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85These wide improvisational possibilities of the bass part to create a wide range ofmelodic and harmonic versions in trio songs attracted the most talented Gurian singers,and for this reason most of the well-known Gurian singers were known as bassperformers (N. Jordania, 1985). Interestingly, although well-known Gurian singers couldsing all the parts of trio songs, when they meet, the most experienced singer is usuallysuggested to sing the bass as a sign of respect and acknowledgement of his expertise.This must be the reason why in western Georgia the bass also can start songs (unlikeeastern Georgia where only the top melodic parts start a song).Trio songs have some other specific features – they are mostly slow or mediumtempo, are performed, as Georgians say, “giginit” (humming, softly), and the structure ofthe trio songs is often complex and asymmetric. Here is famous “Shavi Shashvi”[“Blackbird”], version by Vladimer Berdzenishvili:Ex. 33. Shavi Shashvi [Blackbird]. First part of the song (Garakanidze,Jordania, 2004:117)