Paulin Pali

A renown creator and performer of folk music characteristic of Shkodra but also of Tirana, Elbasan, Gjakova etc. Author of many folk songs such as “Ti më je si një gonxhe”, “Cile zemrën plot kujtime”, “Drandifiles së bukur”, “Ja na erdhi sot pranvera” etj. He gave distinct contribution while leading the musical formation “The Orchestra of Shkodra Folk Songs”, in which he played folk music for more than 10 years on Radio Tirana. This formation formed at the end of the 1930s, at the same time as the “Radio Folk Orchestra”. The formation included folk musicians with instruments and virtuoso singers from Shkodara such as Zef Gruda-clarinet, Ahmet Abdyli-violin, Kel Sata-singer, Pjetër Nikolla-guitar, Paulin Pali-braç who continued their activity in this formation to the end of the 1950s. The formation played folk music live on Radio Tirana. Their musical registrations included folk instrumental pieces, jare-s, lyrical urban songs etc. These registrations can be found in the phonotheque of Radio Tirana. According to Sata, the group was also a laboratory where authored songs and cultivated urban songs were created and played. 

According to composer Tish Daija:…Radio Tirana and folk composer Paulin Pali were finding and engaging new singers. Renown singer Luçie Miloti started to register her music with this formation in the beginning of her career. This was the case with many other new singers starting from 1945, such as Bik Ndoja, Hajrie Harapi, Sanie Shaqiri-Pali, Drita Papajani, Bajram Spahiu, Naile Hoxha etc. Popular singer of Shkodra entertainment, Bik Ndoja (1925-2015), would say: where are you, Paulin Pali, your fame never to be erased”! According to prof. Spiro Kalemi: … Paulin Pali remained the undisputable representative of urban folk music in its final stage. Tirana folk music was also part of the musical registrations this formation did.

“VALLJA E ZYLEVE”, by Paulin Pali – YouTube