Frederick A. Binkholder, Artistic Director


Zakaria Paliashvili

Zakaria Paliashvili and his Georgian Sacred Chants

The Capitol Hill Chorale has been engaged for over eleven years, from 2008 to 2019, in its “Paliashvili Project,” devoted to researching, performing, and recording Georgian Sacred Chants on the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom(1909) by the “father of Georgian classical music,” Zakaria Paliashvili (1871-1933). Initial efforts focused on creating a new edition of the original Georgian-Slavonic 1909 score, based on consultation with scholars in the U.S. and at the Tbilisi Conservatory, as well as travel in Georgia in 2012 to monasteries and churches throughout the country, Paliashvili’s birth museum in Kutaisi, and his apartment museum in Tbilisi.

The Chorale has subsequently performed the work three times in concerts in the United States: in premiere concerts in 2010; in 2014, prior to making the first recording in the Georgian language; and in 2019, prior to touring to Tbilisi and Kutaisi. During the 2019 tour, the Chorale gave full concert performances in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and excerpted performances at Gelati Monastery and Samtavisi Cathedral.

The Chorale is interested in promoting performances by other choruses. In this webpage, you will find sample scores, and background information on Zakaria Paliashvili and the rich history of Georgian music.

The score as used for Chorale performances was edited and annotated by Parker Jayne. For more information, contact Parker at [email protected].