The ##88 V. Sarajishvili Tbilisi State From the editors Conservatoire The news World recognition of a International Georgian Ethnomusicologist One Georgian folk Research Ensemble. Ensemble “Jvaruli” Center for Foreign Performers of Georgian Folk Song. Ensemble “Maspindzeli” Traditional from Britain Foreigners on Georgian Folk Polyphony Music. Interview with Polo Vallejo Polyphony of other B U L L E T I N countries. Zhanna Partlas. Multi-part singing in Estonia The Centers of Georgian Science and Culture. Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology Beneficents of Georgian Folk Song. Levan Abashidze Folk Song in everyday life. eorgian Round Dances The History of one song. Dala Kojas khelghvazhale Tbilisi. June, 2010 1 Editors: Rusudan Tsurtsumia Maka Khardziani Translator: Maia kachkachishvili Computer services: Maka Khardziani ISSN (online) 1512-2883 eISSN 2346-7614 The V. Sarajishvili Tbilisi State Conservatoire, 8/10, Griboedov Str., Tbilisi, 0108 Georgia Tel. (+995 32) 299-89-53 Fax (+995 32) 298-71-87 Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.polyphony.ge 2 Introduction This is volume 1 of the online Bulletin of the Swiss Agency for Development and the International Research Center for Cooperation. Ttraditional Polyphony. It is the heir of Another noteworthy event was the the Center’s printed Bulletin and is completion of the project “Echoes from the enumerated as #1 (8). Past” with the assistance of the Vienna Two years have passed since the Center’s Phonogrammarchiv of Austrian Academy of last bulletin #7 was published. The Bulletin Sciences. 16 CDs of the unique examples was established in 2004 as part of UNESCO recorded on wax cylinders in 1923-1952 in project “Safeguarding and Promotion of various parts of Georgia were released in Georgian Traditional Polyphony” and aimed 2007-2009. These will help the practitioner- to satisfy the growing interest to Georgian performers of Georgian song and folk traditional polyphony in the world. The ensembles to enrich their repertoire with bilingual Bulletin was published semi lesser known folk examples. The project was annually and wrote about folk concert life in realized thanks to the assistance of Dr. Georgia, the news in Georgian ethnomu- Friedrich Schuller Director of Vienna sicology and about renowned scholars, song Phonogramarchiv, Franz Lechleitner Pho- masters and performers, as well as about nogrammarchiv’s audio engineer and Nona field expeditions, also included interviews Lomidze our colleague residing in Vienna. An exceptional event both for the Center with the masters of folk polyphony, etc. th The Bulletin was the only periodical of and Georgia in general was the 4 this type in Georgia. International Symposium on Traditional The main reason why the Bulletin was Polyphony held on 15-19 September, 2008, a stopped is the difficulty in raising funds for month after the Russo-Georgian war its publication and distribution. (August, 2008). The arrival of our But as the time passed the necessity of colleagues: Simha Arom (France), Polo such issue became more and more obvious; Vallejo (Spain), Taida Lange (Latvia), we decided to prepare its semi-annual online Zhanna Partlas (Estonia), Daiva Raciunaite version, for the updated web site of the (Lithuania), Moya Simpson and John Shortis Center allows so. (Australia), Franz Foedermayr (Austria), But internet is still unavailable for many Dieter Christensen (USA/Germany), Mar- people in various parts of Georgia, including gery Bray (UK), Ursa Sivic (Slovenai). John those interested in traditional music; so we Graham (USA) in Tbilisi as symposium are planning to prepare a small amount of participants was the expression of support to printed version to be distributed in various the Georgians, for which we are very regions of Georgia. grateful. Since the publication of the last volume In October, 2008, Tamaz Gabisonia - the the Center has realized a number of employee of the Center presented his paper International projects; for this we would like “The Terminological Priorities of Georgian to express our deep gratitude to all, who Traditional Polyphony” at the Scientific assisted us. In order to fill up the two-year Conference organized by the Research gap volume 1 of the online bulletin will write Centre for European Multipart Music in about some of the projects realized by the Vienna. Center during this time. Mention should be made of a pre- The first significant project was the liminarily unplanned project in which The updating of the Center’s web site Georgian patriarchy and The International www.polyphony.ge with the assistance of Centre for Georgian Folk Song take part together with Tbilisi State Conservatoire. 3 Nino Razmadze – a third year student of music is presented in “Folk Song in Eve- Ethnomusicology Department who became ryday Life”, and History of one song tells interested in the songs recorded by the about Dala Kojas Khelghvazhle and presents French ethnomusicologist Yvette Grimaud - its notated variant. In short we did our best to in Georgia in 1969. Razmadze contacted the make the new bulletin as interesting and di- scholar via a French friend Zoe Perret. Mrs. verse as we could. Grimaud expressed her good will and In conclusion I would like to ask you to transferred her entire archive of Georgian share your opinions about the format of our materials (350 songs recorded in all parts of online bulletin and the information you Georgia and works on Georgian folk music, would like to see on its pages. including manuscripts) to the possession of Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Currently the Rusudan Tsurtsumia materials are being prepared for publication. This will be met with surprise and joy, as it is connected with the return of folk treasure to Georgia. Another international project: with the The news support of Carl Orff Foundation (Austria) Prof. Polo Vallejo (Spain) – a renowned specialist in African polyphony delivered The news in the creative activity lectures for the Tbilisi State Conservatoire of Tbilisi folk ensembles during students on 22-26 March, 2010. the past year You can familiarize with all 7 volumes of the printed version of the Center’s bulletin. 30.04.09 Anchiskhati Church Choir per- We suggest the following headlines in the formed a solo concert entitled “Mraval- online bulletin: “The news” - about the zhamier” at the Grand Hall of Tbilisi State events in Georgia’s folk life during the past Conservatoire. year, including the information on the artistic life of folk ensembles from Tbilisi (concerts, 2009 Ensemble “Mtiebi” released a video concert tours, compact discs, etc), festivals, disc (V) “Georgian Wedding” performed by scientific conferences, concerts and news in “Mtiebi” at the Grand Hall of Rustaveli State folk studies. In future we will do our best to Academic Theatre on 23 February, 2009. follow the processes taking place in Georgia’s folk life and provide the infor- May, 2009 Ensemble “Jvaruli” released their mation every 6 months. “One Georgian Folk first compact disc. Ensemble” tells about male folk choir “Jva- ruli” from Khevi, and “Foreign performers May, 2009 Ensemble “Basiani” released the- of Georgian Folk Song” familiarizes with ir 4 th compact disc. ensemble “Maspindzeli” from UK. “Multi- part Singing Abroad” presents Estonian folk June, 2009 ensemble “Shavnabada” (Dir. music, in the interview with Polo Vallejo – a Davit Tsintsadze) was invited to France to Spanish composer and ethnomusicologist, perform in solo concerts and hold work- tells about his attitude to Georgian folk mu- shops. sic. “The beneficent of Georgian Folk Mu- sic” tells about ensemble “Tsinandali” and 25.06.09 Joint concert of ensembles its leader Levan Abashidze (1957-2009). “Didgori” and “Sakhioba” (Dir. Malkhaz “Centers of Georgian Culture and Science” Erkvanidze) was held at the Grand Hall of writes about Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of Tbilsi State Conservatoire History and Ethnology. Round dance - one of the most ancient layers of Georgian folk 4 20-27.05.09 Ensemble “Mzetamze” parti- October 9 Village of Sarpi cipated in the Festival “Caucasian and Bal- October 13 Solo concert at the Hall of Rus- kan Women for Peace” in Holland. tavi Art School. June, 2009 Ensemble “Keria” was created 28.10.09 Ensemble “Basiani” gave a solo (Dir. Tamaz Gabisonia). concert in Zugdidi. 17-30.06.09 Ensemble “Basiani” was on a 30.11.09 Presentation of Gigi Garakanidze’s concert tour on Madeira Island, England and monograph “Georgian Ethnomusic Theatre Holland. and Its Very First Days” was held at Mikheil Tumanishvili Cinema Actors Theatre. 8.07.09 Presentation of the compact disc of the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble (Dir. Nato November-December, 2009 – January, Zumbadze) was held at the Grand hall of the 2010 ensemble “Shavnabada” took part in Conservatoire. the Festival “Chveneburebi” in England, Georgia and Switzerland. July, 2009 women’s folk ensembles “Na- nina” (Dir. Teah Kasaburi) and men’s folk 13-17.11.09 Ensemble “Sakhioba” partici- ensemble from Khevi “Jvaruli” (Dir. Nana pated in the International Chant Festival in Valishvili) took part in International Festival Kiev. of Bourdone Polyphony “Baltica 2009” was held in Riga the capital city of Latvia, in November, 2009 Ensemble “Keria” par- which participated. ticipated in the concert dedicated to the art of Josef Ratil at the Czech Embassy in Tbilisi. July, 2009 Ensemble “Tutarchela” partici- pated in Lörrach "Voices - International 13-14.11.09 Concert dedicated to the 40 th Festival" (Germany). anniversary of Ensemble “Rustavi” was held at Tbilsi Grand Concert Hall, followed by 21-26.07.09 Folk groups from Tbilisi the opening of the ensemble’s star. “Keria”, “Akhalukhlebi”, “Nanina”, “Jva- ruli” and “Chveneburebi” performed toge- November, 2009 Anzor Erkomaishvili ther with regional folk ensembles at “Art- published the books: “Georgian Folk song. Geni” Folk Festival. Ensemble “Rustavi”, “Georgian Folk song (First Audio Recordings 1904-1914) and August, 2009 Ensemble “Tutarchela” parti- “Georgian Phonogram Recordings Abroad” cipated in the Choral Featival of Arhavi (catalogue, 1901-1950).