3S Artspace presents Adilei: An Evening of Traditional Georgian Music

Description

Presented in partnership with Strawbery Banke, Ensemble Adilei performs traditional Georgian polyphonic songs and chants. Most of the members were introduced to folk singing in their families or children’s music groups ear on in life. After informally singing together for several years, they officially formed the ensemble and started conducting regular rehearsals in 2012. 

Adilei’s main passion lies in the songs from the province of Guria in Western Georgia, which is the most musically developed region in the country, though other regions are also represented in their repertoire. Gurian music has often been compared to jazz, because improvisation is its main component, and all the voice parts move independently of each other, creating contrapuntal polyphony. Gurian song is also characterized by krimanchuli, a yodeling technique often present in the upper voice. 

For the members of Adilei singing is the primary mode of communication with the world: it is more of a lifestyle than a performance practice-- it is not just relegated to official concerts. They sing every time they gather, wherever that may be. 

The ensemble has had a number of solo concerts throughout Georgia and participated in a variety of notable folk music festivals, including International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony, held in the Tbilisi State Conservatoire (2014), as well as Hit Batumi 2016, among others. One June 29th, 2016, Adilei was awarded 2nd place in their category at the National Folklore Festival Competition. The members of Adilei recently completed a week-long tour in Italy, followed by an 18-day tour in Germany (Sept 24-Oct 10). Their first US tour is scheduled to take place in January 2017.