Ensemble Adilei hails from the republic of Georgia, and consists of nine members, who can be found singing absolutely everywhere, all the time. While all of them have chosen different professions (from medicine to computer science), what they have always shared is a passion for the Georgian polyphonic tradition.
The ensemble is based in Tbilisi (Georgia’s capital) but most of the singers have roots in the province of Guria (in Western Georgia), which is why a big part of their repertoire comes from there.
Guria is home to a complex and colorful form of Georgian polyphonic folk singing. Gurian songs devote equal ‘attention’ to all voice parts, providing them with non-parallel, unique lines of melody that come together at certain points only to diverge again. Guria is also famous for the unique technique of Krimanchuli, a rhythmic yodel, which (like all the other voice parts) can vary and change as much as each singer wishes during any performance.
In 2017, I organized Adilei’s first-ever tour to the Unites States. Over the course of January 10-February 13, the group performed, lectured, and gave workshops at Dartmouth, Yale, Wesleyan, and Columbia Universities, the New England Conservatory, Jalopy theater, Music Vilage NOLA, University of Louisiana, and a dozen other venues on the East coast.
In 2019, Adilei went to the US once more, this time, however, I also brought their friends, the Chamgeliani Sisters from Svaneti (a Northwestern highland region of Georgia with its own language and a particular, powerful singing tradition). This time, the tour included both coasts, with workshops with the renowned Kitka ensemble in San Francisco, and concerts at Eristavi Winery, Yard Theater, Frontier Home Series, Center for World Music, performances (and often lectures) at Bard, Brandeis, New England Conservatory, Loyola Marymount, Indiana University, Univeristy of Illionois Champagne-Urbana, a series of events for the Lotus Outreach Program (Bloomington), and culminating in a sold-out Show for the Live @365 Concert Series by Live Sounds at Elebash Hall.