They originated from Cephalonia in Greece. Korca young people embraced this novelty of European light music in our country. With the establishment of official cultural associations such as the “Rilindja” or “Korrara Djeruria” club “Lyra” choir, etc. the serenade started to acquire original features. Albanian compositions and love songs began to be created, in addition to patriotic songs. The Korca Serenades underwent a huge development in the 20th century. The serenade is quite simple because it is accompanied by a mandolin or guitar.

Korca serenades, during its nearly 150 years of existence, counts seven generations. Serenades are usually sung on family celebrations, weddings and engagements etc. These romantic songs were usually sung in the city hills, along the cobble stone streets, picnics, cafes, or parks where people could find peace and serenity or below the windows and balconies of loving girls. This beautiful tradition has passed to all generations over the years. If you visit different taverns around the city you will notice that in each of them everyone is singing these lyrical songs.

 

Lira is a renowned musical band of male singers and mandolinata players. Lira came to prominence as an established ensemble of the House of Culture in the mid 1950s. The group took the name from a music society called Lyra, created in 1928. It consisted of self-taught male singers active in the musical life of the city from the early 1900s. The group was directed by a highly trained musician. In 1957, the group counted ten singers and a mandolinata of four (two guitars, two mandolins). In the 1970s, the ensemble had been expanded including more than thirty singers; the mandolinata enlarged in number and in addition to the plucked instruments had been added an accordion, two or three flutes, and at times, a contrabass.

After the 1990s, Lira group preserved its integrity as an ensemble of the House of Culture. Singers use mainly the middle registers of voice; they perform usually in a slow, or moderate slow beat, with controlled voice intensity and have a”relaxed” vocal production. Lira owed popularity and success to performances of Korca serenades. They rehearse nowadays in their studio and continue to make public performances.