Didgori Ensemble - Georgian singing traditions

Tuesday March 12, 19:00
(Doors open at 18:30)
Oslo Cathedral

Adult: 400 NOK
Senior/student: 300 NOK
Child: 100 NOK

Duration: ca. 1 time og 10 minutter

Didgori Ensemble

Georgia converted to Christianity in the 4th century, and the country has a long history of Georgian Orthodox Christianity and a unique tradition of polyphonic singing. The polyphonic tradition, often for three parts, has its roots in pre-Christian folk tunes, and the repertoire exists in many genres and regional variations. The Georgian polyphonic singing tradition was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2001. As a part of the Georgian Orthodox liturgy, the sacred polyphony has been suppressed for long periods, both in the time of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. The tradition was still preserved orally in monastery schools around the country, and it had a revival with Georgia’s independence in 1991. Polyphonic singing is now an established expression of Georgian religious identity and cultural heritage. With this project, we present church music from one of the world’s oldest Christian nations.

The concert in Oslo Cathedral is in two parts. The first half is dedicated to traditional Orthodox church music, known for its calm, complex harmonies where the text (the prayers) is the main focus. Didgori performs songs from the four traditional monastery schools: Martvili-Gelati Monastery and Shemokmedi Monastery in the west, and Ikalto Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Monastery in the east. These four monastery schools are responsible for more than 12 000 melodies! The second half of the concert is dedicated to folk music from different parts of Georgia. The ensemble presents the multitude of traditional polyphony that the country has to offer, with the rhythmic drone, yodelling, and colourful ornamentations in the high-pitched voices of East Georgian singing, and the powerful voices of West Georgia. Didgori also plays on traditional instruments like the string instruments chonguri and panduri.

Didgori is one of Georgia’s most acclaimed vocal ensembles. The members come from different parts of the country, but the ensemble is based in the capital Tbilisi. Didgori is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the country’s musical heritage, and the singers’ repertoire is rich and eclectic, including traditional secular songs for celebrations, work, and mourning, as well as songs from the Georgian Orthodox tradition. The award-winning ensemble has toured internationally since 2004, in France, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Israel, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Latvia, and Canada. Ensemble Didgori masters a broad range of Georgian musical styles, reflecting the diverse and complex landscape of the country. The name ‘Didgori’ refers to a historic battle from 1121, which reunified Georgia and marked the beginning of an era of artistic and cultural prosperity.