Georgian ensemble, Amer-Imeri. UK tour - ALL DATES, plus Ts'utisopeli - a weekend of workshops, performance and feasting
Fri 17 May 2024 3:00 PM - Sun 19 May 2024 5:00 PM
Minchinhampton Market House, GL6 9BW
Description
A group of singers drawn from Mtiebi and Amer-Imeri, renowned vocal ensembles from the country of Georgia, are touring the UK during May 2024, teaching and performing polyphonic songs, and appearing as guests of honour at a weekend residential event.
Taking in towns and cities in Scotland, England and Wales, this truly will be an unmissable opportunity to sample the full range of this richly diverse musical tradition, along with the unique Georgian dances, costumes, rituals and food with which the music is connected.
The centrepiece of the tour will be a residential weekend event, called ts'utisopeli, at which singers from across the UK will gather to learn and sing together, and to share a supra, or Georgian feast. Workshops throughout the tour will be planned to help us prepare for the supra evening, when we eat, drink and sing together at the supra table.
TOUR DATES AND TICKET LINKS
Links to each tour date below:
Wednesday 8
Lancaster workshop + concert (book here)
Friday 10
Edinburgh concert (book here)
Saturday 11
Glasgow workshop + bring and share supra (book here)
Sunday 12
Hebden Bridge workshop + concert (book here)
Monday 13
Sheffield workshop + concert (book here)
Tuesday 14
Birmingham workshop + concert (book here)
Wednesday 15
Machynlleth workshop + concert (book here)
Thursday 16
Abergavenny concert (apply to waiting list) SOLD OUT
Friday 17 - Sunday 19
Minchinhampton ts'utisopeli weekend (book on this page)
Monday 20
Oxford workshop + concert (book here)
Tuesday 21
Brighton concert (book here) + workshop (book here)
Wednesday 22
London workshop with Maspindzeli Georgian Choir.
(Spaces may also be available for general public. Email for further information, and to add your name to the waiting list)
Thursday 23
Cambridge workshop + concert (book here)
GEORGIAN POLYPHONY
Georgia, in the Caucasus mountains, boasts a rich and ancient UNESCO listed tradition of complex polyphony. Like Georgia itself, the music sits at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, yet has its own, truly unique character. It blends challenging, dissonant and microtonal chords with sweet and lyrical close harmonies. Ancient pagan, shamanic ritual songs with soaring liturgical chants. Powerful work songs, rousing wedding songs, and modern, composed songs all continue this music into the present day. Encompassing thirteen regional styles, the music from the east and west of Georgia are quite distinct, with that of the Gurian region on the Black Sea coast being particularly complex, and often including a fourth, yodeling voice, known as krimanchuli.
Mtiebi and Amer-Imeri
On this tour we will have the pleasure of welcoming twelve singers drawn from Mtiebi and Amer-Imeri ensembles.
Mtiebi choir was founded in 1980 by the renowned ethnomusicologist, Edisher Garakanidze, and soon established itself as one of the foremost ensembles dedicated to pioneering the research and revival of the traditional singing and folklore practices of Georgia. Edisher was also a key figure in introducing Georgian polyphonic singing to the UK.
In 1991 Edisher and his wife, Nino Baghaturia, created a youth ensemble, Amer-Imeri, through which many current members of Mtiebi have trained. From 2001-2012 Amer-Imeri was directed by Edisher’s son, Gigi (Giorgi) Garakanidze, since when it has been headed by its current leader, Magda Kevlishvili.
The main creative principle behind both choirs is understanding and performing the songs alongside the folklore, dances and rituals that are integral to them. Younger singers in Amer-Imeri learn traditional Georgian children’s games and dances, and traditional instruments. They become familiar with the history and mythology of Georgia, and they learn church hymns and participate in divine service. The singers and teachers travel to different regions of Georgia and learn directly from tradition bearers, and the new generation of singers learn to perform songs freely and independently, without the guidance of elders, just as their peers historically sang in the countryside. And, having learned the traditions and made them their own, they create their own folklore, with improvisation and ornamentation of songs and lyrics, games, tongue twisters, and mocking verses.
Amer-Imeri bring all this to their performance and teaching, but also into their everyday lives.
Recognised
by numerous awards over three decades, both in Georgia and
internationally, Amer-Imeri was the winner of the 2022 Georgian
National Folklore Festival, was featured on BBC radio and television
is 2002, and has participated in folklore festivals in Lithuania,
Poland and Germany.
To hear the leader of the ensemble, Magda Kevlishvili, talking about Georgian Christmas traditions, listen to her interview on the Voices of the Ancestors podcast.
TS'UTISOPELI WEEKEND
Friday 17–Sunday 19 May
Ts'utisopeli (წუთისოფელი) is a word that has many related meanings in Georgian – sometimes translated as 'small world', 'small village', or even 'brief life'. The centrepiece of the tour, this will be a full weekend of workshops, feasting and performance, bringing together our visiting Georgian ensembles, as well as singers from across the UK.
In Georgian culture hosting is taken very seriously indeed, with a guest being considered a gift from God. This year we will be welcomed and supported in Minchinhampton by our local hosts:
RETURNS
Four returns have become available due to illness. You can also attend the Saturday lunchtime performance of sacred songs without charge.
PROGRAM
Workshops will be held in the historic Market House, and the beautiful, and highly resonant Holy Trinity Church.
FRIDAY EVENING
The weekend will begin on the Friday evening with an introductory workshop. We'll get to know each other, warm up our voices, and share repertoire to sing together over the weekend.
SATURDAY WORKSHOPS
On Saturday we will have a full day of workshops from our visiting Georgian singers. The workshops are open to all, and there is no need to read music, know the language, or have previous experience. Songs will be taught by ear. So if you are unfamiliar with this tradition, you are guaranteed a warm welcome and an enjoyable introduction to this beautiful music.
SATURDAY PERFORMANCES
On Saturday lunchtime there will also be a performance of sacred songs in the beautiful acoustic of the Holy Trinity Church, as well as possible pop up performances around the town, from both our visiting Georgian singers, and singers attending from UK Georgian choirs.
The Saturday lunchtime concert will not be a ticketed event, but a retiring collection will be made towards the upkeep of the church, and refreshments will be available, with donations invited for the Disasters Emergency Committee.
SATURDAY EVENING SUPRA
On the Saturday evening we will gather together for a supra, or ritual Georgian feast.
Georgia has a highly distinctive and sophisticated cuisine. Led by a toastmaster, or tamada, the supra tradition combines the sharing of this delicious food with heartfelt toasts and songs, creating an unforgettable, moving and highly authentic experience of Georgian culture. But beautiful though Georgian food, wine and song are, the supra is more than the sum of its parts. The structure of the supra creates a space where it is possible to connect with each other not as performers and audience, but as hosts and honoured guests.
WINE
Wine is central to Georgian culture, and considered essential for toasting at a supra. You are welcome to bring your own wine, or whatever else you would like to drink. But you can also pre-order Georgian wine for collection at the event, or buy Georgian or other wine over the weekend. Add your wine selection at the checkout when purchasing your tickets.
SUNDAY MORNING
On Sunday morning we will have masterclasses, focusing on Georgian singing technique, and the context and deeper significance of these songs.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON PERFORMANCE 3–5pm
To end the weekend, on Sunday afternoon our visiting Georgian singers will give a concert.
TICKETS
Weekend £130/95
Friday evening and Saturday, with supra £100/80
Friday evening and Saturday day pass £75/60
Saturday, with supra £85/65
Saturday day pass £60/45
Sunday pass, including concert £50/40
Supra only (subject to availability) £30/20
Single workshop £15/10
Concert only (subject to availability) £15/10
Camping pass £20 per person for the weekend or £10 per person for one night. Includes tents or camper vans. No charge for under 18s.
The weekend pass includes lunch and evening meals.
ACCOMMODATION
We have made a block booking for campers at Tobacconist Farm, in the centre of Minchinhampton. Book your space on this page when ordering your weekend or Saturday pass. The cost is the same whether bringing a tent or camper van, but if you want to bring a van, please let us know when booking your camping.
Other accommodation options are available in and around Minchinhampton, including The Old Lodge, The Ragged Cot, and several Air b'n'b.
LIFT SHARING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There is a bus service between Stroud and Minchinhampton every day except Sunday. If you are arriving by public transport, and require a lift back to Stroud on the Sunday, this can almost certainly be arranged. Please post offers or requests for lifts or accommodation sharing on the Facebook event page.
YOUTH AND CHILD TICKETS
This weekend will be a family friendly event. Discounts are offered for under 18s. To apply the discount, open a new order, and apply the appropriate promo code: Youth (14-18 years, 25% discount), or Child (8-14 years, 50% discount). Note that promo codes are case sensitive, and only one promo code can be applied to each order. If you wish to apply both codes, or to purchase adult and youth or child tickets, it is necessary to place these as separate orders.
Children up to 8 years of age may attend free, but please let us know when booking, so that we can manage numbers and cater accordingly. Children must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult.
Location
Minchinhampton Market House, GL6 9BW