Mark Luli, 68, from the Albanian capital of Tirana, has created a collection of 128 pieces of traditional instruments that he has been collecting for more than 40 years.
Composer, Albanian folklore researcher and musicologist Luli’s collection includes 128 instruments used by Albanians for centuries, some of which are made of wood, brass, leather, bone, reed and animal horn.
Although some of the instruments are not active today, some are produced by Albanian craftsmen and used in various events.
Traditional Albanian instruments have accompanied family ceremonies, weddings and holidays for centuries and are an integral part of culture and art.
Luli told AA in his studio surrounded by the instruments that make up his collection that he collected the instruments from regions where Albanians live and Albanian is spoken.
Explaining that he has been collecting instruments for over 40 years, Luli said, “I have been to all the villages in Albania, there may be villages I have visited more than 10 times. Apart from these, I have also gone and collected from Montenegro to Kosovo, from North Macedonia to Patra, Preveza and Ioannina.”
“Passion drives you to research, explore and work”
Luli, who stated that the oldest instrument in his collection was made of animal horn, said that Austrian researchers determined that this instrument, found in the Mat River in Albania, had been used for more than 400 years.
Luli, who pointed out that his collection is the most complete and largest in the Balkans in this respect, said, “There are exactly 128 instruments in the collection. All the instruments used in the Albanian-speaking regions are here.”
Luli said that the approximately 300-year-old instrument, which Albanians call “lahut” and is also known as “gusle”, is one of the special pieces in his collection.
Luli, who said that he bought most of his instruments with the passion to create a collection, shared the information, “Passion leads you to research, discover and work. Generally, there is a lot of wealth in the north of Albania, there are many instruments. In the north, there are bagpipes, drums, zurna, kaval, duduk, çifteli. In the south, there are fewer instruments, kaval, double-pipe zurna and tambourine.”
Luli, who explained that he carried out the maintenance of the instruments himself with original elements, said that he made publications and studies by paying attention to the descriptions, origins, features and ages of the instruments.
Luli added that he will continue collecting traditional Albanian instruments.
