Various Artists – Made in Zemo Alvani: Batsbi (Tsova Tushetian) Music from Georgia (Antonovka Records, 2022)
Made in Zemo Alvani: Batsbi (Tsova Tushetian) Music from Georgia present the lively musical traditions of northeastern Georgia. The Tush or Tushetians are a sub-ethnos of Georgians originating from the mountainous region of Tusheti, nowadays living mainly in two villages of the Alazani Valley in Kakheti — Zemo Alvani and Kvemo Alvani.
The Tush themselves are divided into three parts: Tsova (also known as Batsbi or Bats), Chagma (Chaghma) and Pirikiteli. The culture of these three groups is almost identical with one important nuance, the Batsbi have their own language, which is related not to Georgian, but to Ingush, and thus forms together with it and Chechen the common Nakh group of languages. At the same time, the Batsbi, like the rest of the Tush, are Orthodox Christians. And the Batsbi language is not mutually intelligible with the Ingush, at least not straight away.
All songs and spoken word on this album, except for a couple of occasional Georgian words, are in the Batsbi language. The original titles of the tracks are given mostly in Batsbi, but some in Georgian; as provided by the performers themselves (in both cases, in the Georgian alphabet).
The number of Tsova Tushetians today is estimated at about three thousand people. Of these, less than a thousand can speak the Batsbi language.
Performers: Tsitsino Dingashvili sings and plays accordion; Revaz (Rezo) Orbetishvili recites his own poetry; Giorgi Lagazidze plays a unique chianur made by his uncle Pavle in 1966 and talks about this instrument first; Asmati Longishvili sings and plays the accordion.
The album was recorded at Rezo’s home in Zemo Alvani village, Akhmeta region, Kakheti province, Georgia, December 9, 2017 (tracks 1-9), December 16, 2017 (track 10), February 23, 2019 (tracks 11-19).
Buy Made in Zemo Alvani: Batsbi (Tsova Tushetian) Music from Georgia
Author: Douglas Sanders
