The Book on Georgia’s Cultural Heritage Presented at Youth Art Palace

A brand-new book covering Georgia's cultural heritage was presented on Sunday at Tbilisi’s Art Palace. The leader of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, who supported the project, attended the presentation.

The exhibition of the two-volume book, titled Georgia: History, Culture, Ethnography, marked the culmination of a multi-year effort by Georgian researchers to efficiently gather historical material on subjects ranging from the gorgeous piercing tones of Georgian polyphonic singing, to the art of traditional stone masonry.

The book is a unique English-language publication that is edited by musicologist Anzor Erkomaishvili, primarily known for his founding and leadership of the 'Rustavi' State Academic Ensemble of Georgian Folk Song and Dance. The book is the latest in a myriad of works produced by Erkomaishvili, who created the 'Martve' ensemble of folk singing in 1978 and was credited with "saving" the then-neglected heritage of Georgian national singing tradition.

"Anzor Erkomaishvili is a role model of dignity, patriotism, morality and happiness, who has served Georgian culture for decades. I’m happy that I know him. Mr. Anzor Erkomaishvili devoted years to the work he is so passionate about. His works are unique to all of us. He will carry on doing more to boost and preserve our culture," the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream Party, Bidzina Ivanishvili said at the presentation.

“Readers will discover how unique and distinctive this culture is, and how it was developed by such a small country in the South Caucasus, the territory of which is recognized as the homeland of winemaking and the oldest dwelling of man in Europe”, reads the comment by Nova Science Publishers.

“Sections of the publication deal with history and exhibits of pottery, stone masonry, winemaking, national costumes and "other elements of Georgian folk traditions", the US publishing house says in its summary of the release.

The book includes a multimedia appendix with audio recordings of folk songs and church hymns, along with the recordings of folk dances- some of them dating back to 1901.

By E.Dzebisashvili