Page 13 - DIVA_No.18_2005

expression of the many worlds were responsible for strengthe- dances are diverse - each
around her. The color and rich- ning Christianity in Georgia. region of the country has its
ness special to Georgian art They founded several monaste- own, original dance.
were expressed in soaring archi- ry complexes in Kartli and Characteristic features of
tectural monuments and splendid Kakheti, and turned these two Georgian culture and Georgian
wall paintings that inspired poe- regions of Georgia into centers traditions are revealed in the
try, polyphonic songs and ele- of Christian culture. Later folk dances by means of their
gant dancing. David Gareja, Shiomghvime, dynamism, artistic skill, vir-
Characteristic features of Zedazeni, Alaverdi, Nekresi, tuosity of performance, grace
Georgian architecture are laco- Samtavisi and other cathedrals and lyricism.
nism and simplicity of forms, were built on the site of former The musical culture of Georgia
efficient design, harmonious monasteries. is one of the world's most
proportions, grandeur combined Georgian murals are particularly ancient. The originality of
with perfection, delicate orna- interesting. The Georgian style Georgian musical harmony has
mentation, light hues of color, of painting, based on Byzantine developed a unique and rich
and a perfect harmony with the traditions, grew as an original polyphony (mainly 3 voices).
surrounding landscape. individual school, which reached Polyphony, as an original type
its peak in the lOth-l3th centu- of Georgian musical pattern
At the beginning of the 4th ries. Magnificent murals have can be traced back to the 6th-
century AD, St. Nino of been preserved in the churches 5th cc. B.C. in ritual and cele-
Capadoccia brought of Ateni, Kintsvisi, bratory songs.
Christianity to Georgia. In the Timotesubani and Ubisa; in the Folk music is representative of
year 337, Christianity was pro- cave complex of Vardzia and different regions - Kartli,
claimed as a state region of cave monasteries of David Kakheti, Guria, Ajara,
Georgia, although, it was not Gareja, as well as in Svanetian Samegrelo, Svaneti. Though
until some one hundred years churches. they have common pattern -
later that it became firmly Georgian choreography has a polyphony, songs differ in
established. The 13 Holy special place in the culture of intonation and harmonic pecu-
Syrian Fathers from Antioch the country. Georgian folk liarities.

1.2005 Diva 15