Pankisi Ensemble
Friday
Hidden Musics
The Pankisi Ensemble goes against the typical 'ethno-fusion' grain in two ways. First, by not restricting tradition to a putrid, embalmed state, but by allowing their experimentation to take them to new grounds; secondly, by not letting go of their integrity. The women’s ensemble was founded by musician and folk music researcher Bela Mutoshvili. The group let the world in on vocal and instrumental practices of Chechen music, seldom ever heard by outsiders. Additionally, they borrow from the sound of various Georgian territories, making them a moving mosaic of the Caucasus region’s varied culture.