Province: Khevsureti

A highland region in Eastern Georgia, on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains and at the Ardoti, Shatili, Arkhoti (Pirikita Khevsureti) and Khevsureti Aragvi (Piraketa Khevsureti) gorges.

Musical Dialect: Khevsuretian

Songs of this region are mainly one-voiced. Drone-based two-voiced singing is also encountered. Forms of performance: solo and unison singing (in men’s repertoire), alternation of two soloists without the accompaniment of the bass and the so-called shemgherneba (a kind of alternation when each singer sings bass part for the other after having finished his own tune). Men sing in a loud tense voice, with glissandos.

Songs: Mtibluri, Tasshi Mghera, Tseleburi, Khutshabat Gatendeba, Perkhisuli, Gvaris Simghera, Khationebis Simghera, etc.

Musical Instruments: Panduri and chianuri.

Province: Pshavi

A mountainous part in Eastern Georgia, South of Khevsureti. Historically it was divided into more than ten patrimonial communities, grouped around the territorial communities of Ukanapshavi and Magharoskari.

Musical Dialect: Pshavian

Songs of this region are mainly two-voiced. Drone-based polyphony is also encountered. Forms of performance: alternation of two soloists with the accompaniment of the bass, dialogue between two groups and solo singing. Men sing in more subtle and refined manner than Khevsuretians.

Songs: Perkhisa, Gvrini, Jvari Tsinasa, Kalo, Samaia, etc.

Musical Instruments: Panduri and gudastviri.

Povince: Tusheti

A highland region in Eastern Georgia. Consists of four historical communities: Tsova, Gometsari, Chaghma and Pirikiti Tusheti. In the beginning of the 19 th century Tushetians moved to Kakheti.

Musical Dialect: Tushetian

Old and new songs are identified in the musical folklore of this region. Old songs are one-voiced and new songs are mostly multi-voiced. Drone-based polyphony is also common. Forms of performance: solo and unison singing (in men’s repertoire). Tushetians sing in much softer manner than Khevsuretians and Pshavians. Sound vibration is quite frequent.

Songs: Lasharis Simghera, Zezva Gaprindauli, Dala, Es Shemodgoma Movida, Meitis Simghera, Deda Mogikvdesa, Metskhvaris Simghera, etc.

Musical Instruments: Salamuri, panduri and garmoni (accordion).

Province: Khevi and Mtiuleti

Khevi is a highland region in Eastern Georgia, on the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, and at the Truso, Tergi and Snostsqali gorges.

Mtiuleti is a highland region in Eastern Georgia, south of Khevi, at the Tetri Aragvi gorge.

Musical Dialect: Mokhevian-Mtiuletian

Mokhevian and Mtiuletian modes have been identified. Singing here is mainly three-voiced and drone-based polyphony is most common. Forms of performance are alternation of two groups, solo and unison singing (in Mokhevian women’s repertoire). Mokhevians sing very loudly, in a heavy and gloomy manner, with glissandos. Mtiuletians sing in a more moderate and less loud manner. Melismata are more frequent, glissandos are rarer.

Songs: Dideba, Khmuri, Gergetula, Khmit Tirili, Namgluri, Lomisis Jvrisa, Jvari Tsinasa, etc.

Musical Instruments: Panduri.

Province: Gudamaqari

A highland region in Eastern Georgia, at the Gudamaqari Aragvi gorge.

Musical Dialect: Gudamaqarian

Gudamaqarian songs are mainly two-voiced. Three-voiced songs are very few. Drone-based polyphony also found. Forms of performance are alternation of two soloists with the accompaniment of the bass and solo singing. The manner is something between Khevsuretian and Mokhevian on the one hand, and between Pshavian and Mtiuletian, on the other hand.

Songs: Jvari Tsinasa, Perkhisa, Kapia, Mtibluri, etc.

Musical Instruments: Panduri.

Province: Kartli and Kakheti

Kartli is a lowland region in Eastern Georgia. Ethnically and geografically it consisted of Zena Sopeli (later Shida Kartli) and Kvena Sopeli (later Kvemo Katli). Later appeared the term Zemo Kartli.

Kakheti is a lowland region in Eastern Georgia encompassing the Iori and Alazani river basins. Its parts are Garekakheti, Kiziqi, Shignikakheti and Gaghmamkhari.

Musical Dialect: Kartli-Kakhetian

Kartlian and Kakhetian modes are identified in this musical dialect. Songs are basically three-voiced. All types of multi-voiced singing are found. Responsorial and antiphonal forms of performance, solo and unison singing (in Kartlian women’s repertoire) are clearly distinguished. Kartlian men sing very loudly, boisterously while women’s singing manner is more balanced. Kakhetians sing in lower voice, with nasal sounds and lots of melismata.

Songs: Lazare, Chona, Chakrulo, Alilo, Banit Tirili, Grdzeli Kakhuri Mravalzhamieri, Ghvtis Karze Satkmeli Iavnana, etc.

Musical Dialects: Panduri and gudastviri.

Province: Meskheti and Javakheti

Meskheti is a lowland region in South-West Georgia.

Javakheti is a lowland region of South Georgia. Historically it was divided into Kvemo (Lower) and Zemo (Upper) Javakheti.

In the 16 th century Meskheti and Javakheti were conquered by the Ottomans. They returned to Georgia after the Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829.

Musical Dialect: Meskhetian

Musical dialect is spread on the territories of Meskheti and Javakheti. Meskhetian songs suffered foreign influence. Establishment of non-Georgian repertoire and derangement of the three-voiced singing is the result of this influence. In two-voiced songs drone-based polyphony is found. Forms of performance: alternation of three groups, solo and unison singing (in men’s repertoire). Meskhetians sing like Kartlians and Kakhetians, though with fewer melismata and without open sounds.

Songs: Mamli Mukhasa, Samqrelo, Okromchedelo, Gegutisa Mindorzeda, Mtredma Tavis Simartlita, Sakhlo Ghmertma Agashenos, Orovela, etc.

Musical Instruments: Gudastviri and doli.

Province: Svaneti

Svaneti is a mountainous region in Western Georgia, on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, encompassing the Enguri and Tskhenistsqali river basins.

Musical Dialect: Svan

Songs are mainly three-voiced; complex-parallel kind of polyphony is most common. Most songs are performed with perkhuli (round dance). In some perkhuliwomen also participate together with men. Forms of performance: one-group singing, alternation of two groups and solo singing. Svans sing in a loud and heavy manner, with ascending and descending glissandos.

Songs: Lile, Kviria, Mirangula, Zari, Tamar Dedpali, Barbal Dolashi, Dala Kojas Khelghvazhale, etc.

Musical Instruments: Chuniri and changi.

* Svan songs and musical instruments are also disseminated throughout Abkhazia.
Province: Racha

Racha is a mountainous region in Western Georgia. It is divided into Zemo (Upper) and Kvemo (Lower) Racha. Zemo Racha (Mountainous Racha) includes Ghebi, Chiora and Glola.

Musical Dialect: Rachan

Distinguished are Rachan and Mountainous Rachan repertoire and performance manner. Songs are basically three-voiced. The majority of songs are performed with perkhuli, in which women take part together with men. Forms of performance: one-group singing, alternation of two groups and solo singing. Rachans sing in a heavy, tense manner. The Mountainous Rachan is close to Svan manner.

Songs: Maghla Mtas Modga, Aslanuri Mravalzhamieri, Dalie, Kvedrula, Zruni, Korkali, Ghughuni, etc.

Musical Instruments: Gudastviri and chianuri.

Province: Lechkhumi

Lechkhumi is a highland region in Western Georgia.

Musical Dialect: Lechkhumian

Lechkhumian musical dialect is spread on the territory of Lechkhumi. The songs of this region are mainly three-voiced. Complex-parallel kind of polyphony is common. Forms of performance: one-group singing, alternation of two groups and solo singing. The Lechkhumians sing plainly and naturally.

Songs: Chvensa Chamodiao, Kikoliko Zaliko, Epoia, Odiada, Lachebi Da Opitara, Lale, Maqruli, etc.

Musical Instruments: Chonguri

Province: Imereti

Imereti is a lowland region in Western Georgia. It is divided into Zemo (Upper) and Kvemo (Lower) Imereti.

Musical Dialect: Imeretian

Imeretian musical dialect covers the territory of Imereti. Upper Imeretian and Lower Imeretian modes are identified in the repertoire and performance manner. Songs are mainly three-voiced. Two-voiced songs are found in Upper Imereti. All types of polyphony are common. Forms of performance: one-group singing, alternation of trio and a choir, alternation of two groups and solo singing. Great majority of a Upper Imeretian repertoire repeats the Kartli-Kakhetian one. Lower Imeretians sing rather loudly, in a “pizzicato manner”, without glissandos; Upper Imeretians sing Kartlians, though by less open sounds and loudly.

Songs: Keisruli, Patara Saqvarelo, Naduri, Tskhenosnuri, Deli-Dela, Chona, Gonja, etc.

Musical Instruments: Chonguri and guitar.

Province: Samegrelo

Samegrelo is a lowland region in Western Georgia on the territory between the Rioni, Tskhenistsqali, Enguri rivers and the Black Sea.

Musical Dialect: Megrelian

The songs of this region are basically three-voiced. All types of polyphony are characteristic of this part of Georgia. In round dances men and women sing together. Forms of performance: alternation of a trio and a choir, alternation of two groups and solo singing. Megrelians sing softly, with plaintive intonation.

Songs: Odoia, Chela, Kuchkhi Bedineri, Chaguna, Ocheshkhvei, Arti Vardi, Sisatura , etc.

Musical Instruments: Chonguri and larchemi.

* Megrelian songs and musical instruments are also disseminated throughout Abkhazia.
Province: Guria

Guria is a lowland region in Western Georgia. Historically it comprised the territories of present Ozurgeti, Chokhatauri and Lanchkhuti districts.

Musical Dialect: Gurian

Songs are mainly three-voiced. Some naduri (work) songs are four-voiced. All types of polyphony are found here. Forms of performance: alternation of a trio and a group, trio and solo singing. Gurians sing loudly, in a “pizzicato manner”. Some songs performed by trio are sung in a low voice with ghighini (very quiet singing).

Songs: Kalos Khelkhvavi, Khasanbegura, Naduri, Shavi Shashvi, Tsamokruli, Sabodisho, Zari, etc.

Musical Instruments: Chonguri and soinari.
Province: Achara and Shavsheti

Achara is a lowland region in Western Georgia. In the 16 th century it was conquered by the Ottomans. Achara returned to Georgia after the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Islam spread in Achara under the Ottoman Empire.

Shavsheti is a lowland region in South-West Georgia (modern day Turkey). In the 16th century it was conquered by the Ottomans. Shavsheti was freed as a result of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878, but later was seized by Ottomans again.

Musical Dialect: Acharan-Shavshetian

Acharan and Shavshetian modes are distinguished in this musical dialect. Folk songs of these regions are mainly two-voiced. Three-voiced singing is also common in Achara. Most frequently we encounter polyphonic and complex-parallel types of multi-voiced singing. Forms of performance: one-group singing, alternation of two groups, solo and unison singing (in Shavshetian and Acharan women’s repertoire). Acharans sing in a less marked manner than Gurians.

Songs: Qanuri, Chaghma Chaqrilo Venakho, Dedoplis Simghera, Matqlis Sartavi Naduri, Tirni Horerama, Pachvis Simghera, Harirashi, etc.

Musical Instruments: Chiboni, chonguri and doli.
Province: Lazeti

Lazeti is a lowland region in historical South-West Georgia. In the 15 th -16 th centuries Lazeti was conquered by the Ottomans. Only part of Eastern Lazeti was returned to Georgia after the Russo-Turkish was of 1877-1878.

Musical Dialect: Laz

Laz songs suffered Turkish influence. Songs of this region are mainly one-voiced. According to some sources, two-voiced drone-based songs were still sung in Turkish Lazeti in the 1930s. Three-voiced songs must have been from later times. Common forms of performance: solo and unison singing.

Songs: Helesa, He Yamo, Chuta Nusa, E Asie, etc.

Musical Instruments: Chiboni and pilili.