SACRED GEORGIAN CHANTS
By The Georgian Harmony Choir
(Sherman Oaks, CA) On November 18, 2008, Jade Music with the support of the Georgian Association in the United States is proud to release the first US album by The Georgian Harmony Choir.
Sacred Georgian Chants, a compilation of songs and chants from the war-torn region, reflects the vigor and beauty of polyphonic chants from one of the oldest Christian countries. In today’s uncertain political climate preserving the Georgian musical heritage in Georgia itself and around the world has become of incomparable importance.
10% of the proceeds will go to the Georgian Association in the United States of America, Inc., the oldest nonpartisan nationwide membership organization of Georgian-Americans and friends of Georgia. The Association strives to strengthen the Georgian- American community on a national level, and supports an independent, democratic and prosperous Georgia.
Chant expert Dr. Jean-Claude Larchet wrote extensive liner notes on the history of Georgian Chant and its peculiarities.
Georgian Chant
Georgian religious choir chant seems to have reached its apogee between the ninth and 10th centuries, when it developed considerably. It was codified as much inside the country (particularly in the monasteries of the Tao-Klarjeti region) as it was in many Georgian monasteries or those with a significant Georgian presence located in Palestine, in the Sinai desert, at Mount Athos and in Bulgaria.
Under its basic and normative form, Georgian religious chant is a three-voice polyphony (called mzakhr, zhir and bam as early as the sixth century in a treatise by Ioane Petritsi), characterized by particular vocal techniques and the use of close tones. Usually the highest voice provides the melody and is supported by two other voices.
Contemporary Georgian liturgical chant is a witness of its fidelity to the tradition of polyphonic chant and its various variations, but also of its ability to innovate within traditions.
The Georgian Harmony Choir
The Georgian Harmony Choir was founded in 2006 by Nana Peradze. Its members are passionate amateurs and professionals from Georgia. Its vocation is to raise the awareness of religious and popular Georgian chant following tradition and authenticity. The Choir has performed in Belgrade (Serbia), Tbilisi (Georgia), where it participated in the international music festival “Chveneburebi,” and Paris.
Nana Peradze
Nana Peradze was born into an Orthodox family in Georgia. She received a chant and piano education and pursued theological studies. She took part in many piano concerts and won several national contests. Since 1984, she has actively taken part in the religious rebirth of Georgia under communism, creating choirs in several monasteries and churches.
From 1993 to 1997 she taught music in several religious schools and was the head of the choir at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Tbilisi and at various churches in the Margveti region. In 1998 she went to France to pursue choir-conducting studies at the National Conservatory of Paris. In 2002 she founded the religious choir of the Georgian church in Paris before becoming the head conductor of Saint Simeon’s Choir, at “Saint Sava” Serbian Cathedral, in Paris, where she still sings today.
She currently conducts the Georgian Harmony Choir and is still studying Byzantine chant, of which she has considerable knowledge.
The Georgian Association in the United States of America
The Georgian Association in the United States advocates for Georgia and Georgian issues in the United States. The Association was founded in 1932 by Georgian immigrants following Russia’s occupation of Georgia in 1921. In 1960, it became a non-profit charitable US 501(c)(3) corporation. Since then, GA has assisted in maintaining public awareness of the Georgian nation and preserving Georgia’s identity and culture. The Association has provided a forum for discussing Georgian issues and has been a unifying entity for Georgian concerns.
Jade Music
Jade Music has a proven dedication to releasing quality classical and sacred music for more than 20 years. Its catalog includes works by the world-renowned Byzantine Choir of Greece and Lycourgos Angelopoulos, the choirs of Saint-Wandrille, Notre-Dame De Ganagobie, and Saint-Madeleine du Barroux, among others.
It has also established itself as the premiere record label of the choir of the abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain. In 2007, Jade Music released the first US album of Serbian singer Divna Ljubojevic, Divna in Concert.
Jade Music, an independently owned operation with offices located in Sherman Oaks, California and Paris, France is distributed by Ryko Distribution in the United States, Universal Music in France, JVC in Japan, and Warner Music International in the rest of the world.
Track listing:
1. Easter Processional
2. Matins Stichera
3. O come, let us worship
4. Thou art the Vineyard
5. Troparion of the Cross
6. Trisagion (Thrice Holy)
7. Kontakion of Saint Nino
8. As many of you who have been baptized into Christ
9. Alleluia
10. O Heavenly King
11. Christmas Chant
12-13. Cherubic Hymn
14. Litany for the Deceased
15. Easter Troparion
To stream the record, please visit http://milanrecords.com/jbox/jademusic/
For photos, music, and additional information about the album, the Georgian Harmony Choir and Nana Peradze, please contact Stefan Karrer:
Stefan Karrer
Jade Music / Milan Entertainment, Inc.
14724 Ventura Blvd. Suite 910
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Phone: (818) 849-3349
Fax: (818) 849-3341
stefan@jade-music.com
www.jade-music.com
www.milanrecords.com/spiritual
www.youtube.com/jademusic54
For additional information about the Georgian Association, Georgian musical culture in the United States, please contact Maka Gabelia:
Maka Gabelia
Executive Director
Georgian Association in the United States
2300 M Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20037
Phone: (202) 234-2441
georgianassociation@gmail.com