From Zayton To New York vol.18: Traditional Polyphonic Singing of Georgia

Hear one of Europe’s oldest musical traditions live: Zekari brings the UNESCO-recognized polyphonic singing of Georgia to New York.

Zekari is a male vocal ensemble that performs the traditional polyphonic singing of Georgia. As the first musical tradition to be notated in Europe in the 10th century, this remarkable music's roots in the mountains and valleys of Georgia stem even farther back in time, greatly influencing the Medieval vocal music of Europe in the process.

Founded by the famed singer Lexo Goderdzishvili, Zekari has been performing this storied heritage for audiences in New York and the United States since the ensemble's founding in 2000, presenting a diverse repertoire of regional styles, church songs, city songs, romances, and contemporary estrada. As stated in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage registration of Georgian polyphony in 2003, these songs "traditionally [pervade] all areas of everyday life, ranging from work in the fields...to songs [for the] curing of illnesses and to Christmas Carols."

Zekari is one of the main ensembles of the Dancing Crane Georgian Cultural Center, a co-presenter of this event. In addition to being a CTMD Touring Artist, Dancing Crane is a robust non-profit incorporated in 1999 with a large staff of high caliber Georgian artists dedicated to teaching and presenting Georgian music and dance to the next generation.

Featuring Musicians:

Giorgi Khizanashvili
Irakli Lomtadze
Levan Kiguradze
Nikoloz Imnadze
Omar Sulashvili
Nikoloz Muradeli
Grigol Sikharulidze
Zura Sikharulidze
Paata Tsetskhladze
Lexo Goderdzishvili
Co-Presenters:

See See Records, Dancing Crane Georgian Cultural Center, and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD).