deputy director of the Institute of Folklore for some time. Baki Kongoli passed away in 1980. (In the photo: Baki Kongoli)
Text: Albanian Digital Archive, Elbasan
Photo: © https://adsh.al/s/elbasani/item/13855
Graphic processing: AHCF
