ABGEO International: Hello Folk World

Hi there,

this is my first Folk Post. I am just starting blogging about my favorite hobby, not only hobby but my style of life, Folklore. I don't have academic knowledge of Folklore, but I have experience of many years. I want to start my blogging with videos and photos, what I have seen, recorded, and made while traveling in all parts of Georgia.

Eastern part of Georgia, Kakheti is famous with wine fields and lot of traditional Georgian brand wine, like: Nafareuli, Mukuzani, Manavis Mcvane, Khirsa, Tibaani and many other's more then 50 of deferent name and sort. Kakhetians have lot of Supra Songs because of love of wine culture. ("Supra"- this is Georgian kind of Party, people siting and telling toasts and drinking wine, singing, dancing, joking...). Thematic of songs are very different. Most of them are philosophical, like Song "Beri Kaci var" ("I am the older man"). This song educates youth to respect older people and their experience.

In this video above soloists are Solomon Gogashvili (Second Voice) and Andro Simashvili (First Voice). Solomon, who is younger one in video, is singing in Ensemble Chveneburebi. Andro papa is Legend of Kakhetian songs. He is 88 years old and knows lot of Kakhetian Songs. He used to be leader and teacher of ensemble in his village Artana. Nowadays he is teaching Alaverdi Church singers group ("Alaverdis Mgalobelta Gundi").

In Kakheti usually there are three voice songs: First Voice (GE: Pirveli Khma), Second (Medium) Voice (GE: Meore Khma) and third (Bass) Voice (GE: Bani).

Bani - Bass: Kakhetian songs are based on bass, it is not very difficult, doesn't have many movements, but very important, song not to go high or go down, "to do soloist there job good". Bani is giving the power to songs.

First Voice and Second Voice - are Tenors. They are high voices, but First Voice is higher voice (in some songs Soloists of Second voice are going higher and higher and sometimes getting above First Voices, like in song "Zamtario"). Second Voices are much more free, because they are medium and singing in the middle of first voice and bass.

Another song I want you to listen is "Kakhetian Alilo" (Christmas Song) sang by Grandpeople in one concert which took part in Conservatory of Georgia in 2006, they are living in Village Vazis Ubani in Kakheti, Gurjaani District.