Russian Balalaika plays Music Of The World

Russian Balalaika plays Music Of The World album recorded by New York City composer, arranger, jazzman, balalaika virtuoso and domra player Lev Zabeginsky.

Lev had made several USA-CANADA tours with the Russian-Gypsy superstars such as Alyosha Dimitrievich of Paris and B.Rubashkin of Vienna and legend of Russian Emegree Zhenia Shevchenko among others.

Music of the World on the Russian Balalaika album - besides masterful arrangements and perfomances of the russian folk melodies it also contains unexpected renederings of other Eastern European music as well as Hungarian and Greek tunes

Music of the world on the Russian balalaika
Balalaika virtuoso Lev Zabeginsky Live in St. Petersburg

Balalaika was first mentioned in a document which dates back to XVII century (1688). From this document we learn that Savka Fedoov, a citizen of the city of Arzamas, and Ivashka Fedorov, a peasant, while passing through the Yauza Gates played the balalaika. For such an imprudent behaviour they were flogged and exiled. It would never occur to a civilized person living nowadays that a severe punishment awaited anybody who gave himself to such an innocent occupation as playing the balalaika. But let us recollect the Russian history.

It happened soon after the death of the tsar Alexei Mikhailovich called "The Quietest". This tzar was famous for his hatred towards the popular Russian culture. In 1648 he issued an ukaz where he ordered to collect all musical instruments of the Russian people and to burn them. All those who dared to continue playing them were to be flogged and then exiled to the periphery of the Russian State (Ukraine)... read more

Russian Balalaika Ringtones provided by Russian music and dance ensemble Barynya from Brooklyn, New York. Russian balalaika, garmoshka, guitar and contrabass balalaika were used to record these ringtones. Download the file to your computer and email to your phone or use any wireless connection such as bluetooth or infra red port to transfer the music... download free balalaika ringtones

Balalaika ("Belly Scratcher") made by craftsmen from Moscow Aleksandr Zhukovski: "I make musical instruments since 1990. Design and shape of my instruments are based on archeologycal discoveries from Velikiy Novgorod and museum samples. I started to make instruments for myself at first. After a while I started getting orders for different pieces from musicians and folk groups in Russia and overboard. I also teach classes on Russian traditional folk instrumental music. Russian folk ensembles "Kazachiy Krug", "Drevo", "Yakhont Lazorevy", "Vetka", one of groups of D. Pokrovski (theatre on Taganka) are using guslis, liras and gudoks made by me"... more info, order

Concert quality Balalaika made by famous Russian balalaika luthier Ershov in Moscow in 1989 is available for sale in Toronto, Canada for a bargain price of 750.00 Canadian Dollars or even exchange for 4-srtinged domra. Condition: like new. Instrument is fully serviced by professional balalaika maker Andreas Gerth from Berlin, Germany in 2006 - new tuners installed. Price 750.00 Canadian Dollars or exchange for 4-srtinged domra. Black ebony fingerboard. Pickguard and head dark-brown palisander. Clear and deep sound... more info, pictures

1. This balalaika was brought over with a Russian immigrant between 1910 and before WWI. His widow lived in Chicago. Her daughter gave it to me in 1972. She'd heard that my wife was tired of being kept awake by balalaika records. The widow hoped I'd use it rather than it setting in her attic. I epoxied loose ribs; and started to play it. Much to my amazement and amusement! The instrument was built for 6 strings. However when I got it, there were 3 strings all the same size. Either the other strings broke, or rotted, or were removed, and he had no replacements so used the .011 inch A strings. My wife found a tutor-book for the balalaika. It showed the E-E-A tuning. It was hard to play with a loose-loose-tight string feel... read full story by Will Herzog

Balalaika pictures