Art Music in Kosovo During the Political, Social, and Cultural Crisis of the 1990s

Abstract

This article examines the development of art music in Kosovo during the 1990s, a decade characterized by political conflict, nationalist contestation, and profound social and cultural upheaval within southeastern Europe. Against the backdrop of repression and armed conflict, I explore how Kosovo’s art music scene navigated and responded to the challenges posed by political instability and cultural marginalization. My analysis is grounded in two interrelated premises: first, that cultural resistance was expressed through alternative educational and cultural initiatives, developed as strategies to preserve identity and continuity under repressive conditions; and second, that nationalism was articulated through artistic creativity across diverse forms, functioning as strategic vehicles for asserting collective identity. This study considers the adaptive strategies and transformations of artistic practices, situating them within broader discourses of nation-building, identity formation, and cultural resistance during a period of crisis that reshaped the sociopolitical landscape of the Balkans. By highlighting these dynamics, it contributes to a deeper understanding of cultural and artistic survival during one of the most challenging and least documented periods in the music history of Kosovo.