Tavisupleba

This article is on the National Anthem of Georgia. For the political party, see Tavisupleba (political movement).

თავისუფლება

English: Freedom
Tavisupleba
Tavisupleba sheet music.
National anthem of  Georgia
Lyrics	David Magradze
Music	Zachary Paliashvili/Ioseb Kechakmadze
Adopted	2004
Music sample
Tavisupleba (Instrumental)

"Tavisupleba" (Georgian: თავისუფლება) is the current national anthem of Georgia. The anthem, whose title means "Freedom", was adopted in 2004, along with the new national flag and coat of arms. The symbols' change was brought about upon the successful overthrow of the previous government in the bloodless Rose Revolution. The music, taken from the Georgian operas Abesalom da Eteri ("Abesalom and Eteri") and Daisi ("The Nightfall"), by the Georgian composer Zachary (Zakaria) Paliashvili (ზაქარია ფალიაშვილი, 1871–1933), was adapted to form the anthem by Ioseb Kechakmadze (იოსებ კეჭაყმაძე). The lyrics were composed by David Magradze (დავით მაღრაძე).

History

The new Georgian anthem was adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on 20 May 2004,^[1] exactly 5 months after the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze in the Rose Revolution. A bill was introduced in the first plenary meeting of the 6th convocation of the Georgian Parliament on April 22, 2004. The bill to adopt Tavisupleba as the anthem was presented by the Minister of Culture Giorgi Gabashvili; in which the music was played for the deputies soon afterwards.^[2] The law does not give any regulations, but refers to the corresponding Presidential Decree.

"Tavisupleba" succeeds the old anthem Dideba zetsit kurtheuls, which was in use by the Democratic Republic of Georgia from 1918 to 1921, and again by the newly independent (from Soviet Union) Georgia from 1990 to 2004.

The new anthem quickly gained popularity in contrast to its predecessor, whose lyrics were somewhat archaic and difficult to memorize.

During U.S. President George W. Bush’s visit to Georgia, on May 10, 2005, when he along with President Mikheil Saakashvili were addressing tens of thousands of Georgians in Freedom Square in Tbilisi, a recording of "Tavisupleba" failed to play properly. Saakashvili then motioned to the choirs, and thousands in the crowd joined the singers in singing the anthem, a moment which was described by media as "the most powerful moment of the day".^[3]

Music

The music of the anthem were adapted from two Georgian operas, "Abesalom da Eteri" (1918) and "Daisi" (1923), composed by Zakaria Paliashvili, the father of the Georgian classical music genre.

Official lyrics

National anthems of Georgia
Dideba Zetsit Kurtheuls (1918-1922)
Anthem of the Georgian SSR (1944-1991)
Dideba Zetsit Kurtheuls (1990-2004)
Tavisupleba (2004-present) This box: view · Georgian	Transliteration	Literal translation[4]
ჩემი ხატია სამშობლო, სახატე მთელი ქვეყანა, განათებული მთა-ბარი, წილნაყარია ღმერთთანა. თავისუფლება დღეს ჩვენი მომავალს უმღერს დიდებას, ცისკრის ვარსკვლავი ამოდის ამოდის და ორ ზღვას შუა ბრწყინდება, და დიდება თავისუფლებას, თავისუფლებას დიდება!	Chemi khat'ia samshoblo, Sakhat'e mteli kveq'ana, Ganatebuli mta-bari Ts'ilnaq'aria Ghmerttana. Tavisupleba dghes chveni Momavals umghers didebas, Tsisk'ris varsk'vlavi amodis Amodis da or zghvas shua brts'q'indeba, Da dideba tavisuplebas, Tavisuplebas dideba!	My icon is my motherland, And the whole world is its icon-stand, Bright mounts and valleys Are shared with God. Today our freedom Sings to the glory of the future, The dawn star rises up And shines out between two seas, So praise be to freedom, To freedom be praise!

Regulations

According to the Regulations for the Parliament of Georgia, Chapter 3, Article 4.5., the national anthem of Georgia is played at the opening and closing of each session. It is also performed following the signing of the Oath of the Parliamentarian after the Parliament recognizes the authority of at least two-third of its newly elected members (Chapter 25, Article 124.7). The anthem is also played prior to the annual report of the President of Georgia to the Parliament.^[5]

At the beginning and closing of television and radio programing, the anthem is played. For example, Georgian Public Broadcasting airs a music video version of the anthem, featuring opera singer Paata Burchuladze.

Media

References

1. ^ Parliament of Georgia. The Constitutional Law on the National Anthem of Georgia (No 72-2s; საქართველოს ორგანული კანონი "საქართველოს სახელმწიფო ჰიმნის შესახებ"). Retrieved Apr. 4, 2006 .
2. ^ Parliament of Georgia The First Plenary Meeting of Parliament. Apr. 22, 2004. Retrieved Apr. 3, 2006.
3. ^ The Washington TimesBush praises Georgians, by Joseph Curl. May 11, 2005. Retrieved Apr. 4, 2006.
4. ^ English translation is done by David Chikvaidze
5. ^ Parliament of Georgia: Regulations for the Parliament (საქართველოს პარლამენტის რეგლამენტი). (PDF, 430 KB). Retrieved on Apr. 4, 2006

External links

• (Georgian) Parliament of Georgia Lyrics
• (Georgian) President of Georgia Lyrics and media
• Music Video - A YouTube post of a music video version of "Tavisupleba".
• "Tavisupleba: The Georgian National Anthem," From the Cradle of Wine
• Sheet music - SATB and Piano score of Tavisupleba on IMSLP