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Elik'o Torghvaidze
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K’eselo Ensemble's namesake is the 13th century tower complex near Omalo, in the highland of Tusheti. K’eselo’s members are Tush women from the villages of Kvemo Alvani and Zemo Alvani.
Each singer brings her own favorite songs to the group, and alongside the garmoni1 and panduri2 their voices weave together in a startlingly beautiful manner. Although they live in the plains of K’akheti, their songs strongly evoke the spirit of the mountains that are home to their ancestral roots.
Ensemble members: Elik’o Torghvaidze; Meri Jikhoshvili; Ana Lukhumaidze; Maqvala Rainauli; Iatamze Usharauli
1A button accordion that originated in Russia and plays an important role in the musical tradition of the Tush in Georgia, as well as in other regions throughout the Caucasus. Read more about the garmoni here.
2A three-stringed, fretted lute common in all regions of northeastern Georgia. The instrument is most frequently used to accompany ballad singing. Read more about the panduri here.
A love song.
There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.
There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.
Ghrublebi
Ghrublebi daparpashoben
Rogorts sharbatit mtvralebi
Mal-mal nu mkhedav geqopa
Dabla dakhare tvalebi
Shen shemokhedvas nat’rulni
Shurit shemkhedven kalebi
Pikrma daghala vazhk’atsi
Daghala dabla dakhara
Shena khar chemo dzvirpaso
Pikrma sali k’lde daghara
Daghara daanaoch’a
Zed qoil aghar akhara
Gare tushura ts’vima ts’vims
Chvenats gavighebt gzasao
/Rad mechveneba aka khar
Leksebsats mats’vdi kalsao/
Net’avi damits’unebde
Damanebebde tavsao
Vivlidi lashar-ghelesa
Vazhebs vavlebdi tvalsao
Mashin khom sheveqrebodi
Chemi gunebis kmarsao
This song is about Zezva Gaprindauli, a 17th century Tush hero. Gaprindauli is famous for gaining rights to winter pastures for his people in the valley of K'akheti after defeating the Persians in the Battle of Bakht'rioni. The uprising inspired famous Georgian poets such as Vazha-Pshavela and Ak'ak'i Ts'ereteli to write epic poems and novels about the battle.
Read more about the legend of Zezva on Batsav, an informative site created by Alexander J.T. Bainbridge.
Zezvais Tskheni (Gaprindaulis Simghera)
(scroll down for English translation)
Gadmoviare shenisluli samch’edlos mtebi
Shublze papari gadits’ie karishkhlis prtebi
Ros dahk’ravdi da dadgeboda mt’vrisa namkeri
Dols dahk’ravdi da utskho zhrzholas its’qebdnen mtebi
Khitanis velze, he ramdenjer gitareshnia
Zaalnis gortan alamtanats idek p’irveli
Sheni khvikhvini gaismoda satatretshia
Tskheni iqavi tu lamazi laghi prinveli
Doghis belado bakht’rionis tsikhis k’edlebi
Khmlita da doghit shen da zezvas shegilets’niat
Isartelvis dros tsetskhls ak’vesdnen sheni nalebi
Ise dahkrodi sik’vdilits ver ts’amogets’ia
Alvanis velze gaaprine gaprindauli
T’akht’is bogirtan utsabedad gulgatangulo
Sheni gants’irva iqo zezvas danashauli
Pekhmardo lurjav mt’rebis siskhlit gats’itlebulo
Da dghesats tush k’atss ch’iri akvs tu zhamta salkhino
T’akht’is bogirtan ts’utit maints alagmavs kurans
Qants’i tu ar akvs uzangaze daiskhavs ghvinos
Moikhseniebs gagtsdeba da kuds daikhuravs
Translation:
Zezvai’s Horse (Gaprindauli's Song)1
Crossing the foggy mountains of Samch'edlo
You flipped your mane wings in a storm
There was a snowdrift of dust all around
The mountains trembled at the drumming of your hooves
At Khitani, how many times did you gallop through?
At Zaalnis flag you were the first to arrive
In Satatreti2 your neighing was heard
Were you really a horse or just a free bird?
You led the horserace to the walls of Bakht’rioni3
By the sword, you and Zezva won
Your horseshoes sparked with fire as you flew
So fast that even death couldn't follow
You sped Gaprindauli through the Alazani Valley
Suddently tiring at the Ottoman footbridge
It was Zezva’s offense that you sacrificed your life
Nimble-hooved horse, painted with the enemies' blood
And to this day, whether grieving or celebrating
A Tush man curbs his bay horse at the Ottoman footbridge
If there is no qants’i3 he pours wine into the stirrups
In honor of you he praises your name and tips his hat
1This song is about Zezva Gaprindauli's horse. Gaprindauli was a 17th century folklore hero from Tusheti, famous for having participated in the Battle of Bakht'rioni.
2Satatreti literally means ''The place of the Tatars,'' the name the Georgians use to refer to Azerbaijanis.
3A 17th century fortress, today in ruins, originally served as an outpost of the Persian Safavid Dynasty in the 1650’s, until Georgian highlanders and plainspeople joined together in a surprise attack in 1659.
4A hollowed-out wild goat horn used as a drinking vessel for special toasts.
A song of unrequited love.
Gakhsovs Ramdeni Otsneba Gvkonda
(scroll down for English translation)
Gakhsovs ramdeni otsneba gvkonda
Rogor gkhiblavda mshobeli mkhare
Iremis tsikhe evos k’oshk’ebi
Tsisk’ris ghimili qoveli tsismare
Otsnebad gvkonda ertad gvenakha
Lamazi mta da lamazi bari
Ts’aro etelda egho indurta
Da saotsnebo khevi bats’ari
Rogorts niaghvris shemdeg iebi
Dzvirpaso davrchit skhva da skhva tkhemze
Tumtsa vest’umret magram ushenod
Karits k’i skhva khmit mgheroda khevze
Zevit vutskerdit saqornis mts’vervals
Titkos tskhovrebas shenit vavsebdi
Naghvelma akats aikhsna bage
Dzvirpaso akats shen gamakhsendi
Translation:
Remember How Many Dreams We Had?
Remember how many dreams we had?
How the land of your ancestors charmed you?
The Deer Fortress and Evo’s Towers
And dawn smiling at you every morning...
We dreamt together
Of this beautiful mountain highland
Of the village called Indurta1
And the mystical Bats’ari Gorge2
Like violets after a torrential rain
We were separated from one another
I visited the mountains, but without you
Even the wind sang differently in the gorge
While I looked up at Saqorni’s peak
Life seemed to be filled with you
There was great sadness, my darling
I will remember you here
1A Ts'ova-Tush village in Tusheti
2A gorge in K'akheti that borders Tusheti, the Batsara River is a tributar of the Alazani.
Ts’qali Arghunis Davlie (Mzekalo)
(scroll down for English translation)
Ts’qali arghunis davlie
Shen daginakhe, mze kalo
Shat’ilis tsikhes tsetskhls mivtsem
Tushet ts’agiqvan, mze kalo
Dek’is taiguls mogartmev
Lurjazed shegsvam, mze kalo
Tushetshi dagsvam dedoplad
Chemtan iknebi, mze kalo
Korts’ils gavmartav tushetshi
Arts’ivs gavapren mzestano
Maqrad movits’vev varsk’vlavebs
Shenzed vilotseb, mze kalo
Iebs dalalshi chagits’nav
Gvirgvins dagadgam, mze kalo
Khitanas k’urat’s shevutkvam
Jvars gadavits’er, mze kalo
Translation:
I Drank From the Waters of the Arghuni
I drank from the waters of the Arghuni1
And I saw you, sun woman
I will set fire to Shat’ili's fortress
Capture and take you to Tusheti
I will bring you a bouquet of rhododendron
And place you atop my gray horse
And crown you the queen of Tusheti
You will be with me forever, sun woman
We shall be married in Tusheti
I will fly an eagle to the sun
The stars will be our wedding party
And I will pray for you, sun woman
I will weave violets into your braid
And place a crown on your head
I promise to sacrifice a buffalo
And I will cross myself, sun woman
1The Argun River flows through Shat'ili and into Chechnya in the north Caucasus.
A shepherd song.
Khanshi Shesulo Metskhvare
(scroll down for English translation)
Khanshi shesulo metskhvare
Isev gimgheris gulia
Mash davijero ar itsi
Dardi da siqvarulia
Mash davijero ara khar
Bedisgan dachagrulia
Mash davijero ara gakvs
Balghoba dak’argulia
Translation:
You Are Not Young Anymore, Shepherd
You are not young anymore, shepherd
But your heart still wants to sing
How can I believe
That you do not know grief and love?
How can I believe
That you have not been oppressed by fate?
How can I believe
That you have not lost your childhood?
Aseti Ghame Mkholod Mtebshia
(scroll down for English translation)
Aseti ghame mkholod mtebshia
Gulit minda da veghar vidzineb
Me shenze pikri shemomechvia
Gulit minda da veghar vitsileb
Mk’lavs da ar vitsi risi ts’qurvili
Otsnebisatvis tsaa maghali
Amodis mtvare siqvarulivit
Mudam dzveli da mudam akhali
Gavtsker kheobebs mtvarit antebuls
Alaznis duduns bans adzlebs mtebi
Vt’k’bebi am tskerit da ase vambob
Es mkholod chventan tushetshi ari
Translation:
A Night Like This One
A night like this one is only in the mountains
I try to fall asleep to no avail
My sorrow over you consumes me
I want to get rid of it, but I can’t
It pains me that I don’t know what I thirst for
The sky is too high for my dreams
And the moonrise is like love:
It's forever old and forever new
I look over the moonlit ravines
The Alazani1 murmurs and the mountains hum
I take pleasure in this view, for this
This is only in our Tusheti
1The Andi Koysu River, referred to here as Tusheti's Alazani, needs to be differentiated from the Alazani River that flows through K'akheti, Georgia. The Tushetian river flows north of the Caucasus watershed into Dagestan, eventually running into the Sulak River which ends in the Caspian Sea.
A song of lost love.
Ramdeni Khania
(scroll down for English translation)
Ramdeni khania es mtvare amodis
An es mze rad chadis, rad chadis, ushenod
Dgheebi midian, dgheebi mihkrian
Da me k’i vberdebi, vberdebi ushenod
Ramdeni khania, ramdeni khania
Ertmanets davedebt, mtashi tu barshia
Es guli daberda, gaige, daberda
Rom movk’vde, itsode, sul sheni bralia
Balghobis dgheebi, karivit ts’avida
Dghe gautenebliv, dghe ghames mieba
Ar tsodnit raime, tsodvas tu chaviden
Chem asak’s ar tsodna ar ep’at’ieba
Ramdeni khania es mtvare amodis
Es mtvare amodis, amodis, ushenod
Es guli daberda, gaige, daberda
Da me k’i vberdebi, vberdebi, ushenod
Translation:
How Many Times
How many times has the moon risen
And the sun set without you?
Time passes and as the days run by
I too will get old without you
How long will we search for one another
In the mountains and the plains?
My heart has aged, know that it has aged
And if I die, it will be your fault entirely
Childhood days have blown away with the wind
A day without sunrise joins the night
If I have sinned without knowing it
Then my age knows no pardon
How many times has the moon risen?
The moon rises and rises without you
My heart has aged, know that it has aged
And I too will get old without you
Kali Keria Bechavi
(scroll down for English translation)
Kali keria bechavi
Sidam ra daiteseba
Visim ra sakhlshi sheva da
Vis k’eras aazhgherebsa
Vis ezosiad iktseva
Da mis bans daamshvenebsa
Visim ra varsk’vlav iktseva
Vistvis itsis k’rebs dilita
Vis ezos aamzianebs
Chit’ebis zhghara-zhghirita
Kali keria bechavi
Sidam ra daiteseba
Translation:
Woman, As Poor As Barley
Woman, as poor as barley
Where will she be sowed?
Whose house will she enter?
To whose heart will she bring joy?
Whose garden and roof
Will she make beautiful?
Whose star will she be?
Who will she wake for in the morning?
To whose yard will she bring sunshine
And the sound of singing birds?
Woman, as poor as barley
Where will she be sowed?
There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.
There is no English translation available for this song. If you are able to provide one, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.
Tusheto, Tushta Mshvenebav
Tusheto, tushta mshvenebav
Shenim sitsotskhlit matsotskhla
Shenim qurebit gamodzgho
Shenim khat’ ghmertze malotsa
Shenim alersi maghirsa
E mag bunebis momtsao
Shenim sitsotskhlit matsotskhla
Shenim sitsotskhlit momk’lao
Shens mk’erdze mekna samara
Masmina qvavilt mgherao
Mtidan davardnil chanchkeri
Chems perkhtit aamgherao
A song of unrequited love.
Mze-Chais Moginak’lise
(scroll down for English translation)
Mze-chais moginak’lise
Sul menat’rebi ganara
Qvela simgheris magier
Sevda vimghere kalama
Chumi churchulit gnat’robdi
Tsremlebm tvalebi danama
Jobs rom ar mqvandes nandobi
Ar momk’las shenistanama
Mezmana shen khma gavige
Qurs vugdeb pekhis khmasao
Chemi archeul iqavi
Masham rad erge skhvasao
Mze-chais moginak’lise
Sul menat’rebi ganara
Qvela simgheris magier
Sevda vimghere kalama
Translation:
The Sun is Setting and I Miss You
The sun is setting and I miss you
But I long for you always
Instead of songs
I sing only sadness, woman
I wish for you in a whisper
Tears wet my eyes
Though it's better not to regret
And not to be killed by you
I think it was your voice I heard
With the sound of footsteps
You were my choice
But now you belong to another
The sun is setting and I miss you
But I long for you always
Instead of songs
I sing only sadness, woman
There are no lyrics or translations available for this song. If you are able to provide any information, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.
There are no lyrics or translations available for this song. If you are able to provide any information, please include it in an email to aurelia@tsutisopeli.com and we will update the page.