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Polyphonic Lullabies of Kakheti

Hugo Zemp, Nona Lomidze

Polyphonic Lullabies of Kakheti
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While lullabies – with their intimate relationship between a mother and her child – are a universal musical genre, the polyphonic singing of lullabies by choirs is very rare. In Georgia (South Caucasus), men’s choirs have been singing lullabies on stage since at least the end of the 19th century, as the movement of national liberation from the Russian empire favored the affirmation of the Georgian cultural uniqueness. Polyphonic cradlesongs performed by men’s, women’s or mixed choirs in the different regional styles have become a new musical genre added to the repertoire of traditional national folklore. Individual as well as choral lullabies are called Nana.

The practice of related polyphonic Nana songs, also called Iav-Nana (name derived from the refrain “Violet-Nana”), is much older and rooted in pre-Christian beliefs. Some of these songs were performed at family rituals when a child had an infectious disease such as measles, which were believed to be brought by celestial spirits. Women performed other ritual Nana songs at sacred places such as a particular village church, or “pagan” mountain sanctuaries, to request from deities health and prosperity for their folk. This film shows for the first time these different kinds of Nana songs in their traditional context and at rehearsals of local choirs of the Kakheti province.

"It is my pleasure to let you know that your new film was demonstrated with great success in Tbilisi at the 9th Symposium of the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony! The Recital Hall of Tbilisi's Conservatoire was crowded and enthusiastic, there was applause and congratulations. The Georgians were impressed, they underlined the richness of the materials and information and your approach to them. As my personal opinion, I always appreciate in your films a subtle sense of the music as well as the time and context in which this music exists."
– Rusudan Tsurtsumia, International Research Center for Traditional Polyphony, Tbilisi, 2018

"Polyphonic Lullabies of Kakheti is a film on a universal song genre and its unusual polyphonic realization. But it is not only about a genre. It is about human creativity and social cohesion, about powerful individuals and the beauty of traditional expressive culture. The film is the most impressive audio-visual document on traditional music of Georgia I have ever seen." 
– Ulrich Morgenstern, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, 2019

"From the very beginning this fascinating film leads you into the depth of Georgian singing traditions, fills you with sincere emotions and furnishes significant information. You feel as if you were a participant in centuries-old rituals and at the same time, viewing them from the present-day position."  
– Gia Bagashvili, Caucasus University, Tbilisi, 2019

SELECTED SCREENINGS
Special Mention, Best Music Documentary, The XXXIII Pärnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival (Estonia), 2019


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Credits

Polyphonic Lullabies of Kakheti


Image and Sound

Hugo Zemp


Research Organization and Field Translations

Nona Lomidze


Driver

Nugzar Kozmanashvili


Consultant

Ketevan Baiashvili


Editing

Hugo Zemp


Editing Advice

Jean-Christian Nicaise


Georgian Language Transcriptions

Nona Lomidze


English Translation of Subtitles

Nino Tsitsishvili


English Corrections

Elizabeth Workman


Subtitling

Hugo Zemp


Sound Mix

Steven Taylor


Color Correction

Vladimir Nassyrkine



Performers and songs in order of appearance 


“Nana” and “Mze shina da Mze Gareta”  

Tea Zukakishvili, with Davit 

Concert of the Ensemble “Gurjaani”, Gurjaani 


“Kakhuri Nana” 

Ilia Datuashvili, choirmaster Ensemble of the Gremi Theological Seminar 


Zaza Natsarashvili (priest) 

Guja Arevadze  

Avtandil Kakunashvili

Aleksandre Ushikishvili

Ensemble “Megobrebi”, Telavi 


“Kakhuri Nana”and “Nana” (last song of the film) 

Leila Legashvili, Choirmaster

 

Maia Akhmeteli 

Nino Bakradze 

Zhanna Khanjaliashivili 

Ana Maisuradze 

Veriko Sakhiashvili 


Ensemble “Shavnabada”, Tbilisi “Kakhuri Nana” 

Dato Tsintzadze, choirmaster 


Tengo Alkhazishvili 

Mikheil Javakhishvili 

David Maziashvi

Tornike Papidze 

Giorgi Svanidze Ensemble “Ilioni”, Kvareli2 “Nana” 

Natela Ghelaghutashvili, choirmaster 

Eteri Chakhvashvili 

Marina Khvedelidze 

Mediko Khukhiashvili 

Suliko Kokiashvili 

Tsiuri Laliashvili 

Nargizi Sazanishvili 

Tamari Sepashvili 

Natela Ghelaghutashvili 


Banquet in Ikalto, 2014 “Nana” 

Leila Legashvili, choirmaster 


Maia Akhmeteli

Nino Bakradze

Zhanna Khanjaliashivili

Ana Maisuradze

Andro Simashvili (“Andro Papa”)


Ensemble “Nelkarisi“, Shilda “Mze shina da Mze Gareta”, and ”God’s Gate Iavnana”

Ketevan Rukhadze, choirmaster 


Irma Kandelaki

Tamar Kezherashvili

Lali Kunelashvili-Aghniashvili 

Nani Mirinashvili



External Videos


Ensemble “Rustavi”, Tbilisi “Kakhuri Nana”.

Extract of the DVD Hamlet Gonashvili Anzor Erkomaishvili, choirmaster Courtesy of Lamara Tsintsabadze


Informal open-air banquet “Mze Shina da Mze Gareta”

YouTube, all rights reserved


Ensemble “Sathanao”, Tbilisi 

Extract of “Healings Songs Iavnana”

Program Etnopori, Achara TV 

Courtesy of Mikheil Gabaidze (Achara Television) and Tatiana Megrelidze (Sathanao) 


Lasharoba feast in Zemo Arteni, 19912 “Iavnana”

Extracts of “The Feast-Day of Tamar and Lashari” film by Hugo Zemp, Documentary Educational Resources (www.der.org)


Lasharoba feast at Zemo Arteni, 2004 “Iavnana”

Lead singer Lamara Khakhutashvili 

Video by Paata Bukhrashvili 

Courtesy of Kevin Tuite


“Iavnana at God’s Gate” Shilda, 2010 

Lead singer Lamara Khakhutashvili Khakhutashvili 

Video by Giga Khaindrava

DVD of the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony, Tbilisi 

Courtesy of Magda Kevlishvili


Excerpt of the film "Iavnana" by Nana Janelidze, 1994

Courtesy of Nana Janelidze and Rusudan Tsurtsumia


Ensemble “Sathanao” 

Excerpt of “Sathanao healing songs in Kendal” Video by David Burbidge on YouTube, 2012 Courtesy of Tatiana Megrelidze and David Burbidge 



External Sound


Female choir of the Music high school, Telavi 

“Nana” St. George Cathedral, Alaverdi

Tina Nateladze, Lead Singer 

Recording by Minoru Morita, 1983

Victor Company of Japan (records)

Licensed “The Resounding Polyphony of the Caucasus”, MCM 3004

Courtesy of Pavle Demurishvili, Choirmaster


“God’s Gate Iavnana”, Shilda

Salome Agniashvili, soloist, and choir

Recording by Mindia Jordania, 1963

Courtesy Joseph Jordania



Still Photos


“Georgian mother with newborn”

Photographer: D.A. Nikitin, 1887 

All Rights Reserved 


Aghniashvili Choir (the first choir on traditional Georgian singing, 1985) 

National Parliamentary Library of Georgia

All Rights Reserved

 

Aghniashvilki Choir, Museum of Georgian Folk Songs and Instruments, Tbilisi 

Courtesy of Ketevan Baiashvili


Cradle with Woman and Baby

All Rights Reserved


“Love City Sighnaghi” Trekearth Gallery

All Rights Reserved


“View of Clouds” 

Wikimedia Commons


Queen Tamar, Vardzia monastery

Wikimedia Commons

 

King Lasha Giorgi, Betania monastery

Wikipedia

 

Salome Aghniashvili (2 photos)

Courtesy of Lali Goginashvili 


“ArtGene Festival 2008”

Wikimedia Commons 



Many thanks to all the performers and to

Achara TV

Anzor Erkomaishvili

Nino Ghambashidze

Lali Goginashvili, Intern 

Research Center for Traditional Polyphony, Tbilisi

Leila Legashvili

Nino Janelidze

Joseph Jordania

Nino Kalandadze-Makharadze

Magda Kevlishvili

Nana Khvedeliani

Nino Maisuradze

Nunu Mindadze

Andro Simashvili (Andro Papa)

Rusudan Tsurtsumia

Kevin Tuite

Tamar Zuriashvili


Special thanks to Kakha and Tea Zukakishvili for their kind hospitality and their precious support during filming.

Supported by: