The Figure of Popular Rhapsodist as an Interpreter in the Musical Instrument and as a Poet. Examination of the Case of the Lute in the "Epic of the "Kreshniks

Denis Bizhga

Abstract

Denis Bizhga Abstract—The popular rhapsodist is a singer and musician who sings creations of legendary and historical epics and at the same time interprets them with the musical instrument of the lahuta-lute. Nowadays, rhapsodists are considered popular musicians, who are closely related to the singing of the "Epic of the Kreshniks", of the legendary Albanian epic in general. This songs, along with other traditions of northern Albania, such as gjama, kuja, etc., stand in complete artistic harmony with each other. An epic without music does not exist and a text without music can never be an epic. In this context, the legendary musical narratives of the epic of the Kreshniks created and accompanied by lute, constitute a poetic and ethnocultural complex. Traditionally the instrument of lute is produced by the rhapsodists themselves who sing and perform in it, which gives the lute and its interpretation a unique character. Keywords— Oral singing, epic, rhapsodist, lahut, popular music.


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