Georgian Chorales
are an outstanding monument of Georgian music. They reached the highest point of
their development in the 10th-11th centuries. Academician Ivane
Djavakhishvili believes that in the 9th century if not earlier there
existed in Georgia a theory of church singing which was called Athe Science of
Voice Study. At the same time there appeared books on hymnography – such as
collections of eight voice chants.
Graphically Georgian neumees differed from Greek and
Latin ones. Their system of notation remained undeciphered until recently. It should be studied in comparison with the early Byzantine system used in
Greek chants for initially Georgian church singing developed on the basis of
Georgian texts. Later it acquired traditional features of folk polyphonic
singing.
At the beginning of this century church chorales were
studied and performed by specialists who inherited this priceless legacy from
previous generations.
Georgian Sacred Music
Church Chorales
1-28
Excerpts:
V
XII
XXII
Christmas Chants
29- 44
Excerpt:
XXX
In Georgian
"Rustavi" ensemble
Artistic Director - Anzor Erkomaishvili
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