When talking about Georgian music and its origins, the first thing that comes to mind is Georgian folk music. Polyphonic compositions that are sung in choirs. There are sixteen regional styles, known in Georgian musicology and ethnomusicology as “musical dialects”. The best-known example of Georgian folk music is “Chakrulo” – one of 29 musical compositions included on the Voyager Golden Records that were sent into space on Voyager in 1977. Other notable compositions include “Mravaljamier”, “Shen Khar Venakhi”, “Tsintskaro”, Georgian Lullaby “Iavnana”, “Krimanchuli”.

Georgian folk dance is an inseparable part of folk music and national identity. It was evolving alongside folk music. During the soviet era Georgian dance gained global recognition through professional ensembles like “Sukhishvilebi”, “Erissioni” and “Rustavi”, becoming cultural ambassadors for the country.

Urban music must have started as soon as the first cities appeared in Georgia. Tbilisi became a cosmopolitan city with many languages and many musical styles were mixed together. From the second part of the 19th century a European classical music style came to Georgia. The opening of the Opera House in 1850 had a great influence on Georgian urban societies and soon became very popular.

Professional music in Georgia existed at least from the 7th century, when Georgian composers started translating Greek orthodox Christian chants, adding harmonies to the monophonic melodies and creating original chants as well. As for the new Georgian professional musical school, it dates back to the second half of the 19th century. It was based on European classical musical language forms like opera, symphony, etc. The greatest Georgian composers include names like Zakaria Paliashvili, Dimitri Arakishvili, Andria Balanchivadze, Aleksandre Machavariani, Otar Taktakishvili, Jansug Kakhidze, Giya Kancheli and many more.

Georgia has produced many exceptional pianists who have made significant contributions to classical and contemporary music. Pioneers of the genre, Aleksandre Korsantia, Eliso Virsaladze, Lekso Toradze, Manana Doijashvili, Valerian Shiukashvili and other representatives of older generation paved the way for new names of 21st century: Nikoloz Rachveli, Dato Evgenidze, Khatia Buniatishvili, Davit Aladashvili, Irma Gigani, Beka Gochiashvili, Giorgi Gigashvili, Tsotne Zedgenidze.