Shows
Voices of the AncestorsCenturies of Song with Teona Lomsadze: Series 2 Episode 7“So I feel Voices of the Ancestors are definitely, somehow, I don't know, kept in Georgian traditional music for me, because it's, it brings me so much energetic, like emotional information and energy er encoded in this music over the centuries, which is just because of our ancestors and their voices.”
Dr Teona Lomsadze.
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This episode covers a lot of ground, both musically and emotionally. Imagine singing with your family at feasts and the local folk youth club, then Gori Women’s Choir and in church, then being a jazz soloist and leading international workshops, all the while following your academ...2025-02-221h 15
Voices of the AncestorsNew Year Reflections: Folk and Protest“How beautiful is my homeland, the more beautiful it is, the more my heart breaks.”
From the song Ra Kargi Ram Khar being sung by protestors in Tbilisi.
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Susan travels to Oxford to record a special video episode with Holly (Youtube: https://youtu.be/1sHbDZnUA9Y). Reflecting on the political situation in Georgia, while looking back at the past year and ahead to the next.
- Giving an overview of the situation through the lens of folk songs and folk singers.
- Sharing how the situation is affecting past podcast guests - Zoe Perret, Nino Naneishvili and Nana Mzchavanadze.
- Expl...2025-01-0815 min
Voices of the AncestorsMyths and Stories of Svaneti - Series 2 Episode 5Series 2 Episode 5
“a connection which is not stopping from the past and goes and goes and maybe it’s the circle and maybe it's an unstoppable line - but oh it's a really great feeling.” Vanda Bakuradze
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Where can you catch a bear, a giant, a thunderstorm and a Bill Withers song?
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Continuing from our last episode, ‘Rituals of the Singing Village’, where we heard from the Chamgeliani singing sisters, in this episode we delve even deeper into the culture, mythology and stories of Svaneti.
- Hear from two young singers from ensemble Lalkhor, who say they could not live without ‘p...2024-05-3049 min
Voices of the AncestorsRituals of the Singing Village - Chamgeliani Sisters - Series 2 Episode 4How do you welcome the souls of your ancestors? Why are wolves sacred? Can you sing and dance through grief?
An audio journey to the highest mountains of Georgia - Svaneti. We meet Ana, Madona and Eka Chamgeliani, three sisters keeping the ancient traditions of their village, Lakhushdi, alive.
We hear:-
How their mother and grandmother passed on local traditions, protecting them from dying out.
-How a round dance, found in the capital, was taught to Maspindzeli (London based Georgian choir) and revived in its home village.
- How Madona took on the entire orthodox patriarchy and won the...2023-08-301h 03
Voices of the AncestorsNino Kaladadze Remembered - Series 2 Episode 3“Nino was like a fish in water amongst all the musical genres of Georgian folk, but especially so amongst the lullabies.”
Voices of the Ancestors podcast tribute to Nino Kalandadze-Makaradze, a respected ethnomusicologist, editor and singer with ensemble Mzetamze.
In the episode you will:
Meet Nino through interviews with fellow Mzetamze singer - Nana Valishvili, former student - Lola Surmanidze and the musicologist/cultural anthropologist Ekaterine Diasamidze Graham.
Listen to Nino Naneishvili with ensemble Ialoni improvising an ‘Iavnana’ musical response to the loss of Nino.
Hear a Rachian dance song from Mzetamze’s 2002 concert at SOAS, UK recorded by Geoff Burton.
Re...2023-04-2640 min
Voices of the AncestorsOn Folk Instruments with Nino Razmadze = Series 2 Episode 2Can you tell your changis from your chuniris from your chonguris? You’ll often see one of them in the hands of Trio Mandili. Don’t worry, our guest Nino Razmadze talks us through all the folk instruments of Georgia in this informative episode. Combine listening, with looking at the transcript, and you will become familiar with both the sound and looks of Georgian folk instruments.
Even if you’re familiar with the sound of a chonguri, you won’t have heard the field recording Nino made of the great player Polikarpe Khubulava.
Nino is an ethnomusicologist and deputy director of the I...2023-02-201h 16
Voices of the AncestorsTamar Buadze Part 1 - Series 2 Episode 1Voices of Our Grandmothers with guest Tamar Buadze and interpreter Zoé Perret.
Kicking off series 2, innovative choir conductor Tamar Buadze tells the surprising tale of how she came to work with Laz songs, while living in Rustavi (far, far away from Laz regions in Georgia and Turkey). One of her former students tells us what it was like to grow up in a folk choir, and tells us (one version of) the story behind the Abkhazian song Varado. But best of all Tamar shares with us the tone-bending voice of her Megrelian grandmother.
Tamar graduated from Tbilisi State Conservatory and i...2022-09-2344 min
Voices of the AncestorsTamar Buadze Part 2 - Series 2 Episode 1Voices of Our Grandmothers with guest Tamar Buadze and interpreter Zoé Perret.
Kicking off series 2, innovative choir conductor Tamar Buadze tells the surprising tale of how she came to work with Laz songs, while living in Rustavi (far, far away from Laz regions in Georgia and Turkey). One of her former students tells us what it was like to grow up in a folk choir, and tells us (one version of) the story behind the Abkhazian song Varado. But best of all Tamar shares with us the tone-bending voice of her Megrelian grandmother.
Tamar graduated from Tbilisi State Conservatory and i...2022-09-2329 min
Voices of the AncestorsSinging Landscapes, from Georgia to the Balkans with Briget BoyleIn this episode, our friend Jen Morris takes over the role of interviewer. She speaks with Briget Boyle, vocal coach and singer with Balkan Women's ensemble @kitka, bringing the west coast USA perspective to ‘Voices of the Ancestors’.
They chat about:-
working with powerful female teachers like Tamar Buadze, in Georgia and Svetlana Spajić in Serbia.
How to sing ‘folk music’ from a grounded, rooted place in your own landscape.
Briget’s insight into what ‘Voices of the Ancestors’ means for her, describing three types of ancestors - genetic, spiritual and ‘humanity’.
Briget shares experiences with Georgian songs in Temple of Light Cho...2021-10-0758 min
Voices of the Ancestors12: Following the StoriesIn the final episode of series 1, Susan and Holly take you on a whistle-stop tour of their recent encounters.
First we meet Tamar Buadze in Rustavi where she's started an open-air community singing initiative.
After Rustavi, join your hosts in Shilda where they unearth the start of a fascinating story linking the women’s ensemble Nelkarisi with Magda Kevlishvili from Mtiebi and Sagalobeli a pleading/begging song.
And finally take a mini visit to the Folk School in Telavi, sharing a spine-tingling rendition of Tsintskaro with ensemble Mze Shina.
Help Susan and Holly shape the future of the podcast by co...2021-07-0118 min
Voices of the Ancestors11: Khatia Turmanidze Finds Her VoiceMeet 17 year old Khatia, who lives 700 metres above sea level in the singing village of Merisi in Ajara, West Georgia.
Despite being 2 hours from the nearest city, Khatia is not cut off - She has friends all over the world who have come to learn songs from her family - from Melbourne Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Austria, Ireland, UK and beyond.
Hear how she was finally convinced to join in her family’s songs around the supra table.
Enjoy the sounds of Merisi, like the babbling waterfalling and the singing birds recorded live on our trip there in April.
To wa...2021-05-3142 min
Voices of the AncestorsMusical Games in a Folk Family with Nana Mzhavanadze - Episode 10Georgian musician and ethnomusicologist Nana Mzhavanadze was born into a musical family. She says her future was predicted by her grandmother:-
“when I was bought from the maternity house, my grandmother met me at the door, that was the first thing that she did, she put me on the piano and she said she is going to be a musician.”
This episode is a significant event for their family, as it brought Nana, her uncle Rebuli and his daughter Marekhi together to sing for the first time in over 10 years.
Whether you’ve heard Nana before, with Sathanao or Sisa T...2021-05-051h 04
Voices of the AncestorsEpisode 9: Behind the Scenes with Ialoni in AdjaraAn audio journey through the mountains of high Adjara, following ensemble Ialoni as they film for the American Library of Congress.
The Ialoni Homegrown Concert is available for free on The American Folklife Center youtube channel.
Youtube link: https://youtu.be/CU7KO28QDDk
Holly and Susan chat about the trip from Tbilisi to Shuakhevi and beyond. After walking through snow, Susan meets with elders from a creative family - P’at’i Tapaladze (featured in Ialoni’s concert) her daughter Eteri. With the aid of an interpreter, we hear the voices of P’at’i and Eteri as they speak abou...2021-03-3123 min
Voices of the AncestorsEpisode 8: From Georgia to Great Britain and back with Tamara VepkhvadzeHow did the Summer Song Festival with Katie Melua come about?
How are Georgian 'Shairebi' like Rap?
How do the very young learn to sing 'in voices'?
We talk about passing on the flame with Tamara Vepkhvadze, founder of Gonieri Georgian Art Studio in North London. She has taught at the First Georgian Supplementary School in the UK and trained as a puppeteer at the Little Angel Theatre. She now lives in Georgia and passes songs from Amer-Imeri back to her kids in the UK through online lessons.
Navigate this episode with the searchable transcript, complete with time stamps, available...2021-03-101h 07
Voices of the Ancestors7: Joan Mills on the Continuum of Theatre and SongWhat was the first Georgian song taught in the UK, and how did it come about?
How can Georgian songs be used in theatre and ensemble training?
And just how many songs are in the book 99 Georgian songs?
Joan Mills, Voice Director at the Centre for Performance Research (https://thecpr.org.uk/), talks about tending the flame of living traditions - influenced by her recent interview of Sam Lee (https://soundcloud.com/samleesongs) and reflections on Sheila Chandra’s music ‘Weaving My Ancestors' Voices’ (https://www.sheilachandra.com/). She speaks of ‘Points of Contact’ a concept that inspired many ‘Giving Voice’ Festi...2021-02-0457 min
Voices of the Ancestors6: Christmas and New Year with Magda KevlishviliMagda, leader of Amer-Imeri children's ensemble and co-leader of ensemble Mtiebi, tells us about the ancient tradition of Alilo, which was revived by her father-in-law, Edisher Garakanidze.
Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson.
For more information, and to see the transcript of this episode, visit www.voicesoftheancestors.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode, why not buy the creators a coffee?
On ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors or support the podcast on patreon https://www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors
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Music used: Ialoni (www...2021-01-0745 min
Voices of the Ancestors5: Reflecting Back and Looking Forward (Live Recording)We take New Years as an opportunity to reflect on the highlights and lowlights of 2020, what and who we are grateful for, and what we are looking forward to in 2021. We were joined on zoom by two of our past guests, Jen Morris and Nino Naneishvili, as well as some of our community of listeners. Everyone came up with suggestions for attracting sponsors to create a sustainable podcast. So many ideas bubbling up from our pool of creative and clever listeners. We all had fun fantasising about dream guests for the podcast.
Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and...2020-12-3141 min
Voices of the Ancestors4: Living and Singing in Georgia with Zoé PerretHow did french singer, instrumentalist and teacher Zoé become so entwined with Georgian songs?
"So for the first couple of years, I think, I was listening only exclusively to old Georgian folk songs. And you know, even though you are not born in the country, I think, if you listen to it constantly, then you, in the end, kind of get the feeling that there is something that sounds natural or not natural"
As leader and founder of ensemble Kimilia, ( https://kimilia.bandcamp.com/ )Zoé Perret talks about finding a 'common soul' between Georgian polyphony and medieval French music.
Voices of...2020-12-1053 min
Voices of the Ancestors3. Healing Songs and Circle Dances with Nino Naneishvili"It's one of the most valuable feelings, when your ancestor, your old generation hears his own songs. And when you perform it in your variation, improvisation and when they are happy. It's I think the biggest gift a performer can feel."
Nino Naneishvili, ethnomusicologist and musical director of women's ensemble Ialoni (https://ialoni.com/en/) tells us how she collected a healing song from a tiger and adapted it into her own style.
Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson.
For more information, and to see the transcript of this episode, visit https://voicesoftheancestors.co.uk
Sign...2020-11-1823 min
Voices of the Ancestors2. Shepherds and Bear Prints with Jenny BarrettEver wondered what the difference between a city song and folk song is? Or how songs vary through the different regions of Georgia? Jenny, singer with choirs Maspindzeli and Chela in the UK, takes you on a whistle-stop tour of Georgian singing, while telling tales of traveling in Tusheti and Svaneti and hosting Gigi Garakanidze in the UK.
Support the podcast on patreon https://www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors or Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors
Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson.
For more information, and to see the transcript of this episode, visit https://voicesoftheancestors.co.uk/
...2020-11-0534 min
Voices of the Ancestors1. Connection and Isolation with Jen MorrisSeattle Georgian singer Jen Morris speaks about her experience of lockdown, and how she has found community through fellow Georgian singers around the world.
Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson.
For more information, and to see the transcript of this episode, visit voicesoftheancestors.co.uk.
Support the podcast at:-
https://ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors
https://www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors
Music: Makharia by Ialoni, Khorumi by Sakhioba, Bindisperia Sopeli by Zedashe, Veengara by Mtiebi, Dideba Chvens Shekrebasa by Zoe Perret and Sakhioba.
With thanks to Johnny Fill, Teo Lomsadze, Phil Thompson, Hazel Thompson, Nino Razmadze and Jen...2020-10-2033 min
Voices of the AncestorsPreludeWhat is an ancestor? What is a podcast? Why are you listening to this? These questions may or may not be answered as Susan and Holly have a playful, spontaneous, unscripted chat about their hopes for the project.
Voices of the Ancestors by Holly Taylor-Zuntz and Susan Thompson.
For more information, and to see the transcript of this episode, visit voicesoftheancestors.co.uk
Support the podcast at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors
https://ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors
Music: Makharia by Ialoni, Veengara by Mtiebi.
With thanks to Johnny Fill, Teo Lomsadze, Phil Thompson, Hazel Thompson, Nino Razmadze and Jen Morris.2020-10-2012 min
Voices of the AncestorsVoices of the Ancestors - Podcast TrailerThe podcast about Georgian polyphonic songs and the women who sing them. Launching 21st October 2020 at the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony in Tbilisi Georgia.
Support the podcast at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesoftheancestors
https://ko-fi.com/voicesoftheancestors2020-10-1002 min