“Didi Mtebi” in the style of Georgian Polyphony (2013)
Program Note
“Didi Mtebi”, (“დიდი მთები” in Georgian, “The Great Mountains” in English) is a song for three voices in the style of Georgian vocal polyphony (link to wiki). I composed it at the end of my time teaching and studying in the Republic of Georgia on a Fulbright. This period of my life was my first time living abroad and I struggled with homesickness. Eventually, as I grew closer to the people around me, their warmth and kindness rekindled my spirits, and I found it easier to take joy from the wonders around me. Throughout, the Caucasus mountains were never far from view. I watched them each morning as I walked to the village school and their mutability reassured me.
Although the existing repertoire in the style of this piece is sung only by men, I decided to write this piece in a slightly higher range so that the genders of the singers could be more flexible. The middle part may be sung by an alto or tenor voice and the top voice may be sung by alto or soprano.
Lyrics
Didi mtebi adis maghla, maghla tsamde
da chadis dabla ubsqrulamde.
Amodis da chadis rogorts tkivili shors tsxovrebis.
Minda gadavlaxo mtebits
zghvebits shentan.
Magram atiatasi nabiji
ver mo miqvars shentan.
Dasatsqisshi qoveli dghe tsivdeboda.
Me haeris gatboba sitqvebit.
Axla aris sinatle, sitbo, sitsidit.
Tsota shuki shemodis shoreuli karidan.
Vitsi rom ghiaa me ar unda gavide.
The great mountains soar up, up into the sky
and fall down into the abyss.
They rise and fall just like the pain of distance.
I long to go over mountains
and across the seas to you,
But even ten thousand footsteps
would not bring me to your side.
At first, every day grew colder.
I could not warm the air with words.
But now there is laughter, warmth, and light.
A little light comes through the door.
Yet I know I can’t go through.
Special thanks to Natia Surguladze for translation assistance.