Avni Mula (4 January 1928 in

Gjakova Gjakova or Đakovica, ) and Đakovica ( sr-Cyrl, Ђаковица, ) is the sixth largest city of Kosovo and seat of the Gjakova Municipality and the District of Gjakova, Gjakova District. According to the 2024 census, the municipality of Gjakov ...

– 29 October 2020 in

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

) was an Albanian singer and composer. For his contribution to the arts, he received two of the highest awards from the Albanian government: the

People's Artist of Albania The People's Artist () was an honorary title for outstanding art performers of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts (theatre, music, Film, cinema and art). I ...

decoration and the Honor of the Nation () decoration.

Personal life

Mula's family moved from

, Kosova to

Shkodër Shkodër ( , ; sq-definite, Shkodra; historically known as Scodra or Scutari) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, fifth-most-populous city of Albania and the seat of Shkodër County and Shkodër Municipality. Shkodër has been List of o ...

, Albania, when he was young, and after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he moved to

, Albania. He studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory and graduated in 1957 as a lyric singer. While studying in Moscow, he married Nina Mula (23 November 1931–12 December 2011), a Russian woman from

Izhevsk Izhevsk or Ijevsk (, ; , or ) is the capital city of Udmurtia, Russia. It is situated along the Izh River, west of the Ural Mountains in Eastern Europe. It is the 21st-largest city in Russia, and the most populous in Udmurtia, with over 600,000 ...

. He is the father of

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...

Inva Mula.

Career

Singing

Mula was part of the National Troupe of Songs and Dances () and the Troupe of the Army (). In addition, he won many prizes over his career as a composer and singer in the

Festivali i Këngës (; ), commonly known as and also referred to as simply FiK or Fest, is an annual music competition in Albania organised by the national broadcaster (RTSH). Broadcast every year since its inauguration in 1962, the festival has determined th ...

(Albanian Festival of Song), which is held every year in Tirana. Mula was a

baritone A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...

Composition

Mula composed many songs over the span of his career. Some of the most famous are: * "Nënë Moj Do Pres Gërshetin" (Mother, I'll cut Off My Braid), which won first prize in the 1976 Festival and was interpreted by

Vaçe Zela Vaçe Zela (; 7 April 19396 February 2014) was an Albanian singer and songwriter. She was a leading figure in the music industry and is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century in Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia. ...

. * "Këngët e atdheut tim" (Songs of My Country) * "Valsi i Lumturisë" (The Waltz of Happiness). * "Një Djep Në Barrikadë" (A Cradle on the Barricade), sung by Marina Grabovari. The song won first prize in the 1982 Festival. Mula also wrote an opera, ''Nënë Shqipëri'' (Mother Albania) and two compositions for the films ''Lume Drite'' (River of Light) and ''Karnavalet'' (Carnivals).

Festival jury

In 1998, Mula, head of the jury of the

, declared Albërie Hadërgjonaj's song "Mirësia Dhe e Vërteta" the winner, making Hadërgjonaj the first

Kosovar-Albanian The Albanians of Kosovo (, ), also commonly called Kosovo Albanians, Kosovan Albanians or Kosovars (), constitute the largest ethnic group in Kosovo. Kosovo Albanians belong to the Albanians, ethnic Albanian sub-group of Ghegs, who inhabit the ...

singer to ever win the festival.

Awards and recognition

Mula received two of the highest awards from the Albanian government: the

decoration and the Honor of the Nation () decoration.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mula, Avni 1928 births 2020 deaths Musicians from Gjakova Kosovo Albanians Albanian composers 20th-century Albanian male singers Albanian opera composers People's Artists of Albania Male classical composers Musicians from Shkodër Musicians from Tirana Yugoslav emigrants to Albania Festivali i Këngës winners