Musical Folklore of Rugova: Insights into Song, Dance, and Cultural Heritage in Kosovo’s Highlanders

In light of globalization’s impact on cultural homogenization, understanding the distinct musical heritage of ethnic groups like the Kosovo highlanders gains significance. This study aims to uncover the nuances of Kosovo highlanders’ national musical creativity, focusing on aspects such as vocal, dance, theatrical, and gaming traditions. Employing analysis, comparison, and synthesis methods, this research scrutinized original song texts and choreographic recordings, delving into the multifaceted aspects of Rugova’s oral traditional musical arts. The investigation unveiled the unique content and stylistic diversity across various folk art forms, including songwriting, choreography, theatrical performances, and traditional games. It identified key categories within each folklore branch, elucidating Rugova’s vocal music features, such as monodic texture, pentatonic scale, and distinctive instrumentation. Additionally, attention was drawn to the specificity and functionality of traditional costumes, which offer comfort and protection in Rugova’s challenging climate. The study presents Rugova’s oral traditional creativity as an integrated system comprising multiple components, thus offering novel insights into Kosovo highlanders’ cultural heritage. Its practical implications extend to fields like musicology, cultural studies, folk performance, and ethnography. Keywords: cultural expressions. folkloric rituals. intergenerational transmission. ethnic traditions.