On December 1 of 2023, Zaur Tetrashvili, the master of Ueno salamuri [end-blown flute], visited the University of Chant. Zauri Papa [Grandpa], an 85-year-old bearer of tradition from the village of Shilda, with eyes full of love and an infinitely kind heart. He learned to play the end-blown flute from the shepherds as a child and has not abandoned this instrument since then.
At the meeting, he recalled many interesting and funny stories from his life and, along with other musical instruments, played the melodies he had heard from the shepherds in his childhood. It is Zauri Papa’s great desire to preserve the tradition of playing the end-blown flute. For this, he introduced the students to the techniques of playing on it and gave the university his own hand-made instrument as a gift.
The meeting with Zauri Papa took place with the help of Beka Bidzinashvili, a graduate of the University of Chant, outstanding dirigent and a singer. We are very grateful to Mr. Bidzinashvili for organizing this meeting.
