Trio Stories

Story:
A famous 19th century Georgian opera singer wanted to show off his skills to a group of old chanters who had come into Tbilisi. They were singing in three voices in their traditional way, having a merry time. When they were finished, the opera singer turned to his group of friends and began an Italian Aria in his rich baritone voice. The old men turned towards him and watched curiously. As the aria progressed they became more agitated, and started whispering among themselves, why isn't anyone joining him? What is going on? What a disgrace to let their friend sing all alone!
The Aria singer seemed perfectly fine with singing alone and continued in a thick vibratto.
The old men found his behavior unusual, but decided that though they had never heard this strange music before, they needed to defend his honor. Before long, beginning cautiously and gradually becoming more confident, two thin voices joined above and below the aria, creating the trio that had been so lacking! :) True story.



Story:
A Soviet-era Russian musician went into Guria with a translator to recruit singers for a 100 person folk choir to represent Georgia at the Moscow competition for republic folk music. He brought a piano with him, and put up audition posters in the villages. When he had chosen his favorite singers, the local mayor came up to him and said,
"Why didn't you choose these two men here who are known as the best local singers in our region? They each know more than a hundred songs in all three voices."

The Russian called the two singers back in, and played a pitch on the piano. The expert singer sang a different note. Disgusted, the Russian called in the second expert singer. The same thing happened. He turned to the observing mayor and said,
"See, they can't even match the pitch I play on the piano, what do you mean these are your best singers?"

The mayor said, "Wait a minute, let me ask what the problem is."

The first expert singer said, "What did he want me to do, sing the same note he was playing?! He started the song, and I joined in with the first voice!"

The second singer said, "I joined in with the bass voice. Why would he want us to sing the same note he is already playing? Any normal person can do that!"