The unique traditions of Georgian polyphony appeared in the pre-Christian times, though in the early medieval age they became a part of the church ritual. The Anchiskhati Choir has found and explored the antique songs and anthems, which extolled the Easter, the X-mas and some harvesting celebrations and recorded fulfilling them with an extraordinary fullness and spirituality
The members of the coir Anchiskhati which was founded in 1987 originated from different regions of Georgia and absorbed all the fathers’ and grandfathers’ musical traditions. From the very beginning the musicians were interested in the folk songs. Though a year after foundation of the choir the most ancient church of Tbilisi Anchiskhati was re-opened after the years of neglect. The musicians were invited to sing there during the religious services. Since that time every Sunday one has been able to listen to them in Anchiskhati, where the name of the choir came from. Today “Anchiskhati” is the most well-known Georgian church choir and one of the most popular folk choirs in the world. It gives a lot of performances in Georgia and other countries like Greece, Russia, Austria, Germany, Poland and France. “Anchiskhati” still conducts its ethnographic expeditions to the various regions of Georgia. The choir has realized a few CDs and audio-recordings and published seven books about the Georgian church music and two ones about the folk music.
The unique traditions of Georgian polyphony appeared in the pre-Christian times, though in the early medieval age they became a part of the church ritual. The choir singing prospered in the remote highland monasteries. The Anchiskhati Choir has found and explored the antique songs and anthems, which extolled the Easter, the X-mas and some harvesting celebrations and recorded fulfilling them with an extraordinary fullness and spirituality.
The temporal songs celebrate the every aspect of the countryside life like hunting, feast, courting, wedding, lulling a child and funerals. As these songs should be performed in an unusual and very precise manner it is necessary that the performers know the unusual vocal techniques such as a yodel similar crimanchuli from the Western Georgia.
Official site: www.anchiskhati.org