Adilei

Ensemble Adilei performs traditional Georgian polyphonic songs and chants. After informally singing together for several years, the members officially formed the ensemble in 2012.

Adilei’s main passion lies in the songs from the province of Guria in Western Georgia (though other regions are also represented in their repertoire). Gurian music is sometimes compared to jazz, because of the emphasis on improvisation, and non-parallel movement in all the voice parts. Gurian song is also characterized by k’rimanch’uli , a yodeling technique often present in the upper voice.

For the members of Adilei singing is the primary mode of communication with the world: it is more of a lifestyle than a performance practice and is not just relegated to official concerts. They sing every time they gather, wherever that may be.

The ensemble has toured in a number of European countries, and participated in several notable folk music festivals, including the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony in Tbilisi, the Mare e Miniere festival in Sardinia, and the Zlatne Uste Golden Festival in New York. During their first US tour, the group conducted workshops, lectures, seminars, and concerts at Dartmouth,Yale, Columbia, New England Conservatory, and other universities on the East Coast, as well as a number of more informal and intimate venues. This is Adilei’s second US tour, and they are delighted to share their music with you!