Polyphony & Georgian Audio Archives to be Presented in the British Library

The Georgian Embassy in London and the British Library will be opening the Sound Festival on September 30 in the British Library.

Enjoyed by some 350 attendees, the event will see Georgia represented by the Rustavi Ensemble, singing not only songs from its own polyphonic repertoire, but also a number of those recorded over a century ago by Gramophone.

“The British Library shelters not only Georgian books and unique manuscripts but also such recordings,” Georgian Ambassador to the UK, Tamar Beruchashvili, told GEORGIA TODAY. “Before the concert, a seminar will be held by British musicologists, the rector of the Georgian conservatoire, singer Katie Melua, and representatives of the supporting Georgian Chanting Foundation. Georgian polyphony past and present will be the theme of the seminar, with a presentation of the audio archives. Georgian wine, of course, will also be served,” she says.

By Katie Ruth Davies

Photo: The Rustavi Ensemble

Video: The Rustavi Ensemble sings Chakrulo (the song that was sent into space on Voyager)