HASAN RIZA PASHA DHE LUFTA PËR MBROJTJEN E SHKODRËS MË 1912 – 1913 SIPAS KËNGËVE POPULLORE SHQIPTARE
HASAN RIZA PASHA AND THE WAR REGARDING DEFENSE OF SHKODRA IN 1912 - 1913 ACCORDING TO ALBANIAN FOLK SONGS

Summary/Abstract: Among lots of songs regarding eminent military and civilian personalities of Ottoman Empire numerically are prevalent those dedicated to Hasan Riza Pasha, a hero of the war for defense of besieged Shkodra by Serbian–Montenegrin armies in 1912. On this interesting figure of Albanian historical epic and general resistance of regular army, voluntary one and the one of people of Shkodra and surroundings, in Albanian folkloric editions are published by now more then 50 songs. According to folkloric matter the geography of the songs on Shkodra in war against Serbian and Montenegrin occupants cover almost two thirds of entire Albanian cultural expansion. They have broad extension in lots of zones of Kosova, among Albanians of Macedonia and Montenegro, then in provinces of Northern Albania, going toward South to Durrës, Tirana and Elbasan, and in some cases even Fier, among Kosovan emigrants.[...] Fifty songs, considered during composition of this paper, testify that historic songs on the war of Shkodra as poetic texts have a unique determined structure. Within poetic tradition of folk songs in North those do pertain to characteristic group of songs without extended epic narration. As such they present synthesis of evaluation of historical circumstances with highlighted emotional sensitivity, in which are intertwined the tragic and the historic. Except for grand figures of Hasan Riza Pasha and Esat Pasha, other heroes of these songs with their deeds are not presented as emphatic individuals, but are embodying collectiveness of the factor called people, by being identified as inhabitants of particular localities.Songs represent their famous Turkish commandant Hasan Riza Pasha with peculiar sympathy, as a legendary hero of this war, who is martyred for interests of Albania. In them is presented the origin of the hero, ignorant of exact birthplace. In the largest part of these songs parallel to presentation of hard life, without minimal living conditions, for army and people in surrounded city, appear very clearly hero’s preoccupations, of legendary commandant and Vali of Shkodra, Hasan Riza Pasha, which from the moment of receiving the news on attack of Montenegrins will express readiness to sacrifice himself for Shkodra claiming that it “is our fate or grave, but not shame”. In some of recorded songs in different zones of Kosova and among Albanians of Macedonia is expressed sympathy toward Turkey and sultan, what is comprehensive considering influence of historical factors and circumstances of new enslavement, much more fatal, under Serbian Montenegrin occupation of these areas, in the period when songs gained their poetic configuration. [...]

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