In search of light

 

Anchiskhati Church Choir is a Georgian choral group, formed by Malkhaz Erkvanidze, Davit Zatiashvili, Guram Gagoshidze, Rezo Kiknadze, Davit Shughliashvili, Zaal Tsereteli, Temur Imnadze, Alexandre Khakhishvili, Vasil Tsetskhladze, Mamuka Kiknadze, Grigol Bulia, Gocha Giorgadze, Davit Megrelidze, Levan Veshapidze, Gocha Balavadze and Nikoloz Beriashvili, A shared love of Georgian folk song brought a group of Conservatoire students together in 1987. Their aim was to study Georgian traditional song, both well-known and lesser known examples. 

Alongside learning songs, an interest in learning old, forgotten traditional polyphonic church hymns soon emerged. This became possible thanks to several collections of transcriptions of Georgian chants published at the end of the 19th century and preserved at the Georgian Folk Music Department of Tbilisi State Conservatoire. A very important priority for the young singers was to select their repertoire from recordings of old folk singers, where they could find a number of examples, not performed by any contemporary folk groups. A large place in the repertoire of the choir was occupied by songs of renowned folk singer Benia Mikadze (from the village of Kulashi, Samtredia District) and his choir "Sanavardo", as Malkhaz Erkvanidze, "Anchiskhati’s" young leader and Benia Mikadze shared the same village roots. 

Anchiskhati Choir - Polyphonic Voices Of Georgia