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Zemo & Kvemo Alvani

Keselo Ensemble

Keselo Ensemble's namesake is the 13th century tower complex near Omalo, in the highland of Tusheti. Keselo’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 Kakheti, their songs strongly evoke the spirit of the mountains that are home to their ancestral roots.

Ensemble members at the time of recording: Eliko Torghvaidze; Meri Jikhoshvili; Ana Lukhumaidze³; 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.

³Ana Lukhumaidze passed away in 2017. We are grateful for her participation in this project.

Ghrublebi -

Keselo Ensemble
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Zezvais Tskheni (Gaprindaulis Simghera) -

Keselo Ensemble
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Gakhsovs Ramdeni Otsneba Gvkonda -

Keselo Ensemble
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Tsqali Arghunis Davlie (Mzekalo) -

Keselo Ensemble
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Khanshi Shesulo Metskhvare -

Keselo Ensemble
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Aseti Ghame Mkholod Mtebshia -

Keselo Ensemble
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Ramdeni Khania -

Keselo Ensemble
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Kali Keria Bechavi -

Keselo Ensemble
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Tusheto, Tushta Mshvenebav -

Keselo Ensemble
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Mze-Chais Moginaklise -

Keselo Ensemble
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Kvlav Sichabukis Natruli -

Keselo Ensemble
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