G E O R G I A N H A R M O N Y A S S O C I A T I O N - UK
home - about - news - events - cds/books - resources - links
RESOURCE PAGE - Choirs and other Georgian Groups
ENGLAND from SOUTH to NORTH
NB For '[at]' read '@' in email
addresses (this is to prevent spamming).
Clicking on a link will open an email window to the correct address.
GLOBAL HARMONY is a large mixed community choir based in
TOTNES, Devon.
Meets Wednesday evening in Totnes and Monday evening in Exeter.
The choir sing songs from around the world including many
Georgian songs. They perform occasionally to fundraise for local and international
charities.
Also in TOTNES, the women's choir VIVA meet on Thursdays at 1pm
and sing songs only written or
arranged by women, including healing songs and lullabies from Georgia.
Both GLOBAL HARMONY and VIVA are run by Roz Walker, tel.: 01803
732841
Email: rozwalker[at]naturalvoice.net
The CREDITON WORLD MUSIC CHOIR, CREDITON, Devon is directed by Alise Ojay. A friendly established community choir singing and performing songs from around the world. Many Georgian songs in our repertoire. Meets on Tuesday evenings from 8.00 - 9.30 during the school terms. Alise also created the singing exercise programme for snorers 'Singing for Snorers' (www.singingforsnorers.com) : a triple CD of singalong singing exercises designed to tone the throat and reduce snoring. She ran the first trial of singing exercises to reduce snoring at the University of Exeter in 1999 and designed this specific programme as a result of that research. Alise can be contacted at : admin[at]singingforsnorers.com
CANDY VERNEY runs community choirs called "Singing
in the Round" based in BATH, and BRADFORD-ON-AVON and TROWBRIDGE, Wilts.
They do some Georgian music along with much else.
Contact : Candy[at]CandyVerney.co.uk
EASTERN VOICES runs concerts and singing workshops by Georgian,
Bulgarian and other Eastern European choirs and teachers in BRISTOL and the
surrounding area. The KVIRIA ACAPELLA TRIO performs Georgian polyphony
at various events. To book contact Nina Chandler on 01367 240 858
or email : easternvoices[at]naturalvoice.net
THE BRISTOL-TBILISI ASSOCIATION was formed in the mid 1980s
to support links with Georgia and now it helps manage the official twinning,
signed by both Bristol and Tbilisi City Councils in 1988. A range of educational,
cultural, commercial and social initiatives is supported in collaboration with
our partners in Tbilisi. For further information please contact the Secretary
: Tony Wilcox, 66 Ashley Down Rd, Bristol BS7 9JP.
By email please contact Henry Parry : henry[at]parry52.freeserve.co.uk
MASPINDZELI is a 10-year old Georgian choir based in central
LONDON. It has about 50 members and gives 2-3 concerts a year plus other events.
The Musical Directorship is held jointly by Mark Thomas and Tamta Turmanidze.
Maspindzeli has visited Georgia four times to sing at the biennial International
Symposia on Polyphony at Tbilisi Conservatory of Music in 2002, 2004, 2006 and
2008, and intends to do so again in October 2010. The choir normally meets from
2 to 6 pm. on the 2nd Saturday of the month at St. Paul's Church Centre, Rossmore
Road, Marylebone, London NW1 6NJ and is open to new members.
For further details please see website : www.maspindzeli.org.uk
Contact the Secretary at : requestinfo[at]maspindzeli.org.uk
or Michael at : info[at]georgianharmony.org.uk
HELEN CHADWICK runs SING FOR WATER, LONDON which often
includes Georgian songs in its repertoire. See website www.helenchadwick.com.
Helen is a member of the women's trio Bebia with Nino Tsitsishvili and Nana
Kalandadze and last year performed Georgian songs with Nato Zumbadze and Nana
Kalandadze in SONGS FROM THE BLACK SEA which was recorded as a live album (www.voixpolyphoniques.org).
Helen taught Georgian songs for CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE at the National Theatre
and in workshops around the country. She has been on three field trips with
Georgian ethnomusicologists to record and meet singers.
Email : romaine[at]helenchadwick.com
ELIZABETH CAROLA includes Georgian songs within her "Sing Your Heart Out" course which is run by the Mary Ward Centre, an Adult Education Centre in LONDON - tel: 020 7831 7711. The course takes place between 6 - 8pm on Wednesdays at The Central Baptist Church off Shaftesbury Ave. This class is open to all & includes songs from many cultures. Elizabeth has a particular passion and interest in Georgian and Bulgarian singing. She is also involved in the Natural Voice Practitioners Network. Contact Elizabeth at : ecarolauk[at]yahoo.co.uk
CHELA is a group of Georgian singing enthusiasts based
in CAMBRIDGE, formed in 2000. Their repertoire includes songs learned
at workshops by visiting Georgian musicians. They meet once a week on Sundays
at the home of Miranda and Ashlyn Armour-Brown at 1.Lyndewode Road, Cambridge
CB1 2HL, from 5-7pm in winter, 5.30 - 7.30 pm in summer.
Tel. and email (Hosts) 01223 353586 : miranda[at]armour-brown.co.uk
& ashlyn37[at]armour-brown.co.uk
(Secretary) Mehryar: mehryar[at]ntlworld.com
(Leader) Derek Wilcox: derekjwilcox[at]hotmail.com
Performances include Ely Cathedral in 2005 and Trinity College Chapel in 2007
in combination with Maspindzeli, the London based Georgian choir, and Emmanuel
Reformed Church, Cambridge in 2007 and regular candlelit Christmas performances
at St Peter's, Kettles Yard, in aid of Georgian charities.
VOICES IN HARMONY is an a cappella community choir for
anyone within reach of BRIDGNORTH, Shropshire. They always includes 2-4 Georgian
songs in their current repertoire. They meet on 2 Wednesday evenings a month
and occasional Sundays.
For details contact Jane Read on 01584 891656, email : jane[at]songshops.co.uk
New members are always welcome.
CHRIS ROWBURY runs singing workshops open to the public
across the UK. He has a substantial number of Georgian songs in his teaching
repertoire
and offers both Eastern European and world music workshops. Contact Chris on
01394 610486 or email : chris[at]chrisrowbury.com
GEORGIAN CHOIR IN DERBY at The VoiceBox, Derby, DE1
1JQ. £10/£8 per session.
This is a new choir open to anyone who is interested in singing songs from the
ancient polyphonic tradition of the nation of Georgia.
We will meet around six times per year, and although the main emphasis will
be on enjoying singing wonderful songs, we will also aim
to perform them. Members will be able to buy a songbook and/or cd to practice
songs in between sessions.
The choir will be led by Beth de Lange. Beth leads two community choirs
in Derbyshire, and has had an interest in Georgian song ever
since she first learnt the song Elesa Hey at a Unicorn Natural Voice Camp in
1999. She has attended workshops and summer schools with
Georgian singers since then, and is looking forward to sharing her love of this
music with this new group.
Contact Beth de Lange 01332 345 508 - beth[at]kaleidoscope-music.org.uk
to tell us you'd like to come, or for further information.
GEORGIAN CHOIR "SAMZEO" in LEEDS was first formed
by Zaka Aman in February 2007 as a humble trio and under the name of 'the Nikoladze
Family'. It has gradually evolved into an 7 piece choir made up of 2 charming
men and 5 lovely ladies. The members of Samzeo are all based in West Yorkshire
and are professional musicians who share a passion for singing Georgian Eastern
European vocal music. The repertoire includes celebratory (birthday, weddings
and seasonal songs), laments and ancient ritual songs. They say: "In October
2009 we were extremely honoured to be invited to Georgia to sing in the Tbilisi
Music Festival, which brings together artists from around the globe who share
a passion for Georgian art and culture. It was amazing experience to be surrounded
by other Georgian choirs, as well as fabulous Georgian dance troops. The experience
has fueled our enthusiasm even more to learn and spread the love of this fascinating
music. Back in the UK we have performed at many local events and folk festivals
and we also offer workshops. Please get in touch if you're interested in booking
us. We hope you love listening to this unique sound as much as we love singing
it!"
See their website : www.myspace.com/Samzeo
- Contact: Sarah Cobham on 01924 276250 or email: sarahcobham[at]hotmail.com
DAVID BURBIDGE runs singing events in the LAKE DISTRICT
area including walks and cycle rides through the mountains with concerts in
fellside chapels, caves and inns. Email : davidburbidge[at]hotmail.com
Address : David Burbidge, Lakeland Voice, Smithy Cottage, Farfield, Sedbergh,
Cumbria LA10 5LW.
Tel. : 015396 21166 Website : www.lakelandvoice.co.uk
SCOTLAND
EDINBURGH GEORGIAN CHOIR "TOROLA" : This choir, meaning "Skylark"
is led by David Tugwell. The meeting place is every other Wednesday from 7 to
9pm at 18 (3F3) Sciennes Road, Leith, Edinburgh. For further details please
contact David Tugwell on 07972 896737, email : georgiansong[at]gmail.com
EDINBURGH COMMUNITY CHOIRS :"Harmonise", and "Singers and Seekers", both about 45 strong sing some Georgian songs as part of their wide repertoire of world music, and have happily hosted Georgian guest singing groups. Details are:-
HARMONISE meets on Monday evenings and is occasionally open to new members,
For more information please contact Jane Schonveld : jane[at]schonveld.freeserve.co.ukSINGERS AND SEEKERS meets on Thursday evenings and is open to new members
now. For more information please contact Alison Ambler : alison[at]amblerp.freeserve.co.uk
USA
KARTULI ENSEMBLE (Mixed choir based in NEW YORK)
http://users.bestweb.net/~notr/kartuli/index.html
TRIO KAVKASIA (Alan Gasser from Canada, Stuart Gelzer &
Carl Linich from USA) http://www.kavkasia.com/
For these 2 choirs email Carl Linich at : kavkasia[at]gmail.com
IVERIA (Men's choir based in BOSTON area, Massachusetts)
http://www.iveria.org/
ADILOI (Mixed voice Student Choir at Choate School in CONNECTICUT)
http://www.freewebs.com/adiloi/
PATTY CUYLER and LARRY GORDON 5748 Hollister Hill
Road, Marshfield, VT 05658
Tel. (in USA) : (802) 426-3210 fax: (802) 426-3491
Email : vharmony[at]sover.net
Websites : www.northernharmony.pair.com
& www.villageharmony.org
Larry and Patty run choirs that include Georgian songs/are open to new members:-
--Village Harmony Yeargroup: school-year for high school students in New England, participants come from throughout Vermont, upstate New York, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Meets monthly for a Saturday-Sunday rehearsal, rehearsing 6 hours each day, and goes on a 2-week long tour in the springtime.
--Village Harmony Camps. Summer/autumn traveling and residential music performance camps. Unauditioned. Many of the workshops--those with Patty, Larry and other Georgian music specialists (Carl Linich, Frank Kane, Nato Zumbadze, Ketevan Mindorashvili, Teah Pirtskhelani) teaching -- include Georgian folk music. The next camp in Georgia will be from MAY 14th to 28th 2005 (see website www.villageharmony.org)
They will be organizing a northeastern America tour for the Anchiskhati Choir from Georgia in 2005.
Patty has a huge collection of transcriptions and recordings of folk songs. People looking for specific pieces for their choirs please email her : vharmony[at]sover.net
DANCING CRANE GEORGIAN MUSIC ENSEMBLE are active in NEW YORK STATE
with a Georgian Men's Choir and Women's Choir,
although they often perform with both men and women together. They also have
an active Georgian Dance Ensemble. Their musicians and singers are professionals
from Georgia now living in the United States.
Website: www.dancingcrane.org
Location: Warwick, New York, USA
Email: info[at]dancingcrane.org
Brief Description:
Dancing Crane, Inc. is a professional not-for-profit research and performance
organization specializing in the culture and traditions of
Georgia, the former Soviet republic. It produces and performs theatrical presentations
that are open to the general public, performed primarily by
the Dancing Crane dance and music ensembles. Members also perform at weddings,
birthdays, restaurants and special events of all kinds. General
and Artistic director: Victor Sirelson. Choreographer: Vladimer Goderidze. Music
Directors: Ivan Goderdzishvili and Zaira Chokheli. Our repertoire
includes traditional songs, city songs, church songs, romances and estrada.Our
musicians are proficient with Panduri, Chonguri, Duduk, Doli, Garmoni,
Salamuri, Guitar and Keyboards. Contact Victor Sirelson, Cell (Mobile in USA):
914-522-3888
email: vsirelson[at]gmail.com
CANADA
MACHARI (meaning young wine) is an eleven-member mixed ensemble based
in TORONTO. The group has been singing Georgian folk and liturgical music
since 2004, with founding members tracing their involvement back to 1995, under
Alan Gasser's guidance. They play chongur, chunir, doli, folk and chromatic
pandur, guitar and accordion. In keeping with the Georgian tradition much of
their repertoire is learnt by ear.
Contact : Bie Engelen, co-leader Machari. Email : machari.toronto[at]gmail.com
------------------------
A contribution from Andrea Kuzmich :-
I sing with both the trio ZARI : http://www.geocities.com/triozari
and the choir DARBAZI : http://www.darbazi.com/
I highly encourage you to check out these sites. We are a little
more remote than USA, but there is some very heavy Georgian music making in
these two ensembles. (There is also another group, HERETI, 5 singers
who are
refugees/immigrants from Rustavi, the city. They are excellent singers. Back
around 1999
Darbazi and Hereti did many performances together. You can read a
lot more about Hereti through the Darbazi web site. There is also a new group
VOISA in Montreal.
Currently we have two Georgians in Darbazi, my husband and another man. Both
groups, Darbazi and Zari, are trying to sing the material as authentically
as possible - an issue of academic concern to myself. Often there is only
one singer allocated to each of the top two voices and we can boast that
some of the songs are our own versions (having studied enough versions from
other choirs).
I should also note, that now I have graduated also to a scholar. I am doing
my Masters in Ethnomusicology at York University in Toronto, and have
totally engrossed myself in Georgian polyphony, history, musical theory, and
ethnographic work.
I also teach regular 10 week workshops of Georgian folk songs
http://www.worldsofmusic.ca/
for almost three years
and for four years used to lead a children's choir that sang choral music
from around the globe : http://www.geocities.com/tcwmc
with a significant component
of Georgian material.
Anyway, I was hoping to draw your attention to the activities here just
north of the USA border. We too are doing our best to publicize and transmit
this wonderful oral heritage.
Andrea Kuzmich
GEORGIA
RUSTAVI Choir. See their new English website: