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Svaneti polyphony and Guria yodeling

World Routes World Routes in Georgia
Episode 2 of 2

Lucy Duran continues her musical journey through Georgia. She travels to the highest and remotest part of Europe, Svaneti, to make rare location recordings of its wild songs.

Lucy Duran continues her musical journey through Georgia.

She travels to the highest and remotest part of Europe, Svaneti. An area of extraordinary natural beauty, it's also infamous for its banditry and war-lording, as well as being home to some of the world's oldest music. With the help of the Georgian military, the programme makes rare location recordings of these wild songs.

Presented by Lucy Duran
Produced by James Parkin

Tel. 020 7765 4661
Fax. 020 7765 4378
e-mail world.routes@bbc.co.uk

Available now

1 hour

Last on

Sat 24 Jan 2009 15:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music and featured items

  • Music Played

    • Teatralebi Ensemble

      Tsin Tsqaro

  • Above the Caucasus mountains

    Lucy Duran flys above the Caucasus mountains en route to the isolated region on Svaneti.

    Duration: 02:55

  • Music Played

    • Riho Ensemble

      : Lazhgvashi, accompanied by the chianuri fiddle and the changi harp

  • Riho male choir

    Riho is a male choir based in the remote town of Mestia, in Georgia's Svaneti region.

    Duration: 07:54

  • Music Played

    • Riho Ensemble

      Kyria

  • Vartan Pilpani interview

    Lucy interviews Vartan Pilpani of Riho Ensemble about the harsh life in the mountain.

    Duration: 18:28

  • Music Played

    • Riho Ensemble

      Vitsbil/Matsbil

  • Georgian graveyard in Svaneti

    Lucy Duran and Rob Parsons in a Georgian graveyard in Svaneti, discussing death ritual.

    Duration: 07:49

  • South West Georgian singing

    Lucy and Rob travel near the Black Sea and the border with Turkey.

    Duration: 09:09

  • Music Played

    • Matchakhela

      Macthakhluri Tagunia (Matchakhluri Mouse)

    • Matchakhela

      Atcharuli Shairebi

  • Black Sea Coast in Batumi.

    Lucy and Rob on the Black Sea Coast in Batumi, overlooking Turkey.

    Duration: 02:13

  • Music Played

    • Shalva Chemo

      Shvidkatsa (Seven Men)

  • Yodeling tradition in Guria.

    The unique yodeling tradition in Guria province.

    Duration: 07:35

  • Music Played

    • Shalva Chemo

      Shalva Chemo, accompanied by the chonguri lute

    • Shalva Chemo

      Hasanbegura (vocal demonstration)

  • Yodeling and polyphony song.

    The group Shalva Chemo demonstrates the construction of a song.

    Duration: 03:50

  • The president's residence.

    Lucy and Rob at the new residence of the president, which is currently under construction.

    Duration: 05:48

  • Music Played

    • Eldar Shoshitashvili and his Ensemble

      Shushtari

  • Situation in Georgia

    Lucy and Rob discuss the current situation in Georgia.

    Duration: 05:30

  • Music Played

    • The Teatralebi Ensemble

      Odoia

Broadcasts

  • Sat 22 Dec 2007 15:00
    BBC Radio 3
  • Sat 24 Jan 2009 15:00
    BBC Radio 3

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