The men’s folk group “Mtiebi” was created in 1980. The founder and head of this ensemble was the young musician-folklorist, later the remarkable specialist of the ethno-music Edisher Garakanidze. Soon “Mtiebi” became distinguished from other groups by its creative principles and the ensemble made a name as a pioneer of the authentic musical direction in Georgia. One of the most important principles of the group is to perform a folk song, as it is performed in an appropriate ethnographical surrounding in general. Compositions performed by “Mtiebi” preserve the manner and a tone system, characteristic for a specific region. Members of the group are dancing while singing and playing at different instruments, as performers from villages do. “Mtiebi” has a tradition of genuine dances and witticism on the stage. The purpose of the group is to preserve naturalness and joy, which characteristics its original forms. “Mtiebi” also has enlivened folklore from so called “Turkey’s Georgia” for the first time.
Close relationship with performers from villages and with a Georgian village in general, is an inseparable part of the creative work of the ensemble. With the exception of trips aimed to record folk songs, the members of “Mtiebi” visited different regions of Georgia annually as well as families in Tbilisi. Musicians also took part in the ancient traditional marching of “Alilo” and “Chona” (The Georgian tradition of festive march on Christmas and Easter, which are accompanied by singing too).
“Mtiebi” is often touring as well: holds concerts and conducts lessons of a Georgian song. The ensemble is also a laureate of different festivals (Vilnius, Copenhagen, Moscow, Lvov, Basque and etc.) In 1992 “Mtiebi” was awarded as the laureate at the International Spiritual Music Festival in Germany. The members of the group were also nominated as the honorable citizens of the city Lowell in Massachusetts, USA (1990).
There is a documentary film shot about the ensemble (director, Dimitri Gugunava, 1988), also several telecasts and radio programs were shedding light at the creative work of the group: “Mtiebi in Kartli”, authors – Lia Davlianidze, Nana Gurgenidze (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 1982), “Mtiebi in Sagarejo region” – authors Ketevan Kapanadze, Lia Davlianidze (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 1989), “Mtiebi” – author Dali Gurgenidze (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 1990), “Alilo boy” – author Luiza Shakiashvili (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 1997), “Mtiebi is singing” – author Luiza Shakiashvili (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 1998), “Mtiebi in the Great Britain” – authors Luiza Shakiashvili, Tinatin Chikoidze (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 1998), “Mtiebi” – author Tamar Tagvadze (“Ertsulovneba”, the Television of the Georgian Patriarchy 2009), “The Georgian voices”, author – Kakha Grigalashvili, director Soso Sturua (The first channel of the Georgian Television, 2009). “Mtiebi” participated in some documentary films too, including “Phenomena” by Merab Kokochashvili.
The ensemble “Mtiebi” is headed by the son of Edisher Garakanidze, Giorgi (Gigi) since 2001. He renewed the ensemble in 2003 and established the group, including both, men and women. The young members of the group were brought up in the studio “Amer-Imeri” at the principles of the authentic folk music. Today, the ethno-music theatre “Mtiebi” named after Edisher Garakanidze is represented by the young performers along with the elder generation of musicians.
The men’s folk group “Mtiebi” was created in 1980. The founder and head of this ensemble was the young musician-folklorist, later the remarkable specialist of the ethno-music Edisher Garakanidze. Soon “Mtiebi” became distinguished from other groups by its creative principles and the ensemble made a name as a pioneer of the authentic musical direction in Georgia. One of the most important principles of the group is to perform a folk song, as it is performed in an appropriate ethnographical surrounding in general. Compositions performed by “Mtiebi” preserve the manner and a tone system, characteristic for a specific region. Members of the group are dancing while singing and playing at different instruments, as performers from villages do. “Mtiebi” has a tradition of genuine dances and witticism on the stage. The purpose of the group is to preserve naturalness and joy, which characteristics its original forms. “Mtiebi” also has enlivened folklore from so called “Turkey’s Georgia” for the first time.
Close relationship with performers from villages and with a Georgian village in general, is an inseparable part of the creative work of the ensemble. With the exception of trips aimed to record folk songs, the members of “Mtiebi” visited different regions of Georgia annually as well as families in Tbilisi. Musicians also took part in the ancient traditional marching of “Alilo” and “Chona” (The Georgian tradition of festive march on Christmas and Easter, which are accompanied by singing too).
2009 Mtiebi.Com