Songs of Survival: Traditional Music of Georgia

"The Georgians are probably the most musical people on earth: these recordings give a wonderful snapshot of a society in which many musicians would give their right arm to live. Here the division between professional and amateur becomes meaningless - such is the commitment of the professional, and the skill of the amateur. Everywhere we find their staggeringly beautiful three-part vocal polyphony - whether in a wedding song, lullaby, or richly dissonant religious chant.”
- Gavin Bryars

Georgia lies to the south of Russia, bordered by the Black Sea to the west and by Turkey and Armenia in the south and Azerbaijan in the east. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Georgia is a small, very mountainous and poor country with a population of under 5 million but with a rich and ancient cultural life, mainly centring around music. Considering itself European, Georgia is at the crossroads of the east and west, a Christian country influenced by it's Muslim neighbours to the south and east.

'Songs of Survival' is a comprehensive survey of the traditional music of Georgia with well over two hours of mostly vocal music celebrating the three part polyphonic music that lies at the heart of their musical life. There is a 28-page illustrated booklet with copious background notes, as well as notes on the songs and performances. Compiled and annotated by Michael Church, this wonderful package is fitting tribute to the survival of Georgian culture. As Michael Church puts it, "Georgians sing, and survive.”

"Michael Church combines a fine ear with dedicated research and a sense of social responsibility."
- Michael Nyman