Thou Art a Vineyard

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Thou Art a Vineyard (Georgian: შენ ხარ ვენახი, transliterated: Shen Khar Venakhi) is a Medieval Georgian hymn, written by King Demetre I (Demetrius I) of Georgia (1093-1156 A.D.). The hymn is dedicated to Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary; it is also a prayer of praise to Mary in the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Thou Art a Vineyard is usually sung by a choir without instrumental accompaniment and is a classic example of Georgian choral music.

Compositionally, the hymn is characterized as very polyphonic and is representative of the late Medieval traditions of the Georgian Renaissance.

[edit] Text of Thou Art a Vineyard

Georgian Version:
შენ ხარ ვენახი, ახლად აყვავებული,
ნორჩი კეთილი, ედემს შინა ნერგული,
(ალვა სუნელი, სამოთხეს ამოსული,)
(ღმერთმან შეგამკო ვერვინა გჯობს ქებული,)
და თავით თვისით მზე ხარ და გაბრწყინვებული.
English Transliteration:
Shen khar venakhi, akhlad aqvavebuli.
Norchi ketili, Edems shina nerguli.
(Alva suneli, samotkhes amosuli.)
(Ghmertman shegamko vervina gjobs kebuli.)
Da tavit tvisit mze khar da gabrtsqinvebuli.
English Translation:
Thou art a vineyard, newly blossomed out.
Tender, beautiful, planted in Eden,
(Aloe-scented from Paradise.)
(God adorned thee, no one deserves praise as thou,)
And thou art thyself a brilliant sun.

[edit] Media

Thou Art a Vineyard

Shen Khar Venakhi sung by Georgian Choir.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

[edit] External links

  • The Recovering Choir Director - [1]
  • Sample Music by Kitka - [2]
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