Ghighini

° ## 4 , ,
Table song from Lechkumi, a highland region of Georgia as recorded by Ensemble Mtiebi
w œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙ w
& 4 ∑ ∑
‹ Chven - sa cha - mo - di - a - o ho.
Ho.
Var be - ri - ka - tsi - a - o ho.
, Var be - ri - ka - tsi - a - o ho. ,
# œ œœ
& # 44 œ œ œ œ œœœ ˙ w œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙ w
‹ Chven - sa cha - mo - di - a - o ho.
O ho ho ho i a ho. Ho. Var be - ri - ka - tsi - a - o ho.

w œ œ œ œ œ œ w ,
Var be - ri - ka - tsi - a - o ho.
?# 4 ˙
¢ #4
∑ ∑

° ## ™ œ œ œ œ œ œ , #œ œ œ œ œ ,
™™
& ™
œ œ ˙ œ œœ ˙ w
‹ Am ert chi - kas ki - dev dav - lev o, me - r dav - tvre - bi - a - o ho.
A - kha - lu - khi she - mo - ma - tsvda o, cho - khats ar ma - tsvi - a - o ho.
, ,
& # ™™ ™™
#
Shro- mats mi - qvars, gar - jats mi - qvars o, ar var zar - ma - tsi - a - o ho.
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙ w
‹ Am ert chi - kas ki - dev dav - lev o, me - r dav - tvre - bi - a - o ho.
A - kha - lu - khi she - mo - ma - tsvda o, cho - khats ar ma - tsvi - a - o ho.
,
? ## ™™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ w ™™
Shro- mats mi - qvars, gar - jats mi - qvars o, ar var zar - ma - tsi - a - o ho.
˙
¢
Please join us, I'll drink this glass, and get tipsy. I am an old man, my coat (akhalukhi) is worn out, and no knife (chokha) have I got.
I am an old man, fond of work and labor, and not lazy at all.

There are three words for singing in Georgian. 'Simghera' means singing generally,
normally in a loud voice. 'Galoba' is a special word used for singing religious
songs. And 'ghighini' is reserved for special songs sung in a soft voice, or when
one sings quietly to oneself. Ghighini songs are usually sung during feasts, and
their texts are completely different from other songs. This version is sung in
Lechkumi, a highland region of Georgia.

(notes from 'Traditional Georgian Songs‘ CD)

Village Harmony Camp, www.villageharmony.org