Marie Logoreci - Early Life

Early Life

Marie was born in Shkodër, Albania. Her father, Palok Çurçija, was a craftsman and her mother, Roza, was a housewife. Marie was very early introduced to home financial difficulties and to social dramas of the time also reflected in her family as well. Since her childhood Marie was called with the lulling nickname Tush. She was a good child, chubby and very friendly with her peers. Tush was growing up and soon was enrolled at Stigmatine Sisters School of Shkodër, a girls school where religious classes were part of the school program.

Later on Marie Logoreci joined the gymnasium. She was gifted at drawing and singing. During her singing she started to accompany herself a mandolin or a guitar. She seemed to have liked much less math and religious teachings. 20 drawings have survived from her; they are witness of a mild and delicate spirit by showing a fine capture of the object, an observant eye, and a harmony in colors and precision. She also learned Italian and Montenegrin as a child.

What mostly traced her soul were the popular narrations, legends and epic songs of the Northern Albania that she heard in the family. Her knowledge of the Albanian folklore and ethnography was soon to be her new passion.

When Maria was 17 she moved permanently to Tirana: there she got married with Kol Logoreci, an economist who then had just comme back from his studies in Vienna. There he also had attended, for almost five years with the Friends of Music, lessons on violin. Kol had an excellent career as the Chief of State Budget Department. He was also a recipient of the high title then Knight of Scanderbeg Order. Kol was the son of Mati Logoreci himself a very distinguished teacher and linguist, a man of social reputation at his time. He was a descendant of Logoreci family, whose name dates from the years 1300 with the name Logoreseos.