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.