Georgian Archival Recordings

These five recordings represent the only known archival recordings of Georgian chant from the Gramophone era (1902-1914).

Recordings of lesser quality were made in 1949 (eleven recordings), and 1966 (101 recordings of one singer). The relative age and quality of these five recordings, therefore, make them extremely valuable for the scholarly and practical pursuit of rejuvenating the performance aesthetic of chanters active in the 19th century, the direct inheritors of a centuries-old oral chant tradition.

 

Shen Gigalobt, “We Praise You, We Bless You…”

Recorded by the Apolon Tsamtsishvili Choir, Tbilisi, 1903.

 

 

Mamao Chveno, “Our Father, Who Art in the Heavens…”

Recorded by the Sandro Kavsadze Choir, in the Kashweti St. George Church in Tbilisi, 1907

Read more about the Sandro Kavsadze Choir on this designated post.

 

 

Shoba Sheni Ukhrts’nel Ars, “Your Birthing is Everlasting, Oh Virgin…”

Recorded by the Gigo Erkomaishvili Choir, Kutaisi, 1907

 

 

Shen Romelman Gananatle, “You have Enlightened Us with Your Coming, Oh Christ…”

Recorded by the Samuel Chavleishvili Trio, Kutaisi, 1909

 

Siqvarulman Mogiqvana, “Love has Brought Thee, Oh Lord, to Bethany for Lazarus…”

Recorded also by the Samuel Chavleishvili Trio, Kutaisi, 1909

 
 

 

 

 

Georgian Archival Video

These are very few videos of singers performing liturgical music. One of the few is this video of the three Erkmomaishvili brothers (Artem, Lado, Anania) from 1965.

Siqvarulman Mogiqvana, “Love has Brought Thee, Oh Lord, to Bethany for Lazarus…”, recorded by the Erkomaishvili brothers in 1965