There is aways music somewhere, Tbilisi edition

Ten days in Georgia (the country) and not much to report on the music front — except that the locals in Tbilisi, the capital, seem to have good taste. The soundtrack at one restaurant was Dan Patlansky, a South African bluesman of whom I was shamefully ignorant. The taxi to the airport eased our sadness at leaving with some Chris Rea (the good stuff).

But of actual Georgian music, nothing I’m afraid. Probably my fault. For once, I did not look.

There is always something, though, so please feast your eyes on this (below).

A splendid collection of old instruments from the region was tucked away in the quite fascinating Georgian National Museum. Not totally clear from the signs what each are, but — all from the second half of the 19th century — they include:

A two-string bow instrument called an Apkharta from the northwestern Apkhazia region (now run by Russia-backed separatists).

A changi, or harp-liked stringed instrument, from Svaneti (high in the Caucasus mountains).

A tabourine, from Tbilisi, decorated by Hungarian artist Mihaly Zichy. The painting (from the 1880s) depicts mediaeval Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli presenting a poem to Queen Tamar.

A stringed, oriental lute made of wood and mother-of-pearl.

So, as I say, there is always something.