Georgia - The East

 The largest ethnic minority in Georgia are the Azeris, who make up 6% of the population and are largely concentrated around the Kvemo Kartli region around the city of Rustavi just south of Tbilisi.  Their language and musical traditions are closer to those of Turkey and Iran with the saz (a long-necked lute) a popular instrument played by Aşiq bards travelling the region.  Nargilə Mehtiyeva aka Aşiq Nargilə is the only female bard plying her trade there, although she was born in Tbilisi. Some of her music has been published as an album called Yurt Yeri in 2023  from a rare live performance in the UK.  Here is a live performance of hers on Georgian TV:

The Polyphonic choir Ensemble Rustavi has been going since 1968, playing more traditional Georgian folk.  Here is a song called Ni Gikvars Qalav, which features on their 2016 self-titled album:

Singer and poet Teona Qusiashvili was born in 1984 in Sioni in the Pshav-Khevsureti region of Eastern Georgia. She specialised in the folk songs of her region. Sadly she was killed alongside her 2 sons and sister, plus 3 others in a tragic car accident in 2010 aged only 26, as their car plunged into an icy river on the mountainous roads of her home region.  Her poet husband Gela Daiauri survived the accident.  Here is a song of hers:

The ensemble Zedashe was formed in the mid-1990's in the town of Sighnaghi in the Caucasus Mountains and is one of the few mixed male and female polyphonic choirs in Georgia.  They have produced a lot of material including polyphonic chants, folk songs as well as instrumental dance tunes.  Here is a song from their 2020 album Enduring Fortress called Tamar Kalo sung at the Khornabudji Fortress:

Finally we are heading to the village of Anaga, where 'the voice of Georgia' Hamlet Gonashvili was born in 1928. He also died prematurely in 1985 falling from an apple tree. Way to go!  He was considered one of the best interpreters of songs from the Kartli and Kakheti regions. Here is a song from his 1995 posthumous album Hamlet called Tsintskaro:

That's it from Georgia, next stop is Azerbaijan. As usual, you can follow my virtual journey on my Tripline Map.

Georgia - Tbilisi Part II

 Continuing our exploration of the music of Tbilisi, we are including some more contemporary sounds.  Jazz fusion band The Shin was actually founded in Stuttgart, Germany in 1998, but by Georgian exiles.  They combine jazz with funk, flamenco and a distinct Georgian flavour with some polyphonic singing. Their name actually translates as home or going home rather than having anything to do with the lower part of the leg.  Here is a live version of a track from their 2006 album EgAri called Chips on the Water:

Singer/songwriter and producer Tamada combines Georgian folk with electronic dance music in a rather unusual blend.  His real name is Lasha Chapel, but his pseudonym apparently is the name for a Georgian table host or toast master. He is originally from Tbilisi, but is based in Berlin these days. Here is a song from his 2024 album 9 Deadly Sins For Tamada called Jinit. 

Georgian American singer and guitarist Ilusha Tsinadze was born in Georgia, but emigrated to the USA when he was 8 years old.  Now based in Brooklyn, he combines Georgian folk with American folk idioms, singing in Georgian and accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar and occasionally banjo.  Here is the opening track to his 2019 album Yes & No called Shenma Survilma Damlia:

Folk rock group Mgzavebri we founded in Tbilisi in 2006 by actor Gigi Dedalamazishvili, combining Georgian folk infused with contemporary rock.  After a number of line-up changes the current band consists of 7 members.  Although singing mostly in Georgian, but also in Russian and Ukrainian, they were particularly popular in Russia, but since Russia's invasion of Ukraine they have cancelled all concerts there.   The name of the band means Travellers.  Here's a song from their 2023 album Kamara called Waltz, which they used to accompany a short film on the loss of a loved one:

That's it from Tbilisi for today, next we are going to listen to the music of southern Georgia.  In the meantime you can follow my virtual journey on my Tripline map. 

Georgia - Svanetia and Tbilisi Part I

 Georgia is a small country in Eastern Europe with a long history.  It is known as the cradle of wine-making, which automatically makes it a bucket list country for me, but so far I haven't made it there yet.  There are fewer than 4 million people living here.  Its musical traditions are ancient and are known for the early development of polyphony, which has been declared an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO. 

From our last stop in Turkey, we carry on along the Black Sea shore, before entering Georgia and taking a right turn into the mountains to the region of Svanetia and its capital Mestia.  in this remote region, cut off by snow for much of the year, the Riho Ensemble of Mestia strut their stuff.  As far as I know, they haven't recorded any albums that are available internationally, but there is a 2003 DVD called Riho de Mestia - The Polyphonies of Svanetia, which is still available.  Here is a song and dance performance by them called Shishada gergili:

Just outside Mestia is the small village of Lakhushdi, which calls itself the singing village due to the fact that 11 out of the 17 families sing traditional polyphonies.  So in 2020 3 of the younger inhabitants got together to record an album, namely Ana & Madona Chamgeliani and Levan Bitarovi.  They appropriately called the album from The Singing Village (Lakhushdi) and here is an extended extract from it and other singing whilst showing of some village life in the Svanetian mountains. Incidentally, there seems to be an eco-lodge in the village if you ever feel inclined to get the authentic experience in person.

Some years ago a video went viral of 3 young girls singing in polyphonics accompanied by a pandura (a 3-stringed lute) while walking through a Georgian village scene filming themselves with a selfie-stick.  These girls were the Trio Mandili, who have now become internationally famous, regularly touring around the world and even representing Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest.  The 3 members are actually from different parts of Georgia, but are now based in the capital Tbilisi. Their enthusiasm is infectious and their harmonies impeccable.  Here is the video that launched their career called Apareka, which is also the opening track to their 2015 debut album With Love:

And here is another cute wee video of them featuring a wee donkey:

Composer, singer and pianist Russudan Meipariani was born in Tbilisi in 1975.  Classically trained she combines classical music with minimal music and Georgian polyphonic singing. She is now based in Germany.  In 2024 she collaborated with Tbilisi based male choir Ensemble Anchiskhati to produce an album called Voices & Mountains and this is a track from the album called Aragvi:

In the year 2000 another all-male choir was founded in Tbilisi called the Basiani Ensemble.  They have since been elevated to State Ensemble and perform all over Georgia and internationally bringing traditional Georgian polyphonics to the world.  Here is a live performance of a traditional table song called Chakrulo from their snappily titled 2019 Year Album - Booklet, which unsurprisingly came out in 2019. Spoiler alert: you don't get a booklet if you purchase the album...

All female ensemble Ialoni were established in Tbilisi in 2016.  Their repertoire includes ecclesiastical, folk and city music from Georgia.  Here is a potpourri of city songs from their 2016 album From Sunrise to Sunset:

Finally, another male polyphonic choir, IBERI was founded in 2012 in Tbilisi. The title of their 2022 album Supra translates as feast, which is an activity the Georgians seem to be very fond of.  Apparently, if you buy the CD version it comes with a Georgian cookbook! Here is an orchestral version of a song from the album called Harira (The Person):

That's it for today, next we'll be exploring the more contemporary sounds of Tbilisi, as well as music from the rest of the country.  Meanwhile, as usual, you can follow my virtual ramblings on my Tripline map.