My Dear Friend Stuart Gelzer

May 29, 1960 – April 23, 2025
 

I met Stuart Gelzer in 1994 in Tbilisi, Georgia, soon as he and his two friends, his compatriot from the US, Carl Linich, and Canadian singer Alan Gasser, created a trio “Kavkasia,” the best foreign singing ensemble of Georgian traditional music. Our 1994 meeting saw us (my family) at the lowest point of our family lives, just before our departure to Australia, which happened in 1995. In 1994 Georgians were leaving Georgia, as it was an economical and safety disaster to live there. Shooting in the streets, civil war, armed people in the streets, the salary was virtually non-existent (my yearly salary as a Professor of the University was a bit less than a single USD). No petrol to drive, no water to bathe, no electricity, no life in the streets. No wonder we wanted to go to Australia, and in that year three Western singers arrived in Georgia… Stuart was among them. That already tells a lot about the dedication of Stuart and his two friends (Carl and Alan) to Georgian singing tradition. No wonder that they (trio “Kavkasia”) are still by far the best foreign ensemble of Georgian music with many awards…
 

Our next meeting in Chicago in 1997 was our first meeting in the USA, and we performed with our Australian trio “Golden Fleece” with their dazzling “Kavkasia.” Our meetings in Georgia during several Symposia was more constant, and culminated with our very special meeting in India in April 2018.

Meeting in India was another world, as we discovered that we were both true fans of the writer and naturalist Jim Corbett, and Stuart joined us, “Corbett brothers” to the hills of northern Kumaon. Discovering a new passionate links led to our collaboration on the second volume of the book “Behind Jim Corbett’s Stories.” In India Stuart brought me a gift – a CD of trio Kavkasia for the popular American game “Age of Empires.” Recordings contained the famous church-song “Shen Khar Venakhi” (Thou Art Vineyard), recoded with a rock-drumming for the Game soundtrack. I really appreciated the open-mindedness of Kavkasia!
 

And now, after all this, I have to speak about my dear friend in the past sense, and try to be more informative for those who did not know him… Stuart Gelzer was not only my friend. He was a multifaceted American artist and scholar whose work spanned traditional music, travel writing, photography, and research. As a founding member of “Trio Kavkasia” and a contributor to the Jim Corbett International Research Group, Stuart Gelzer dedicated his career and life to preserving cultural heritage and exploring the human experience across disciplines.
 

Preserving Georgian Polyphony

In 1994, Gelzer co-founded Trio Kavkasia alongside his two friends frოm the “Kartuli Ensemble” Alan Gasser (Canada) and Carl Linich (USA). The trio specialized in performing traditional vocal polyphony from the Republic of Georgia, known for its intricate harmonies and cultural significance. Their dedication to authenticity led them to study with master singers in Georgia, both in professional ensembles and remote villages. In recognition of their efforts, each member was awarded the Silver Medal of the Georgian Ministry of Culture in 1997 for their profound knowledge of Georgian folk music and its popularization worldwide. Trio Kavkasia released several albums, including "Songs of the Caucasus" (1995), "O Morning Breeze" (2001), and "The Fox and the Lion" (2006), showcasing the rich tapestry of Georgian vocal traditions.
 

Essays and Memoirs

Beyond music, Gelzer was an accomplished writer whose essays and stories have appeared in publications such as Eclectica, Hippocampus Magazine, and Carolina Quarterly. His travel memoir, the book "Six Reasons to Travel" (that a few ‘Georgian’ singers all over the world, including in Australia, have read) offers a vivid account of his experiences in Georgia, blending cultural insights with personal reflections. An excerpt from this work, titled "Song Collectors," recounts a 1997 expedition with Trio Kavkasia to the mountains of Guria, highlighting the challenges and joys of engaging with local musicians.
 

Researcher of Jim Corbett Legacy

Gelzer's scholarly pursuits extended to his involvement with the Jim Corbett International Research Group, where he contributed to the study of early 20th-century wildlife conservation and colonial history in India. In 2018, he participated in an expedition to Kumaon, Including the Panar Valley, retracing the steps of hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett. His detailed account of this journey, "The Panar Man-Eater Killing Site," provides historical context and personal observations, enriching the understanding of Corbett's legacy. His contribution in creating the unique publication “Annotated Man-Eaters of Kumaon” (currently in press) were vital – simply speaking, he was an engine behind this project.

 

Stuart as a researcher of Georgian scale system was particularly important for me, for his research contributed to better understanding of the Georgian traditional scale system.
 

Photography and Translation

But this is not all. Residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Gelzer actively engaged in fine-art photography, focusing on landscapes and portraits that captured the essence of his subjects. His work has been recognized in juried exhibitions, such as the Louisville Art Association's National Juried Photography Show. Additionally, he translated old French popular novels, further showcasing his linguistic skills and appreciation for cultural narratives.

 

In conclusion, Stuart Gelzer's interdisciplinary endeavors reflect a deep commitment to cultural preservation and exploration. Through music, writing, research, and visual arts, he bridged diverse traditions and histories, offering audiences a multifaceted perspective on the human experience. And to discuss what a rare friend he was for me all his life, I would need more time and space to scratch the surface of this topic…
 

Dear Stuart, you will be greatly missed on several continents!

Joseph Jordania, your friend

(Originally posted on Facebook on April 28, 2025)