Vernacular culture of Gjakova: emic approach of music tradition

This paper aims to present the vernacular cultural development in general and and through it, the development of song’s, presents the folkloric types of Gjakova’s well known as Gjakova’s Aheng (Party), and also his role for all Kosovo society in generally. On the other hand, this short study aims to shed light on music in the period from 1770 untill XX century, 1980 year. Due to this period of more than 250 years happened many changes of musicians, types of songs, styles of singing etc., aims of this paper is to elaborate social values and role of aheng as unique vernacular culture through which overcoming many musicians, songs and music instruments (not only from Gjakova) have paraded. During this period, many things have changed and many transformations have been made in the Jakova’s culture especially at Aheng. The tradition of singing in Jakova was started with ‘Tayfa’ (the group of 5 to 10 musicians who playing music in family ceremonies). The main types of songs that were sung at that time (18th-19th century) were lyric, epic, boys and dilbers songs, ballads, song of migration and elegies. Through those songs, musicians show all hers virtuosity playing in instruments and also expressed their feelings towards loved or any dissatisfaction towards the leadership of the time that belonged to the Ottoman Empire as they were Albanians. The music practiced at that time at Jakova (completely vernacular) coincided with the music practiced in Shkodra–with same name–Heng (Shkodra)-Aheng (Gjakova). If we compare the age of Shkodra (2500 years), with the city of Jakova (less than 450 years), we can just imagine how much rapid development the city of Jakova has had. However, those more than 200 songs represents an imposing, a very large value, based on the fact that other cities in Kosovo had no tradition of ceremonial music. In this paper it will be precisely this type of ceremonial music, Aheng, Tajfa and the multiple types of songs that will be the powerful base of music tradition of Gjakova, will be supported.