User:Wiki Music Center/sandbox

Rafet Rudi
Rafet Rudi
Born	January 5, 1949 (age 75); Prishtina, Kosovo
Genres	Classical
Occupation(s)	Composer and Conductor
Website	rafetrudi.com

Rafet Rudi In Kosovo's musical world, represents the most prominent and active personality in the last 2-3 decades. His activity as a composer, conductor, and intellectual work in journalism and philosophy of music and continuous membership in the European Academy of Sciences and Art constitute such a statement.

Compositional formation

Rafet Rudi, Albanian / Kosovar composer, was born in 1949 in [Kosovo]. He studied at the Academy of Music in Belgrade. He graduated in Composition (1974) and Conducting (1973), in the class of composer Predrag Milosevic, a student of Jaroslav Křička and Josef Suk. During his studies and training as a composer, he encountered a high level of musical life in the former Yugoslavia, where renowned orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, etc. frequented the state with world-known artists such as H. von Karaja, J.Krips, G. Rozhdestvensky, D. Schostakovich, J. Cage etc. The avant-garde Music Festival in Opatija “Yugoslav Creativity Tribune” and “Zagreb Biennale” also made Rudi’s musical life dynamic. During his five years in Belgrade, he composed works of various genres: solo, chamber and symphonic. During this time, he was awarded the laureate prize of the prestigious festival BEMUS, for the piece Symphonic Block - Symphony. After completing his bachelor studies in Belgrade, he returned to Pristina (1974). He worked briefly as a teacher at the School of Music and as a producer at the Radio Prishtina Symphony Orchestra. From 1976 until retirement (2014), he worked as Professor of Analysis of Music and Composition Forms at the Academy of Music in Prishtina

Influences from the European avant-garde (1975-1980)

In the mid-’70s, Rudi left the neoclassical phase behind, and through the work “Concert time for piano and orchestra” (work inspired by dodecaphonic music), he tried to define the creative space more clearly, becoming familiar with the avant-garde currents. Familiarity with the works of composers of the new Polish school (Lutoslavski, Penderecki, Serock, etc.) and the Avant-garde music festival “Autumn in Warsaw, he adapted to new trends in atonal music (Metamorphosis for three soloists and string orchestra, “Rrojtja” guitar and strings etc). These works, and other solo works, composed at this time, were performed by Yugoslav orchestras at the Modern Music Festival in Opatija. The works of R.Rudi, in this period and further on, relied on the expression of national music but during this time he started to explore the deeper layers of this type of music. In addition, Rudi maintained the stylistic context corresponding to the newest and most avant-garde currents of the time. “In R. Rudi I see a real musician. He is a very talented composer who possesses special invention and sensitivity.” (Claude Ballif, Prof. at the Paris Conservatory) “R. Rudi is an extremely inventive composer, who has something to say, a creator who has a special sensitivity.” A few years ago, he was a discovery for Belgrade (Ana Kotevska, musicologist, after the performance of “Concert time” for piano and orchestra)

Parisian influences (1980-2000)

An important period in R. Rudi’s compositional career was his stay in Paris, as a scholarship holder of the French Government (1979-1980). There he lectured on CNSM (Composition and Music Analysis) in the class of composer Claude Ballif. A reflection of his studies in Paris, are the works such as Small Guitar Suite (1981) Cantata “Sacrifice” (1983), “Fantasia in Si” (1985) for violin and piano, Guitar Concerto and String Orchestra (1986). Gradually, with these works, Rudi began a new creative phase, where the idiom of postmodern music was discreetly integrated, in which case we see in Rudi’s works the rediscovery of tonality, which serves as the source of a new creative impulse (Prof. Ajgyl Temirzhanova-Basha). This appears especially with Rudi’s works of the ’90s, such as “Icare ubi es” for soloist, Choir, two pianos and percussions, and especially in the cycle of Afresk Arbëresh: “Arbëresh bells” for solo piano, “Afresk Arbëresh III” for 2 pianos, Choir, percussion, narrator and Tape etc.

Style Development - Archaism and Modernity (2000 -)

In the early 2000s, Rudi returned to the Afresk Arbëresh cycle and explored further with commitment and dedication, the most archaic forms of Albanian music. The whole cycle (of 5 works) was based on the traditional liturgical chants of the Italian Arberesh (Albanians who moved to Italy in the 15th century). The piece “Laudatio funebris” for soprano and string orchestra stands out from this cycle. The work relies on the melodic structures of Arbëresh liturgical singing and has a minimalist compositional elaboration. In the last two decades, Rudi composed various works as commissioned from around the world or in collaboration with international ensembles of internationally renowned artists: Aki Takahashi, Rafael Andia, Marcel Worms, Ehat Musa, Sheppard Skaerved, Petrit Çeku, Sihana Badivuku, Peter Arnaud Dumond, Pierrot Lunaire Ensemble-Wien, Amici della Musica-Cagliari to name but a few. Completely free from the ideo-aesthetic limitations of the stylistic platforms that the twentieth century determines, Rudi, at this time, began to clarify his language of expression freely between the archaism of indigenous music and modernity. The works that characterize this tendency of Rudi are: “Fantasia koncertante” for violin and Choir, “Le tombeau Oublié” for solo piano, “In A”, for 2 sopranos, Choir and percussion and “Lament of the Sea” for Choir acapella. Rudi is the winner of many competitions, awards and recognitions. R.Rudi’s works are played in many countries globally: France, Switzerland, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Albania, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Japan, etc. He is the author of numerous publications in the country and abroad (France, Germany, Monaco and the Netherlands), by some prestigious houses (Editions musicales Transantlantiques of Paris, Peermusic of Hamburg, etc.)

Founder of the Festival “ReMusica” (2002 -2015)

Rudi is the founder of the Kosovar Center for New Music (1999) and the Prishtina International Festival “ReMusica Festival”. He was a director of the festival from 2002 through 2015. The Center for New Music was established at the end of the 1999 year, with the help of Vanessa Redgrave and the support of composer Philip Glass (as a continuation of the Festival “The Return”, held in September 1999 that was for the purpose of seeking help for Kosovo after the war) Within the activity of this Center, since 2002, the ReMusica Festival was established, with which Rudi developed a great music activity in Kosovo, specifically in the popularization of contemporary music, as well as the promotion of Albanian contemporary music.

Rudi as conductor

Another important activity of Rudi’s is conducting. In the period 1980-1987, he acted as the Conductor of the Professional Choir of Radio-Television of Prishtina. With this ensemble, he performed in all the former Yugoslavia countries and was present at important Festivals of the time: ‘Dubrovnik Summer Festival’, ‘Ohrid Summer Festival’, the Festival of Modern Music, in Opati-Croatia, at the Belgrade Festival- Serbia, etc. After a long hiatus, Rudi returned to work as a conductor in 2006 and now works as the lead conductor of the Kosov Philharmonic Choir. He has made hundreds of public appearances with acapella programs. He has performed in many countries such as Macedonia, Croatia, Albania, Italy, England. Under his direction, the Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra has performed many important vocal-instrumental works such as Missa D-dur of Mozart, ‘Vespro della Beata Virgine 1610’ of Monteverdi, Cantata Nr. 28 of Bach, ‘Gloria’ of Vivaldi, Mass of C-dur of Beethoven, Requiem of Mozart, etc. In the recent years, Rudi has been dedicated to discovering, restoring, and adapting the choral literature of old Albanian authors. For the Albanian public this is the first time where the works of great historical importance of Gjergj Danush Llapacaj (XVI century), Jan Kukuzeli (XIII century) and Niketa Dardani (Niketa i Remisiana, from IV century) appeared. These works are becoming part of the standard choral repertoire.

Rudi as publicist

Rudi is actively involved in journalism. There are over 400 different writings, in the field of essays and various writings from the field of aesthetics and musical philosophy. He is the author of many textbooks and the theoretical book (Publisher “Dukagjini”), which completes his creative profile. However, he represents “one of the most emblematic figures of Albanian / Kosovar culture” (N. Kraja), and undoubtedly “Rudi has extraordinary value… and a weight, I would say, key in the pan-Albanian musical art” (E. Krantja)

Rafet Rudi, is a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts and a member of the Albanian Academy of Arts and Sciences

WORKS

Orchestral Works

Symphony 1974 (Award of the International Festival BEMUS, 1974)
Concerto for piano and symphonic orchestra 1975 (Symphonic Rondo, 1977)
Rondo simfonike, 1977
"Rrojtja" for guitar and strings orchestra, 1978 (Annual Award of the KCA for 1982)
Metamorphosis, for flute, piano, mezzosoprano and strings orchestra, 1979 Second Price at the RTV Pristina Competition
Largo for strings orchestra, 1978 (ver. 2012)
Concerto, për kitarë dhe orkestër harqesh, 1986
Laudatio Funebris for soprano and string orchestra 2004
The Return / Kthimi for mezzosoprano and symphonic orchestra
IMPRESIONE (Meditime dhe Vallja) for flute and Symphonic Orchestra 2010
Dialog Koncertant për flaut dhe Orkestër simfonik / Concert Dialogue for flute and symphonic Orchestra 2010

Chamber and Solo Works

Suitë for piano
Sonata for violin and piano, 1970
Variacione for clarinet, violin and piano, 1971
Kuartet Harkor , 1972
Meditimefor flute and piano, 1977
Petite Suite, suite for solo guitar, 1981(listed as a compulsory work in the International contest for Guitar in Belgrade, 1985) 1987 Botim
TRANSANTLANTIQUES 1987 „Panorama de la musique contemporaine pour Guitare“ volume N°1 / Në vitin 1991, në Monako, Suita botim në CD Philip Loli.
Sonata for guitar, 1984
Fantasia in Si, for violin and guitar, 1985 Botim SHKK
Prélude et étude for guitar, 1992
Këmbanat arbëreshe Arberesh Bells for piano . (Preludium) for piano, 1993
Etude No 1, for solo piano, 1993 for solo piano 1993
Etude for percussions, 1997
Këngë popullore, for solo guitar, 1998 Chansons et Danses Ehat Musa
Dialogue perdu (‘Dialogjet e humbura’)for flute, trio strings, piano and tape, 2000
Gurgullimë korale, electronic piece, 2000
Prishtina blues for solo piano 2001 / publisher PEERMUSIC (Germany) –2008 / published CD “Blues album”, Marcel Worms, Neetherlands -2008
Rêve nostalgique, electronic piece 2003 (commissioned bye ‘Amici della musica’- Cagliari)
Song of Tana, for clarinet and piano, 2005
Kuintet („Antigoneon“) për Fl, Cl, Vl, Fg, dhe Pf, 2005 (commissioned by ‘Pierrot Lunaire Ensemble’- WIEN)
Le tombeau oublié for solo piano 2007
Etude nr 2 for solo piano 2008
Kuartet frymor për Fl, 2 Cl in B, dhe Fg. 2010 (First prize-Ministry of Culture in Kosovo2013)
Pesë skica (Petite suite) për Vlc. Solo 2012
IMPRESIONE (Meditime dhe Vallja) for flute and piano 2012
Trois morceaux caractéristiques for Guitar 2018
Three Albanian Folk Songs for Guitar Trio 2019
Humoresques for Saxophone quartet 2020

Vocal and Instrumental works

Zogu i diellit, për 2 corno, 2 trombones, c/bass, piano, batteria for two performers (ptti. t.mil., gng., timp.), soprano and choir (SATB), Lyricsi: Din Mehmeti 1981
FLIJIMI, for soloists, choir and 3 kavallë, c/bass, tupan, tam-tam, teksti nga « Ifigjenia » e Euripidit, 1983
ABC for tenor, choir, organo, piano, 1984
"Lule e pavyshkur" , cantata for choir and symphonic orchestra, 1988 lyrics Enver Gjergjeku (First Prize - RTV Prishtina, 1988)
Canti tradizionali liturgici, (Kantatë vogël) for three soloists, kor, 2 flaut a becco, organo, timpani, 1993
Afresk arbëresh III, for soloists, vocal octet(or choir), organo, piano for 4 hands, tape narrator, lyrics: Eqrem Basha 1993 (First Prize - SHKK, 1993)
ICARE UBI ES, for mexosopran, choir, 3 timpani, gong, 2 piano, c/bass, soprano, lyrics: P.Ovidius Naso-Metamorphoses 8, 232 1987 ( Icare ubi es, for sopran – version 2009)
MALLI i UDHETARIT for sopran, choir, 2 piano, Tape and narrator (Cycle: Afresk arbëresh III) 2008) lyrics: Eqrem Basha 2008
‘Un soufle de chagrin’ for Mexosopran, choir, saxophone quartet, 2008
Kurr më s’do marrësh udhët e kurbetit for soloist, mixed choir 2008
Laudate Dominum for solists, choir, 2 piano, percussions 2010 (First Prize - Ministry of Cultre 2011)
Concerto Fantasy (cycle: Afresk arbëresh V) for violin and mixed choir (First Prize - Ministry of Culture 2012)
Kukuzeliana for solo sopran, 2 violins and Female Choir, 2013
Kurorë glëmbash for solo sopran, flaut, piano and choir /Afresk Arbëresh V/ 2014
RËNKIM FUNEBËR for sopran, choir and string orchestra, lyrics: Ali Podrimja 2014
"Vajtimi" for cello solo, piano and choir, 2015
"Deti i varreve të hapura" for solo guitar and choir, lyrics: Eqrem Basha 2015
“In A” (‘Di motra gushergjenda’) for 2 solo sopranos, 2 pianom xylophone dhe batterie) Lyrics: traditional 2017

Choral Works (A Capella)

"Lament of the Sea" for mixed choir, traditional lyrics 2018
Ulu mal të dal hëna, for mixed choir, traditional lyrics 2011
Lagja e varfun (1968), lyrics: Migjeni 1968 – Botim ‘Collegium Cantorum’
Sharaveli, Sharavata , for mixed choir, traditional lyrics 2011
Te Deum , for mixed choir
Një tokë, një kokë, for female choir , Lyrics: Fejzi Bojku, 1978
"Xhike – Loke", for mixed choir, traditional lyrics 1982
Lule gjaku, për kor mikst (First Prize in RTP for choral works a cappella, 1988)
"O zembra ime ku vate", mixed choir, lyrics: from liturgical italian arbëresh singing 1993 (Cycle Afresk arbëresh II)
AGNUS DEI for mixed choir 2007

Choral music for children's choir Fli vëllaçko, për kor fëmijësh teksti: Xhevat Beqaraj 1977 / Gjyshja, për kor fëmijësh e piano, 1977 / Gëzoni, për kor fëmijësh 1977 / Këngë punëtorësh, për kor fëmijësh teksti: Rushit Ramabaja 1977 / Pasaporta e dacit, për kor fëmijësh 1978 / Një tokë, një kokë, për kor fëmijësh teksti:Fejzi Bojku, 1978 / Harabeli, për kor fëmijësh dhe klarinetë bas, teksti:Qamil Guranjaku 1982 / Kur buzëqesh nëna ime, për kor fëmijësh 1982 / Agon një botë e re, për kor fëmijësh teksti: Eqrem Basha 1985 / Karkaleci për kor fëmijësh teksti: Rifat Kukaj 1982 / Varri i pionerit trim, për kor fëmijësh teksti: Rexhep Hoxha 1983 / Luante si qengj, për kor fëmijësh teksti: Vehbi Kikaj 1992

Solo Songs

Udhëtimi, for soprano and piano, lyrics: Nebih Muriqi, 1969
Kthimi, for mexosopran and piano, lyrics: Eqrem Basha 1993 (First Prize ShKK 1993 and Second Prize Festival of Vocal Music in Tirana, Albania, 1999)
Arbëresh Song for Soprano and Piano 2011

Stage music

Ifigjenia në Aulidë, directed by Fadil Hysaj 1983
Venedikasja, regj. Faruk Begolli 1991
Kufiri me atdhe,directed byTeki Dervishi 1993
Kali i Trojës, directed byFadil Hysaj 1994
Duke pritur Godonë, directed byFadil Hysaj 1995
Othello, V. Shakespeare, directed by Liridon Cahani1995
Unë nuk e solla Doruntinën, directed by Faik Ispahiu 1997
Servisi i shpirtit, directed by Xhevat Qorraj 1997
Karriget, E. Ionesco, directed by Fadil Hysaj 1997
Pulëbardha, regj. Jeton Budima 1998
Odisea Shqiptare, koreodramë, directed by Abi Nokshiqi 1998
Kush më ka faj që jam shqiptar,directed byEnver Petrovci 1999
Fluturimi përmbi folenë e qyqes, directed by Ilir Bokshi 2000
Orestija directed by Fadil Hysaj 2003

Film scores

Kohët e liga, 1997
Dhimbja, 1997
Fantazmat ladrojnë, 1998