Music education in first half of 20th century in Albania: Its institution and contribution to urban music life

Abstract

The aim of this research paper is to build the historical journey of the development of music education since its origins until the middle of the 20th century. Based on archival documents and facts, historical and journalistic publications, texts and didactic musical pedagogical methods, as well as in other supplementary materials I present with facts, analysis and generalizing treatments in the historical plane, the path of the formation and development of the music education tradition as part of general education system and also outside it. The research model was historical research which underpins all other research into music education as even the most contemporary facts have already occurred. The technique for analysing archival documents in the context of music education were document identification, document evaluation, content analysis, interpretation of the findings from the archival documents and synthesize the information to form a coherent narrative or analysis of music education practices descriptive analysis of the technical character of music methods that is made to each document stored in the Central State Archive (CSA), the comparative method for the recognition and contributions given by every religious educational institution in Scutari or secular in the four cities. To accomplish this objective, the study is focused on the documents researched mainly in Central State Archive as well as other sources publication interviews). On this basis and according to the historic importance, the study is shed light on the path of development of Albanian music pedagogy and the stages which defined this development, both in the drawing up of programs as well as through the publication of musical books by Albanian or foreign authors. The article gives a unique contribution of the first phase of the establishment of the music education tradition in Albania, as an outcome of which there were some achievements of the artistic activities, which linked the general music education of the first half of 20th century. This study may be the beginning of a wider research for professional music pedagogy in Albania, may serve for the international researchers to know the development of music pedagogy in the early years of education in Albania and to compare it with the developments in the Balkans.

Keywords

• music tradition in schools
• Music pedagogy
• music in 20th century in Albania

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