rapsodë

Rapsodë is the Albanian term for a traditional epic poet-singer who orally recites, performs, and sometimes improvises epic verse. The word derives from Greek rhapsodos, via Latin rhapsōda, reflecting its historical link to ancient rhapsodes who performed Homeric poems, usually with a lyre.

In Albanian culture, rapsodë are itinerant custodians of oral epic poetry. They travel among villages and towns, performing at weddings, gatherings, and markets. Their repertoire centers on heroic and legendary cycles, including tales about Skanderbeg and other national heroes, as well as local legends. Performances blend fixed verse with improvised narration, and are typically accompanied by traditional instruments such as the lahutë, a single-stringed instrument, or other folk lyres and drums.

The rapsodë tradition was widely documented by folklorists and scholars from the 19th century onward and helped shape modern Albanian literature and national culture. The epic poetry they transmitted influenced later written works, including Gjergj Fishta's Lahuta e Gjergjit. Since the mid-20th century, modernization and urban migration reduced the number of professional rapsodë, though the tradition remains a subject of ethnomusicological study and has seen revival in festivals and diaspora communities.

See also: Rhapsody; Epic poetry; Albanian folklore.