Chuniri-chianuri Music of Georgia

Only the mountain populations of Georgia preserve the bowed Chuniri in its unique way. This instrument is measured to be a national instrument of Svanet and is thought to have spread in the other places of Georgia from there. Chuniri has diverse names in different places: in Tusheti, Khevsureti, (Eastern mountainous parts) it is known as Chuniri, and in Racha, Guria (western parts of Georgia) "Chianuri". Chuniri is used for accompaniment. It is often played in a group with Changi (harp) and Salamuri (flute). Both men and women played it. Supplement of solo songs, national heroic poems and dance melodies were performed on it in Svaneti. Chuniri and Changi are often played together in a group when performing polyphonic songs. And also more than one Chianuri at a time is not used. Chianuri is kept in a warm place. Often, especially in rainy days it was warmed in the sun or near fireplace before using it, in order to produce more musical sounds. This fact is acknowledged in all regions where the fiddlestick instruments were spread. This is done generally because humidity and wind make a certain effect on the instrument's ringing body and the leather that covers it. In Svaneti and Racha people even could make a weather forecast according to the sound produced by Chianuri. Weak and unclear sounds were the signs of a rainy weather. The instrument's side strings i.e. first and third strings are tuned in fourth, but the middle (second) string is tuned in third with the lowest string and second with the top string. It was a tradition to play Chuniri late in the evening the day before a funeral. For instance, one of the relatives (man) of a dead person would sit down in open air by the bonfire and play a sad melody. In his song (sang in a low voice) he would remember the life of the deceased person and the lives of ancestors of the family. Most of the songs performed on Chianuri are connected with sad occasions. There is an expression in Svaneti that "Chuniri is for sorrow". However, it can be used at parties as well.

source of picture: www.hangebi.ge

The Abkharza is a two-cord musical instrument which is played by a bow. It is thought to have spread through Georgia from the region of Abkhazia. Mainly the Abkharza is used as an accompaniment instrument. There are performed one, two or three part songs and national heroic poems on it. Abkharza is cut out of a whole wood piece and has a shape of a boat. Its overall length is 480mm. its upper board is glued back to the main part. On the end it has two tuners.