Spiro Shetuni

Spiro J. Shetuni--born on May 16, 1949, in Librazhd, Albania--is a professor and academic librarian at Winthrop University, Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA; an Albanian-American scholar, pedagogue, ethnomusicologist, and musicologist of Arumanian nationality; Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the field of music; author of academic books, studies, and articles on Albanian traditional and professional music.[1] [2]

Life

After completing his undergraduate studies at the former Higher Institute of Arts of Albania (today the University of Arts) (1970-4), Shetuni was appointed as a Pedagogue of the subject matter Albanian Traditional Music: An Introduction, at the same institution (1974-5). For purely political reasons, unfortunately, this appointment was abolished after one year! Politically persecuted, Shetuni was sent to work away from his specialty, as a Cultural Organizer in the Sinanaj village of the remote ethnographic zone of Lopës (Tepelenë, Albania) (1975-8). A zealous ethnomusicologist, inspired by his role model in life, the great Hungarian composer, ethnomusicologist, and pianist, Béla Bartók (1881-1945), here he did extensive systematic research on the history, life, and culture of the inhabitants of the province of Labëria in general as well as on their traditional music in particular. He began working as a Conductor of Labor Centers at the Cultural House “Mustafa Matohiti” in the city of Tepelena (Albania) (1978-81). On the recommendation of Prof. Dr. Alfred M. Uçi (1930-2016), he was appointed as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Popular Culture of the Academy of Sciences of Albania (1981-92). He received the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in the field of music with the academic book titled Lab Polyphony (1988). In 1992, as a Fulbright scholar, Shetuni left Albania to live in the United States. He, initially, did research on the urban traditional music of Albania at the University of California Los Angeles (Los Angeles, California, USA) (1992-3). Later, for many years, he taught two music courses at the Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio, USA), as follows: i) The Art of Music: An Introduction; ii) Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World’s Peoples (1993-2000). In the years following, he worked at three major American universities: Prairie View A&M University of Texas (Prairie View, Texas, USA) (2000-1); University of Miami (Coral Gables, Florida, USA) (2001-6); Winthrop University (Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA) (2007-).

Work

"Shetuni’s Albanian Traditional Music is an important study that presents the diversity of Albania’s traditional music. The work pursues an analytical approach to musical texture and interpretative issues of Albanian or multi-part traditional music"[3], "giving a deep view of the aesthetic-social and structural-formal aspects of the traditional Albanian music universe."[4] "Shetuni on polyphony deals with the many complex aspects of Albanian traditional culture.”[5] “The academic musical anthology, Lab Multi-Voice Songs is worthwhile for those who wish to get familiar with the musical traditions as the dialectical process of cultural development of Albania.”[6] "By arranging Albanian music along ethnographical regional lines and classifying the various styles and sub-genres, Shetuni lays down a comprehensive yet understandable template to parse differences between dialects and sub-dialects of music in a certain region. No other book or article in English comes close to capturing the nuances of traditional Albanian music.”[7] “The six-book series, Albanian Traditional Music is a multi-dimensional work”[8] "of the Albanian ethno-musical heritage treating aesthetic aspects of the traditional music of the different geographic areas of Albania, focusing on two main dialects: Tosk and Gheg”[9], "and reframing the view of Albanian traditional music without the selective lens of communism."[10] "Lab Polyphony provides a vivid example of how traditional music can be studied according to ethnographic provinces and other pathways that may be profitably followed by scholars.”[11]

Selected Works

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2018. Albanian Ethnomusicology: Theory and Metodology. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: CreateSpace.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2016. Albanian Traditional Music: The Mode of Existence. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc. .

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2016. Arumanian Traditional Music: An Introduction. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2016. My Life: To Be, Or Not To Be, An Arumanian. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2015. Lopësi: The Musical Culture. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2015. My people: The Arumanians. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc. [A six-part academic series.]

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2015. My Village: “Andon Poçi.” Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2014. Albanian Professional Music: Phenomena of the Twentieth Century. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2014. Albanian Traditional Music: The Historical Continuity. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Spiro J. Shetuni. 2013. Albanian Traditional Music: Lab Music. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2013. Albanian Traditional Music: Urban Music. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2012. Albanian Traditional Music: An Introduction. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2012. Albanian Traditional Music: Gheg Music. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Prss, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2012. Albanian Traditional Music: Tosk Music. Denver, Colorado: Outskirts Press, Inc.

Shetuni, Spiro J. 2011. Albanian Traditional Music: An Introduction, with Sheet Music and Lyrics for 48 Songs. Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers

Shetuni, Spiro J. 1989. Lab Polyphony. Tirana, Albania: Institute of Popular Culture.

Personal Life

Shetuni is married to Mrs. Lulieta J. Shetuni (Kokalari) (1955-). Their wedding ceremony took place on May 3, 1981, in the village of “Andon Poçi” (Gjirokastra, Albania). Mrs. Shetuni was born in the city of Gjirokastra. At the age of 13, she left with her family to the Gramsh City (Albania). After completing the gymnasium in this city, she continued her studies in construction engineering at the State University of Tirana (Albania) (1974-9). Shetuni couple's marriage brought to life two sons: Brandon B. Shetuni (1981) and George I. Shetuni (1983).

References

1.^ Shupo, Sokol, compiler. 2002. “Shetuni, Spiro J.” The Encyclopedia of Albanian Music, Volume One: 263-5. Tirana, Albania: ASMUS.

2. ^ Tole, Vasil S., compiler. 2001. “Shetuni, Spiro J.” Encyclopedia of Albanian Folk Music:251-2. Tirana, Albania: ILAR.

3. ^ Bejtullahu, Alma. 2012. “Shetuni, Spiro J., Albanian Traditional Music: An Introduction, with Sheet Music and Lyrics for 48 Songs.” Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Fontes Artis Musicae (Journal of IAML: International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres), Vol. 59, Issue 4:393-4.

4. ^ Bogdani, Ramazan H. 2014. “A Monumental Work of Albanian Ethnomusicology: The Six-book Academic Series, Albanian Traditional Music, by Dr. Spiro J. Shetuni.” Illyria: The Albanian-American Newspaper (New York, USA), November 25:1.

5. ^ Çaushi, Fitim. 2016. “The Vlach Maestro of Polyphony.” Dita (Tirana, Albania), December 4.

6. ^ Kalemi, Spiro. 1986. [“Shetuni, Spiro J., Agron Xhagolli, Këngë polifonike labe.”] “Innovations and values of a publication: Notes on books.” Drita (Tirana, Albania), November 23:7.

7. ^ King, Christopher C. 2013. “Shetuni, Spiro J., Albanian Traditional Music: An Introduction, with Sheet Music and Lyrics for 48 Songs.” Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ARSC Journal (Association for Recorded Sound Collections), September 22, Vol. 44, Issue 2:262-3.

8. ^ Loli, Kosta. 2014. “A Fundamental Work of Albanian Ethnomusicology: The Six-book Academic Series, Albanian Traditional Music, by Dr. Spiro J. Shetuni.” Illyria: The Albanian-American Newspaper (New York, USA), June 5:1.

9. ^ Munishi, Visar. 2013. “The Contribution of Spiro J. Shetuni in Albanian Ethnomusicology.” Illyria: The Albanian-American Newspaper (New York, USA), November 28- December 5:115.

10. ^ Schwartz, Carolyn M., 2014. “Shetuni, Spiro J. Albanian Traditional Music: An Introduction, with Sheet Music and Lyricis for 48 Songs.” Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Music Reference Services Quarterly, Vol. 17, Issue 4:265-6.

11.^ Zadeja, Çesk. 1990. [ “Shetuni, Spiro J., Polifonia labe.”] “A Deserving Work of Our Ethnomusicology.” Drita (Tirana, Albania), August 5:7.

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