Georgian Singing show in London this weekend

This recently received via the e-grapevine and serial Georgian singing event organiser, Michael Bloom:

"This is to remind you that the choir of the Georgian Cathedral in London, led by Malkhaz Erkvanidze, will be giving a concert on Sunday January 14th 2018 starting at 2 pm. (please note start time) at St. John's Church, Hyde Park Crescent, London W2 2QD. Flyer attached. There will also be supporting groups including members of Malkhaz's choir in Georgia "Sakhioba" and the London Georgian Choir "Maspindzeli". 

Tickets will be available by email from:  tvepkhvadze@gmail.com  

or by going to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/london-georgian-church-choir-concert-tickets-41138622728?aff=es2

or at the door. The concert is a fund-raising event for a new Scientific Research Centre of Georgian Traditional Folk Music in Tbilisi, to give Georgian music, as Malkhaz puts it, "new blood, a new restart." It sounds an exciting project.

I hope to see you at the concert. Malkhaz is a very professional choir leader and the concert should be well worth attending.

With best wishes for the New Year,

Michael Bloom"

Should be a fascinating show if you can make it along.

Master Class with Malkhaz Erkvanidze this Thursday

Just a reminder that we are very proud to be organizing a "Master Class with Malkhaz Erkvanidze", one of the top people in the world of Georgian singing who has been at the forefront of the revival of Georgian folk and medieval sacred music for the past 25 years, pictured right.

The event will be held on Thursday 6th March in the Ashton Keynes School Hall, opening around 19:15 and starting around 19:45.  Tickets for this special one off Master Class cost of £10 per bloke, £5 per Mini-Bloke (kid) available on the night.

Non-blokes are welcome to attend but because of the nature of our all bloke group we have asked that he focus on pieces more suitable for our range, so please bear that in mind.

This should be viewed as an unmissable opportunity to learn from one of the greats of this genre so to book your place, email themagnificentak47@gmail.com and we will sort out the details.

More about MALKHAZ ERKVANIDZE

He is one of the world's foremost authorities on traditional Georgian folk and sacred music. Born in the central mountainous region of Imereti, Malkhaz grew up singing folk music in his family and with a local master-singer named Benia Mikadze. 

His unique background growing up in a family singing tradition allowed Malkhaz the opportunity to develop an ear for indigenous Caucasus tuning systems. A graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatory, he has spent much of his professional life rescuing traditional Georgian orthodox chants suppressed under Soviet communism. 

His seven books of Georgian hymns and folk songs have been published with CDs,and he has written many articles about the distinctive musical structure of Georgian polyphony. In 1988 Malkhaz founded the Anchiskhati Choir, dedicated to preserving the authentic Georgian tuning system and traditional singing styles. Malkhaz currently teaches at the Tbilisi State Conservatory and consults for and directs numerous choirs, including Sakhioba Ensemble, with whom he has produced five albums

Bizarre gig request 2014 #1

One of the great things about THE Magnificent AK47 is that from time to time we get asked to do some very bizarre things, and usually we are more than up for it.

Unfortunately, we can't always take up these offers, such as this recent invite from someone organising an event on Friday 7th March at Foyles bookshop in central Bristol where they are hosting Meg Clothier, an author who has written an historical novel about Queen Tamar of Georgia. The enquirer wondered if Magnificent AK47 fancied coming to the event (7pm to 9pm approx.) and singing some Georgian songs?  Of course would love to, but this time we can't.  

But that doesn't stop YOU popping along . . .  Have a look at the Foyles Bristol website or check out the book in question.

Georgian Singing Workshop in the P.R. of Stroud

Word has reached us of another Georgian Singing Evening with Carl Linich on Tuesday November 26th in STROUD in one of the first floor rooms in the Centre for Science & Arts, Lansdown, Stroud from 7.30 till 9.30. 

The workshop will be with Carl, an American who founded the first Georgian choir in the West, the Kavkasia Trio, and has won awards from the Georgian State for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Georgian singing.   

You can find a full biography, pictures, audio samples and lots of other information about Carl on his website.

Carl will teach by ear, and promises that he will match the difficulty to the ability of the singers who come on the evening!  All are welcome!  It's NOT just for blokes.

The event is being organized by lapsed, but none the less Magnificent Bloke Nick Mills who has been putting on singing events for many years and several of the current Magnificent Blokes attended Carl's workshop in Oxford the other night and can vouch for the fact that it will be a very interesting evening and you will learn tons about the language, the culture and how to sing this very special genre.

The workshop will be costed on a self-assessed sliding scale £12/£10/£8 depending what you feel is right.   The organizers will provide herb teas & biccies. 

To book please email sing@circleofsong.co.uk, register using an Online form here or call 01453 752978.   And here's a poster for this workshop. 

Please note: there are stairs and no lift, so please call Nick if you may have access issues.

Full links

http://www.nyfolklore.org/tradarts/music/artist/linichc.html
http://circleofsong.co.uk/

Georgian Singing Workshop in Oxford

Word has reached us of a Georgian Singing Evening with Carl Linich on Thursday November 21st in OXFORD at the New Road Baptist Church in Bonn Square, Queen Street from 7:00 pm. to 10:00 pm. It will start at 7:15 pm. and finish around 9:45 pm. with a break for refreshments. 

The fee will be at £12 / £10 / £8 according to means (self-assessed) including refreshments. There are still places available if anyone else would like to come.

The workshop will be with Carl Linich, an American who founded the first Georgian choir in the West, the Kavkasia Trio, and has won awards from the Georgian State for his contribution to the preservation and promotion of Georgian singing. You can find a full biography, pictures and audio samples at: http://www.nyfolklore.org/tradarts/music/artist/linichc.html

The event is being organized by Michael Bloom who has known Carl for around 15 years and know him to be an excellent teacher so it should be a very interesting evening.  If you are interested in going email Michael direct a michaelbloom1@compuserve.com. 

Shen Xar + Georgian for beginners

A bunch of new tracks have just been uploaded to our Soundcloud Practice pieces for the material introduced at our Workshop on Sunday 14th April, the magnificence that is "Shen Xar".

Along with the pieces, which Chris S would like to point out are a little rough round the edges (but thought it was better to get something out so blokes could start practicing), there is also a recording explaining the pronunciation for all you non-native Georgian speakers, and can be found at https://soundcloud.com/the-magnificent-ak47/sets/shen-xar.  

Those wishing to learn more about the language might want to start their journey at good old Wikipedia with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_grammar.

Whilst here, you might be interested to wander further into the Internet to discover more about this piece.  A fine version that varies a little from our arrangement can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9RGtFomp8o and another very genuine sounding and more similar version can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUtR_3NKQDU.  And of course, The Spooky Men's Chorale, have a beautiful version that is available for your perpetual enjoyment via their "Tooled Up" CD, purchaseable from http://www.spookymen.com/cds-tu.php

"იხალისეთ მოგზაურობა" as we say in Georgia!