How do you welcome the souls of your ancestors? Why are wolves sacred? Can you sing and dance through grief? An audio journey to the highest mountains of Georgia - Svaneti. We meet Ana, Madona and Eka Chamgeliani, three sisters keeping the ancient traditions of their village, Lakhushdi, alive. We hear:- How their mother and grandmother passed on local traditions, protecting them from dying out. -How a round dance, found in the capital, was taught to Maspindzeli (London based Georgian choir) and revived in its home village. - How Madona took on the entire orthodox patriarchy and won the right to continue the ancient song and dance ritual of Tanghiloba, - The legend of St. George becoming a werewolf - The infamous story of a Cockerel taken to a Tbilisi hospital to catch the souls. - A storyteller and a singer-songwriter’s first impressions of a country whose songs they love but had never visited. - A ballad performed live by all three sisters accompanied by Svan stringed instrument the chuniri Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson. If you enjoyed this episode, why not buy the creators a coffee? On ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors Support the podcast on patreon www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors Sign up for our email updates and never miss an episode: eepurl.com/hhgoOf Navigate this episode with the searchable transcript, available here voicesoftheancestors.co.uk/transcripts Music in this episode: Live recording of a Svanetian Ballad sung by Ana, Eka and Madona Chamgeliani with Ana playing chuniri. Barbal Dolash from THE SINGING VILLAGE (Lakhushdi) https://georgianfolksinging.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-singing-village-lakhushdi with Ana and Madona Chamgeliani and Levan Biatrovi Tanghili chant - Diadeb sung by the elders of Lakhushdi, recorded by Gosia Kaszhubska Links: Chamgeliani’s Concerts in Europe November 2023 https://europalia.eu/en/europalia-georgia/events/basiani-ensemble-chamgeliani-sisters Basiani Ensemble and the Chamgeliani Sisters - ARSONIC, MARS-MONS ARTS DE LA SCÈNE Date/Time: 15/11/2023 - 19:00:00 ADDRESS: Rue de Nimy 138 - 7000 Mons https://europalia.eu/en/europalia-georgia/events/chamgeliani-sisters-didgori-ensemble Chamgeliani Sisters and the Didgori Ensemble Date/Time: 11/11/2023 - 19:00:00 ADDRESS: Molière Theater, Porte de Namur Gallery 3, Square du Bastion - 1050 Brussels Film links: Life in 3 Voices https://lifeinthreevoices.com/ - A documentary film following Ensemble Adilei and the Chamgeliani sisters, both on tour in the US, and in their native Georgia. A Film by Marina Kaganova & Leo Decristoforo. Adventures in Singing https://youtu.be/eVze6oVbniE?si=CHvslwWKVZoVnXqg - The experience of non-Georgians learning to sing Georgian polyphonic songs, with insights from master singers. By David Ring. Lakhushdi: The Singing Village https://youtu.be/hZ_zhyYQCgc?si=-8XWHmAjrBxHCHfd - Work and play in the village of Lakhushdi. Villagers practice traditional polyphonic song and circle dance. In July 2011 villagers welcomed guests to learn the songs and take part in the Festival - The Feast of Limkheri. The festival is celebrated at the 14th Century Chapel on the wooded hill above the village. The village is home to a cultural and development co-operative, The Union Lidbashi.By MikeSpringVideos. https://www.youtube.com/@MikeSpringVideos Feasting and Singing in Svaneti https://youtu.be/ARQ63OZJmnY?si=tc8psdRc9vllVEmM Our guests enjoyed a home cooked meal in the home of the Chamgeliani sisters in upper Svaneti. A highlight was hearing them sing traditional polyphony! John Graham Tours https://www.youtube.com/@JohnGrahamTours On Bandcamp https://georgianfolksinging.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-singing-village-lakhushdi On Georgian Chant http://www.georgianchant.org/svan-chant-intro/ - An introduction to Svanetian Chant by ethnomusicologist Matthew Knight. The House of Song, Lakhushdi (fundraiser now closed) https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/lakhushdi-house-of-song#/
