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70 years ago, the song "When the leaves fall" was recorded: With the singer Rudolf Stambolla, the first of modern Albanian music

70 years ago, the song "When the leaves fall" was recorded: With the singer Rudolf Stambolla, the first of modern Albanian music
Photo: Agron Shala

It started in the 19th century and culminated in the middle of the 20th century. We are talking about the genre of music known as "Light Music" - perhaps easy to listen to and enjoy, but not so easy to create when you know that Mozart and Haydn also composed such themes. . In the 20th century, this term will be synonymous with pop (popular) music - that which will take place on radio and television broadcasts.

We find the elements of light music among Albanians in the 20s-30s of the last century, but it took shape after the Second World War, with some young people raised and educated with the currents of modern music of that time. The first singer who cultivated this genre at this time is Rudolf Stambolla from Shkodra.

He was born in 1931 in Tirana. His parents moved from Shkodra to Tirana, before Rudolf Stambolla was born. His return for a few years to Shkodër, in 1940, will change the flow of Albanian music. In this city, in 1941, as a ten-year-old, he committed himself to singing Pjetër Gjin's satirical song, "Kënga e Salepi".


"That was the first time I was challenged by music. Until then, I didn't think I could sing", says Stambolla, whose career also extended for a short time as an actor in the theater.

In 1943 he returns to Tirana, while in 1946 he will be part of the group "Havajana", the first Albanian light music group. Members of this group were all musicians named: Njac Guralumi (double bass), Medi Prodani (guitar), Mustafa Zymeri (clarinet and saxophone) and the great Albanian composer of light music, Agim Prodani (accordion).

70 years ago, in 1948, one of the most beautiful Albanian songs, "When the leaves fall in autumn", was recorded with the rhythms of tango. With this unforgettable song, it can be said that Albanian light music started. The song was composed by Leonard Deda (who, among other things, composed the song "When the sun goes down"). The text was written by Odhise Grillo, later known as one of the greatest Albanian writers for children. Meanwhile, it was interpreted by Rudolf Stambolla.

But Istanbul's active career, which began in 1946, would not last long. In 1963, he participated in the second edition of the RTSH Festival. There he sings the song "For love I will sing", and leaves the music.

"At that time, Albanians had more and more singers. I felt that I should not continue," he says, adding that he did not stop working as a technician for telephone exchanges at the PTT (Post Telegraph Telephone) Plant, where he had been employed since the opening of this sector in 1954.

Other composers with whom he collaborated are Abdulla Grimci, Vath Çangu, Tasim Hoshafi... The first two were the initiators of the RTSH Festival.

Until 1963, when his musical career ended, Stambolla recorded 35 songs, such as: "A night at sea", "Butterfly" (duet with Anita Taken, Agim Prodan's wife), "Do you remember", "Again you got close to me", "Sing my guitar"...

Most of his songs were recorded in Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Russia. These songs were also liked by foreigners, and proof of this is the letter of praise that the great Russian actress, Tatiana Samoilova, wrote to Rudolf Istanbul.

This great name of Albanian music, and his valuable songs, was brought back to memory, more than anyone else, by the director Iris Elezi with her film "Bota" - the soundtrack of which film contained the songs of Rudolf Stambolla. Unfortunately, although his songs are heard and sung, very little is known about this name. Because Albanians, wherever they are, did not give due honor and respect to this colossus of Albanian light music. /Telegraph/