Gori Women's Choir

Ioseb, Kechaqmadze (b. 1938) - composer, professor, the Shota Rustaveli and Zakaria Paliashvili State Prizes winner, People's artist of Georgia, Head of the Choral-Conductor Chair of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. He began his activities at the end of the 1960s. I.Kechaqmadze continues the tradition of Niko Sulkhanishvili, a classic of national choir music, and is also the founder of a new choral style. The introduction of modern means of expression in choir music in Georgia and the international renown of Georgian professional music are linked with his name. The composer writes mostly in the choir genre, without accompaniment. Main compositions: choral cycles: Mtisai Bursa (From Mountain to Plain - poems by Ana Kalandadze), Dzveli Tbilisis Simgherebi (Old Tbilisi Songs - 5 paraphrases), Davitianidan (From Davitiani - poems by David Guramishvili), Adgilis Deda (Mother of Place - Georgian mythological poems), about 40 choral pieces (poems by Ilia Chavchavadze) and numerous chants.

Otar Taktakishvili (1925-1989) - composer, outstanding public figure, a classic of the 20th- century Georgian music, winner of various state prizes. He is the author of works in concert symphonic, opera, and choir music genres. Main compositions: Piano Concerto ¹ 1(C minor), Symphony ¹ 2(C minor), operas: Mindia (Mindia), Mtvaris Motatseba (The Abduction of the Moon), Mususi (Lady-killer), Pirveli Siqvaruli (The First Love), oratorios: Rustavelis Nakvalevze (Following in Rustaveli's Footsteps), Nikoloz Baratashvili (Nikoloz Baratashvili).




Aleksi Machavariani (1913-1995) – composer outstanding pubkic figure of the 20th-century Georgian music, winner of various state prizes. He entered the history of Georgian music as the author of numerous works of great talent, including romances: Tsisa Pers (The Colour of the Sky - words by Nikoloz Baratashvili), Skhio, Mzetamzis Sakheo (Beam, you are the Image of the Sun - words by David Guramishvili), and Ar Daidardo, Dedao (Don't Worry, Mother - words by Giorgi Leonidze), a violin concerto, ballet Othello, vocal cycle Khuti Monologi (Five Monologues - poems by Vazha-Pshavela), choral pieces, including very popular Doluri (Drum piece - noteworthy, there is a students' folk song ensemble bearing the same title in Sweden, which, along with other songs, performs Georgian folk songs as well).




Nikoloz Gudiashvili (1913-198) - composer, whose chamber instrumental music enjoyed wide popularity in the 1940-50s. He is the author of numerous chamber, concert and symphonic compositions; he worked in the choir music genre too.

Archil Chimakadze (1919-198) - composer, worked especially fruitfully in vocal symphonic and choral genres. His cantata Kartlis Guli (The Heart of Kartli) was a great success in the 1950s. A.Chimakadze is the author of popular vocal ensemble music.

Nodar Mamisashvili (b. 1930) - composer and theorist, professor of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. He is noted for his experiments not only in the sphere of music. He is the author of many compositions in various genres, including symphonic, concert and chamber instrumental sphere. His concertino for piano quintet is a very interesting work. He has written music for many feature and cartoon films.

Jemal Beglarishvili (b. 1940) - composer, works in Gori. He has composed works of various genres, including a stringed quartet, vocal cycles, and numerous choral pieces. J.Beglarishvili mostly cooperates with the Gori Women’s Choir, and writes choral pieces specially for this ensemble.






Shavleg Shilakadze (b. 1940) - composer and conductor, professor of the Tbilisi State conservatoire. He is the author of symphonic works, such as symphony Epitapia (Epitaph - ¹2) and Psalmunni (Psalms - ¹5), chamber instrumental works, and music work dramatical pieces.



Gomar Sikharulidze (b. 1942) - composer and folklorist. In the 1960s, together with some like-minded persons, he founded and directed folk ensemble Gordela, he is an excellent performer of folk songs. G.Sikharulidze is the author of chamber instrumental, chamber vocal and choral pieces.



Giorgi Chlaidze (b. 1943) - composer, author of works of various genres, including piano concertos, chamber instrumental and chamber vocal works, his comic opera Darispanis Gasachiri (The Trouble of Darispan) was a great success at the Kutaisi Opera in the 1970s. He is also the author of several musicals. G.Chlaidzes cycle Mtsukhare Simgherebi (Sad Songs) from the repertoire of the Gori Women's Choir is especially successful.



Merab Gagnidze (b. 1944) - composer, at present works in Moscow, Russia. He works in various genres, such as symphonic, chamber instrumental and chamber vocal genres. M.Gagnidze composes fruitfully in choir music, he is the author of choral poems and several cycles.





Rusudan Khorava (b. 1954) - composer, author of a children's musical, a ballet, symphonic and chamber instrumental pieces. She works successfully in choir music genre.