polikarpe

I listened to this whole interview this morning, with Polikarpe Khubulava, one of Georgia's great songmasters.  I had the opportunity to work with Polikarpe in 2011, in a little village in western Georgia, called Merisi, Ach'ara.  It's literally in the clouds.  They come in the windows in the morning and hang in the bedroom with you.  A magical place.

They say you can't be a true lotbari (songmaster) until you know 300 songs, in all 3 voices.  It takes a lifetime, or more...

I'm packing for a trip to Scotland for a Georgian singing workshop, specifically for leaders of Georgian choirs outside of Georgia (!), which was practically designed for me.  I was asked to bring a song to teach, and then also to teach a workshop in Edinburgh on my way out of the country.

So, today has become, "prep songs day", which I'm very happy to do.  Good thing most of my clothes and things are packed, so I can actually spend the day focusing on music.  It's interesting to look at my repertoire.  What should I teach? Is it okay to teach something I *just* learned? Is it better to teach something I've already taught? Or better yet, already sung in a group, inside and out?  But it's a learning experience, right? So, shouldn't I teach something I'm not as familiar with so I'm still excited about it (and therefore my students will be, too?)  

My blind friend who will be attending from Ireland has asked for texts ahead of time, so I've been throwing song texts at her via email, and I don't know if I'll end up teaching any of them.  But... better to be over-prepared, right?  She can get them all Brailled up before she comes, which will be good.  I'm looking forward to singing with her again, after meeting her in Georgia in 2011.   Supposedly, she can transcribe music on her Braille device and hold a conversation at the same time.  Ha! Can't wait to experience that in person.

chonguri times

Ben came to our onefourfive rehearsal yesterday and showed off his chonguri prowess. Wow! He also accompanied us on a few songs, which was new for him.  He explained that most of his experience learning polyphonic Georgian songs at the Conservatoire was with a teacher singing one part, playing another on the piano, and then he sang the 3rd part.  It was a new experience for him to get to sing with a group, while all 3 parts are being sung.   How strange! (Note to self, maybe studying Georgian folk songs while staying in the US is not so bad?!?)

It also made me realize how nice it is to have someone else playing the chonguri, so I can be  teaching parts or correcting things without having to stop what I'm doing.  There's a freedom that exists when you're not behind an instrument... especially when it's ME behind the instrument.   This adds data to my idea that I would like someone to be my personal chonguri/banjo player, and he/she could just follow me around and accompany me on my favorite songs, and also noodle on things around the house.  That's my idea of heaven. 

making an album?

Today, I had a meeting with a sound engineer/producer about making an album, called 3X3X3. The idea is that it will be me, in three different trios, singing music from three different genres.  The engineer suggested figuring out a way that all three genres are similar, and ways that all three of them are different.  At this point, it looks like it will be a Georgian trio, a Balkan one (hopefully with at least one Albanian song), and a classical-ish one (Bartok, Kodály, etc).  It's easy to find similarities between the Georgian and Balkan material, seeing as they are both polyphonic folk and from a similar part of the world, but I'm not sure how to tie those in with Bartok. Unless of course, you consider that both Kodály and Bartok were both heavily influenced by the folk music of their time.  

Another idea is to do an exploration of modes.  Or rhythm.  Could I find a Georgian, an Albanian, and a classical piece all in the same mode? Or with similar rhythmic attributes? Or some third, yet undefined category?

And then, how are they different?  I could play a different role in each trio... like singing top, middle, and bottom, depending on the genre. Or something. Lots to think about! 

networking

I met with Ben from Sayat Nova project today.  It was nice to chat with an American who has just been living in the Caucasus. There's something about shared perspective that's just really nice.  I was super inspired by his Sayat Nova travels and blogging.  How cool would it be to travel around the Caucasus (done that), make field recordings (done that, too), but then also DO SOMETHING WITH THEM, like putting them out in the world to share with everyone?