A Pedagogical Grading of Albanian Violin Repertoire

Albanian violinist and composer Pjetër Gaci (1931-1995) contributed valuable works to the violin repertoire that, although widely recognized and performed within Albania, remain unknown internationally. Albania, a southeastern European country that gained independence in 1912, established its first State Conservatory of the Arts in the second half of the twentieth century, late compared to other countries in the region. However, this delayed institutional development does not reflect a lack of cultural richness; Albania possesses an ancient musical tradition rooted in its folk heritage. Professionally trained musicians such as Pjetër Gaci, the “People’s Artist,” played a significant role in shaping the national violin repertoire by incorporating Albanian folk elements into Western classical forms. Gaci’s violin works are an essential part of the curriculum in Albanian music schools, where they are performed for their pedagogical and artistic value. Yet they remain absent in international violin literature. This document presents a pedagogical and descriptive study of selected violin works by Pjetër Gaci, focusing on three representative compositions: Nina-nana (1958), Valle Malësore (Mountain Dance) (1958), and the Concerto for Violin and Piano (1959). This study explores technical and stylistic characteristics of these works, which derive from northern Albanian traditions. The primary aim of this document is to evaluate and classify these compositions within internationally recognized pedagogical frameworks, specifically the American String Teachers Association Certificate Advancement Program (ASTACAP) and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

Level thesis:degree_level

D.M.A.

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Sada, Keidi

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yuen, Maureen

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Yuen, Maureen
• Anderson, Joshua C
• Atapine, Dmitri
• Lindberg, Julianne
• Yun, Gi Woong

• Albanian Violin Repertoire
• Pjetër Gaci

Language dc:language.iso

en_US, English

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11864

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11864