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Domra, Domra luthiers and craftsmen, The dombra, Russian Three-stringed Domra, Ukrainian four-stringed domra, Mandolin, Mandola, Mandolina, Tuning Russian Domra, Domra players and ensembles.
This page is supported by New York based Russian folk music ensemble Barynya. Please contact us if you are looking for live DOMRA performance in the United States. We will find you the best and the most affordable.
Domra by Luthier B. Usenko from Highland Park, New Jersey, USA
 I recieved this email from one of the website visitors some time ago.
I did not have an answer and I never heard of B. Usenko domras and balalaikas,
but I promissed to put this message on the web.
Later on I recieved three pictures of domra built by Highland Park, NJ based master B. Usenko. All three of them you can see on this page. For bigger resolution image, please click on the pictures.
I hope someone will be able to help Aleksander.
Please post your reply to Russian music and dance Association of America newsgroup on the web, if you know anything on the subject.
Thank you
Website owner Mikhail Smirnov
Hello!
My name is Aleksander Scerba, Mississauga, Toronto.
You may be one who can Know something about I'm interesting in.
Luthier B. Usenko, Highland Park NJ in years 60-th or 70-th made
beautiful domras and balalakas.
I owe one and it is amazing instrument.
I want to buy one as a gift for my brother who lives in Germany.
This one is made 1965 B. USENKO, Highland Park, New Jersey, USA
If you know somebody who has Usenko-4-strings domra for sale,
of course, for reasonable price, let me know please.
Balalaika and domra orchestra performance video
Barynya Balalaika Orchestra at the "Petroushka Ball 2007"
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City. 2 min video
DOMRA PLAYERS AND ENSEMBLES
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Russian Balalaika and domra ensemble Balalaika Stooges
from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Cossacks, Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy and other folk music repertoire. Live performance on domra, balalaika, balalaika-contrabass
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The four-stringed domra
 The domra received four strings from Ukrainians.
In Ukraine a four-string version of the domra tuned in fifths similar to the mandolin.
Four-stringed version was first introduced in 1920 and became extremely popular.
The four-string domra, although thought of as a Russian folk instrument, is not used in Russia itself
where the three-string version is universally used and taught.
Russian Domra
The Domra is a small mandolin size instrument with three or four strings. Instrument was developed by Vasiliy Vasilievich Andreev, the Father of Russian balalaika.
In contemporary Russian orchestras the domra usually does the melody and accompanied by balalaikas and bayans to play classical and traditional Russian music.
Most often domra is played with a pick in Russian Balalaika orchestras
or small musical ensembles.
Domra is the violin of Russian folk orchestra. It is one of the most flexible instruments in Russian orchestra.
 Most likely the domra was delivered to Russia in the 12th or 13th century by Mongolians who were ruling Russia at that time.
The tremolo technique often used to play the domra and balalaika.
Single striking or strumming is also used to play the domra.
Tuning Russian Domra
DOMRA PICCOLO:
1st string: A in second octave.
2nd string: E in second octave.
3rd string: H in first octave.
DOMRA PRIMA:
1st string: D in second octave
2nd string: A in first octave
3rd string: E in first octave
DOMRA MEZZOSOPRANO:
1st string: A in first octave
2nd string: E in first octave
3rd string: H in minor octave
DOMRA ALTO:
1st string: D in first octave
2nd string: A in minor octave
3rd string: E in minor octave
DOMRA TENOR:
1st string: A in minor octave
2nd string: E in minor octave
3rd string: H in major octave
DOMRA BASS:
1st string: D in minor octave
2nd string: A in major octave
3rd string: E in big octave
DOMRA CONTRABASS minor register:
1st string: D in major octave
2nd string: A in contra octave
3rd string: E in contra octave
 DOMRA CONTRABASS major register:
1st string: G in major octave
2nd string: D in major octave
3rd string: A in contra octave
Domra-master Evgenij Serjantov
In case that somebody is looking for new domra, one of very well domra-master is Evgenij Serjantov, His E-mail Address: serjantov@mail.ru
(Photo on the left is his 3-stringed domra)
Mandolin, Mandola, Mandolina
Mandolins and Mandolinas evolved from the Lute family in Italy during the 17th -18th centuries,
and the deep bowled mandolin produced particularly in Naples became
a common type in the 19th century.
The original instrument was the mandola (mandorla is almond in Italian and
describes the instrument body shape) and evolved in the 15th century from the lute.
A later, smaller mandola was developed and became known as a mandolina.
The dombra
 Chicago Cossacks, Domra and bayan duo from Chicago, IL | |
The dombra is a long-necked two-stringed instrument popular in the Central Asia countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
The dombra is played by either strumming with the hand or plucking each string individually, with an occasional tap on the main surface of the instrument.
The Uzbek dombra is usually unfretted, while the Kazakh dombra is played with a fret.
There are a number of similar instruments that differ very little from the dombra described here.
Turkmenistan has the dutar. Tajikistan has the dombura. |
Black cats dressed in Russian folk costumes with balalaikas
Russian folk costume designer Svetlana Gavrilova has made a set of black cats dressed in Russian costumes with balalaikas. To view all photos you may need to join Balalaika Group on Google Network.
to view all cats with balalaikas dressed in Russian folk costumes
Russian New Year's characters Father Frost and Snow Maiden
Ded Moroz and Snegurochka (Russian: Дед Мороз и Снегурочка)
Father Frost and Snow Maiden are the most important characters of the New Year's celebration in Russia. Father Frost (Ded Moroz, Russian: Дед Мороз) plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. The literal translation of the name would be "Grandfather Frost". However, English-speakers traditionally translate "DED MOROZ" as the alliterative "FATHER FROST". Ded Moroz is always accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka - Snow Maiden (Russian: Снегурочка).
New York based ensemble Barynya created a special Russian New Year's program with traditional Russian winter songs, dances and music: "In the forest a fir-tree was born" (V Lesu Rodilas' Yolochka), "Small Fir Tree is Freezing during the Winter" (Malen'koi Yolochke Kholdno Zimoy), "The snowstorm is blowing along the street" (Metelitsa), "Father Frost" (Moroz-Moroz), "Five minutes" (Pyat' Minut).
Ded Moroz and Snegurochka are available for hire in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania (within 100 miles driving distance from New York City). For a fast price quote contact Mikhail Smirnov
Father Frost and Snow Maiden - Ded Moroz and Snegurochka in New York City - photos
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