Georgian folklore

What Georgian folklore is

Georgian folklore takes in folk song, church chant, dance, instruments and the rituals that grew up around them.

Every region has its own voice, and a Gurian song differs from a Svan one as much as the sea differs from a glacier.

Our involvement

We find an ensemble or dance company to suit your event and your guests, and plan the programme, the stage and the timing.

Performers name their own fee and receive the money directly. We send you the cost of our organising separately, before you book.

Why it is worth it

Many guests remember singing more vividly than anything else about Georgia.

Folklore needs no knowledge of the language: the blend of voices and the energy of dance speak to everyone.

A live performance is very different from a recording, especially in a small room.

World heritage

In 2001 UNESCO proclaimed Georgian polyphonic singing a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

The recognition concerns the age of the tradition and its unique harmony.

Today young ensembles carry the tradition on too, and many of them search villages for old recordings.

Three voices

In a typical song the first voice is called mtkmeli, the second modzakhili and the lowest bani.

The mtkmeli and modzakhili are often single singers, while the bani is sung by several people together.

It is the clash and merging of these voices that creates a sound unlike European harmony.

Gurian song

Guria is famous for complex, fast polyphony in which the voices seem to argue with one another.

In the top voice you sometimes hear krimanchuli - a high, leaping, yodel-like sound.

Gurian singing amazes even musicians, and we often choose an ensemble for exactly this effect.

Svan song

Svaneti's songs are archaic and dense, and are often performed together with a round dance.

Some songs are tied to ancient rituals and recall the time before Christianity.

Svan song is best heard near Mestia or Ushguli, with a local ensemble.

Songs of the east

In the songs of Kakheti and Kartli the bass is often drawn out and holds a single note.

Above it two voices weave a slow, richly ornamented melody.

These songs sound best in the wine region, on a quiet evening.

Other western regions

The songs of Imereti, Samegrelo and Adjara stand out for their own rhythm and language.

Megrelian songs are in Megrelian, a language related to Georgian but distinct from it.

Racha songs are sometimes accompanied by the gudastviri, which gives them a special colour.

Work songs

The naduri was sung by people working together in the fields, giving them rhythm and strength.

The urmuli is the song of the ox-cart driver, drawn out and thoughtful, made for a long road.

Today these songs are performed on stage, but ensembles often tell their story.

Lullabies and family songs

Iavnana is the Georgian lullaby, gentle and a little melancholy.

In families songs are often passed from generation to generation, from grandmother to grandchild.

Ensembles rarely perform these songs, but you may hear them in a village family.

Church chant

Georgian chant is polyphonic too, and developed in churches over centuries.

Services are open to everyone, and in many churches you can hear chant at weekends.

Some choirs also give separate concerts, and we keep an eye on such dates for our guests.

Panduri and chonguri

The panduri is a three-stringed instrument that was widespread in the mountains and lowlands of eastern Georgia.

The chonguri has four strings and is heard more in the west, especially accompanying women's songs.

Both enrich the song as accompaniment, and some craftsmen still make them by hand today.

Wind instruments

The salamuri is a wooden or reed pipe with a soft, melodic sound.

The duduk has a deep and melancholy tone, and it belongs to the tradition of several Caucasian peoples.

The gudastviri and the Adjarian chiboni are bagpipes made from a skin bag, heard at mountain festivals.

Doli and daira

The doli drum is the heart of the dance and sets the dancers' tempo.

The daira is a flat frame drum, often seen in a woman's hands.

Guests catch the doli's rhythm quickly, and a dance lesson often starts with it.

Georgian dance

Georgian dance expresses courage, dignity and self-restraint.

Male dancers sometimes rise onto their toes in soft boots, without special blocks.

Women's dance, by contrast, seems to glide, and its movement is calm and refined.

Kartuli

Kartuli is a couple dance in which the man does not touch the woman and keeps his distance.

The dance is built on respect and elegance, and is often performed at weddings.

Watching kartuli explains best what the Georgian code of chivalry means.

Khorumi and khevsuruli

Khorumi is an Adjarian war dance in which a group of men portrays a military campaign.

In khevsuruli the dancers stage a duel with sword and shield, full of sparks and speed.

These dances are spectacular on stage, and they draw the loudest ovations.

Acharuli, samaia and mtiuluri

Acharuli is a cheerful couples' dance, with colourful costumes and flirtation.

Samaia is traditionally danced by three women, calmly and solemnly.

In mtiuluri men compete in skill, and the tempo steadily rises.

The chokha

The chokha is the Georgian man's traditional high-collared coat, with cartridge pockets across the chest.

Today the chokha is worn at weddings, celebrations and official events too.

Guests can hire a chokha for photos or for an evening, and we often arrange this.

Women's costume

The Georgian woman's dress is long, with wide sleeves and embroidered details.

On the head sit the chikhti-kopi headband and a thin veil that frames the face.

Costume hire and a photoshoot are often added to an ethnographic day or a wedding.

Famous companies

The Georgian National Ballet Sukhishvili has introduced Georgian dance to the world's stages for decades.

When the big companies perform in Tbilisi, tickets sell quickly.

We help you get tickets for such concerts, and write about this on the tickets page.

Choosing an ensemble

We choose the ensemble by the type of event, the size of the room and the guests' tastes.

For a small hall we invite three or four singers; for a large one, a full ensemble and dancers.

We always ask for a recording so you can listen before choosing.

A short performance

Often a twenty- to thirty-minute set is enough for guests to feel the folklore.

Such a performance works well before dinner, in the middle of a supra or after the formal part of an event.

The short format also saves budget and does not tire guests.

A full concert

A concert of an hour or more brings together song, dance and instruments.

A presenter or one of the singers explains the programme so guests understand each number.

We prepare a suitable hall, sound and lighting for the concert in advance.

Folklore at a hotel

Many hotels have a hall where a folklore evening is easily arranged.

This suits a group resting after a day tour who do not want to travel far.

We confirm the hotel's sound and time rules in advance.

Folklore at a wedding

At a wedding an ensemble often performs for the first dance, the toasts or the couple's entrance.

A Georgian dance number stays with foreign guests as the most emotional moment of the wedding.

We describe wedding organisation in the weddings section.

A corporate event

At a conference or gala dinner, folklore creates a sense of place.

At such an event short, sharp and well-timed numbers work best.

We explain the logistics of large events on the corporate events page.

Singing families

In some villages families have sung for generations, and their home is a living archive.

For a small group a visit to such a family is the most authentic experience.

We treat these families with respect and plan a visit only when they want it.

The ethnographic museum

In Tbilisi, on the road to Turtle Lake, there is an open-air ethnographic museum where old houses from different regions have been moved.

Here you can see how people lived in Svaneti, Kakheti or Adjara.

Folklore events are sometimes held at the museum, and it makes a good day for families.

Festivals

In summer Tbilisi often hosts a folklore festival where ensembles from different regions perform.

At a festival you also find craftspeople, folk dishes and a fair.

Dates change every year, so we check them when planning your trip.

Tbilisoba

Tbilisoba is the city's festival, usually celebrated in October.

Stages go up in the streets, and folklore ensembles perform alongside modern music.

It is the crowded, city version, and worth seeing for its own sake.

Village feast days

In many villages a church feast day is also marked with a folk celebration.

On such days singing, dancing and a shared table arise spontaneously.

A foreign guest is often welcome, but we observe the ritual with respect.

A singing lesson

In an hour a singer teaches guests a simple three-part song.

You need no musical training: each person is given their own vocal line.

At the end of the lesson the group sings together, and this is often the warmest moment of the day.

A dance lesson

A dancer teaches guests a few simple steps and arm movements.

The lesson works on its own or before a wedding or corporate evening.

We describe lessons in detail in the masterclasses section.

For children

Children are especially drawn to the drum, the dancing and the costumes.

A performance by a children's folk ensemble brings young guests together quickly.

For families we combine the ethnographic museum, a short lesson and photos in costume.

Sound and acoustics

A polyphonic ensemble often sounds best unamplified in a small stone or wooden hall.

In a large hall or outdoors a sound system and sound engineer are needed.

We plan a sound check before the event so the first song is not lost.

A stage for dance

A dance company needs a firm, level floor that is not slippery.

Sword dances and dances with leaps need enough space.

We show the stage size and floor to the company's director in advance.

Programme and timing

We fit the programme to the rhythm of the event: when guests arrive, when they eat, when they talk.

Dancers need a changing room and time to rest.

A delay can smother the folklore set, so we keep a strict eye on the time.

Explanation

A song is felt more deeply when guests know what it is about.

So we plan short explanations between numbers, in the guests' language.

An interpreter or bilingual presenter keeps the explanation short and lively.

Photos and video

Guests can film at the event, but some ensembles ask for separate consent for professional video.

If you plan to publish a recording, we agree this with the performers in advance.

We write about photography on the photoshoots page.

Respect

Some songs are sacred or concern mourning, and they are not met with cheerful clapping.

During chant in a church we avoid filming and loud talk.

Performers are artists, and we do not use them as background music unless they wish it.

Folklore on tour

We often arrange folklore as one of a tour's evenings, especially in Guria, Svaneti or Kakheti.

A local ensemble gives the tour route the sound of the place.

We describe our tours in the tours section.

Recordings and instruments

Many ensembles sell their own recordings, and these make the best souvenir.

A panduri or salamuri can be bought from a craftsman, and some will show you their workshop.

We advise in advance on how to pack an instrument to take abroad.

In the open air

A folklore evening in a courtyard or garden is very beautiful in summer.

But weather affects both instruments and dancers, so we always prepare an indoor alternative.

We plan lighting and sound separately for the night.

Performers' travel

If the event is outside the city, we arrange the ensemble's transport and meals.

In the mountains, in Svaneti for example, we invite a local ensemble to avoid a long journey.

On long trips performers also need somewhere to stay the night.

For people living here

Foreigners living here often welcome visitors with folklore or invite it to an office event.

Some join a regular singing or dance group themselves.

We are happy to recommend such groups and studios.

Common mistakes

A dance company on a small, slippery floor.

An ensemble in a noisy hall where guests keep talking.

Folklore without explanation, so guests miss the meaning of each number.

Timelines

A short performance can often be arranged in a week or two.

We book a well-known ensemble or a large company months ahead, especially in wedding season.

During festivals and the touring season the best performers are taken quickly.

Changes and cancellation

Ensembles hold a date for you by turning down other bookings, so a late cancellation is a loss for them.

We put the terms for cancelling and changing the date in writing.

Let us know about any change of time or place as early as possible.

What we need from you

The type of event, the date, the venue and the number of guests.

What you want: to listen, to watch dance, to take part, or all of it.

How much time you have for folklore and what space is available.

Fees

An ensemble's or company's fee depends on the number of performers, the length and the distance.

The performers set and receive this sum, and we take no commission on it.

Our organising fee is given to you in advance, as a separate line.