TIRANA, January 30 – Tish Daija was born on January 30, 1926, and passed away in 2003. He was a composer, People’s Artist, academic, and an external member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosova.

Born in Shkodër, Daija developed an early connection with music, singing in the Franciscan choir at the age of six before joining Prenk Jakova’s wind orchestra. He later completed higher studies in composition at the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow between 1951 and 1956. After returning to Albania, he worked at the Ministry of Education and Culture and served as artistic director of the State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances from 1962 to 1980.

His early creative output included folk-style songs influenced by Shkodër’s urban musical tradition, such as “Çike, o mori çike” (Girl, oh dear girl) and “Me lule t’bukra” (With beautiful flowers).

In the second half of the 1950s, his work entered a fully professional phase, marked by instrumental and orchestral compositions including the “First String Quartet” (1955) and the orchestral suite “Një ditë pikniku” (A picnic day). With the operetta “Lejlaja” (Violette) in 1957 and the opera “Pranvera” (The Spring) in 1960, he ranked among the first Albanian composers to develop these stage genres. His ballet “Halili dhe Hajrija” *(Halil and Hajrija)*, premiered in 1962, became the first Albanian ballet.

Daija composed in nearly all musical forms and genres, including film music, and stood out as one of the most original voices in Albanian song. His work reflected a modern and emancipating spirit for its time, expressed clearly in songs such as “Erë pranverore” (Spring breeze) and “Natën vonë” (Late at night).

Together with Çesk Zadeja, he also established the composition class at the State Conservatory of Tirana.

/a.p./