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Georgian polyphony
From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Genre
Georgian polyphony · Around 1100 the Georgian scholar Ioane Petritsi already described three singing voices with names of their own: mzakhri, zhiri and bami. That centuries-old three-part singing is still alive in villages and churches. In eastern Kakheti, two richly ornamented solo voices float above a sustained bass, as in Chakrulo, which went into space in 1977 with the Voyager probes. In western Guria the highest voice, the krimanchuli, yodels above idiosyncratic countermelodies.
Listening
Listening tip. The men's choir Basiani sings Chakrulo, a Kakhetian song about preparing for a battle. Follow the two solo voices: how closely do they grate against each other, while the choir below holds a long bass note?
Chakrulo (live) · Basiani Ensemble, 2020
Mravalzhamieri · Ensemble Rustavi, 2016
Tsintskaro · Hamlet Gonashvili, 1995
See also
Categories: Genres