   
Brooklyn Balalaikas NY Balalaika Trio Russian Folk Music
New York Balalaika Folk Music Trio BROOKLYN BALALAIKAS Russian was founded in Brooklyn, New York by acclaimed
contrabass-balalaika player Leonid Bruk in 2000.
Long rehearsals took place in cold garage of Leonid's house in Bay Ridge.
Many Russian residents of Brooklyn still can remember the excitement of Brooklyn Balalaikas
first performance in Kings Plaza Macy's store. Russian "rubashkas" and "kosovorotkas" (outfits) were made for ensemble members by Leonid Bruk's wife, talented Russian folk singer Irina Zagornova. Brooklyn Balalaikas trio musicians Alex Siniavski (balalaika, Gypsy guitar), Mikhail Smirnov (garmoshka, guitar, vocals) and Leonid Bruk are also performing sometimes as part of Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya from New York.
"Brooklyn Balalaikas" Alex Siniavski, Mikhail Smirnov and Leonid Bruk videos
Alex Siniavski (balalaika solo) - "The Moon is Shining"
Alex Siniavski (balalaika solo) - "Lara's Theme"
Alex Siniavski (balalaika solo) - "Chardash"
Mikhail Smirnov - "Korobushka"
with singers Sasha Menshikov and Victoria Pichurova
Mikhail Smirnov - "Two Guitars"
with dancers Andrij Cybyk and Natalia Ejova
Ukraininan folk dance "Hopak"
with dancers Andrij Cybyk, Stefan Kuziw,
Natalia Ejova and Valentina Kvasova
A. Menshikov - tambourine
Mikhail Smirnov - "Gop So Smykom"
Alexander Menshikov (tambourine)
"Tri Linii"
with singer Victoria Pichurova
Alexander Menshikov - tambourine
"Dark Eyes"
with singer Alexander Menshikov
"Kai One"
with singer Alexander Menshikov and Victoria Pichurova
"Stakanchiki"
with singer Alexander Menshikov
"Katyusha" - popular Russian song from peroid of WWII
with singers Victoria Pichurova and Alexander Menshikov
BROOKLYN BALALAIKAS PHOTOS
      
Pictures
from trio "Brooklyn Balalaikas" performance at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA, 2005
May 2007. Russian Nobility Ball-2007 in New York City
Ensemble Barynya @ Russian Nobility Ball 2007 photos
The Russian Nobility Association in America annual Spring Russian Nobility
Ball took place at the luxurious "Pierre" Hotel on May 11, 2007 in New York City.
Musicians and dancers of New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (full company)
provided music for coctail hour and thirty minute music and dance program during the dinner. "Barynya" performed popular Russian Gypsy pieces: "Two Guitars", "Kay One", "Vingerka", "3 lines", Russian favorite balalaika arrangement "The Moon is shining brightly" and Cossack song and dance "Varen'ka".
April 2007. Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood, Ohio
 Gop So Smykom literally "Hop With A Violin Bow", an untranslatable slang nickname of a criminal character, roughly "High-Spirited Hop". In the opening stanza he introduces himself: "Gop So Smykom happens to be me, Listen well, friends. For my trade I've chosen theft. I am hardly ever out of prison, and when I am, the prison misses me. But whatever prison I may be in, not a minute passes without me singing. I stick my hands in my pockets, And walk around, singing out of boredom... read more
RUSSIAN FOLK TUNE "THE MOON IS SHINING" VIDEO
 Russian folk tune "Svetit Mesyats" (The moon is shining brightly) recorded on Sunday, April 15, 2007 at the Beck Center for the Arts. 17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio performed by Alex Siniavski (balalaika), Leonid Bruk (balalaika contrabass), Mikhail Smirnov (guitar)
Variations on Russian folk song: "The Moon Is Shining Brightly" (sometimes translated as "The New Moon is Lighting") written by the "Father of Russian Balalaika" Vasily Vasileyevich Andreyev (1861-1918) is so popular it was even mentioned in Michail Bulgakov's book "The heart of a dog":
Someone was hard at work playing a rousing tune on the balalaika two
rooms away and the sound of a series of intricate variations on 'The Moon is
Shining' mingled in Philip Philipovich's head with the words of the
sickening newspaper article. When he had read it he pretended to spit over
his shoulder and hummed absentmindedly through his teeth: ' "The moo-oon is
shining . . . shining bright . . . the moon is shining . . ." God, that
damned tune's on my brain!'... read more
Below is the small translation of the song lyrics into English. Russian original text is included as well for those who can read Russian Cyrillic.
СВЕТИТ МЕСЯЦ
Светит месяц, светит ясный
Светит белая заря.
Осветила путь дорожку
Мне до Сашина двора
| THE MOON IS SHINING
The moon is shining, shining brightly
The white nightfall is shining too
My pathway is eliminated
All the way to the Sasha's place
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MORE BROOKLYN BALALAIKAS VIDEOS
25 seconds clip
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Waltz Daydreams
This waltz composed by "father" of Russian balalaika Vasily Vasilievich Andreev (born 186l).
Solo by balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski, Mikhail Smirnov-guitar, Leonid Bruk-balalaika-bass.
1,94 MB video mpeg file
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videoclip
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I met you - Popular Rusian romance, lyrics by Fedor Tyutchev, music of unknown author.
Solo by balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski
Mikhail Smirnov (guitar), Leonid Bruk (balalaika-bass)
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55 seconds clip
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"Akh, Ty Beryoza"
Russian folk tune "Oh, You, Birch-Tree"
Traditional
4581 KB video mpeg file
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videoclip
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Valenki ("Felt Boots")
Russian Balalaika Trio is playing Traditional Song "Valenki". Solo Natalia Smirnov
3701 KB video mpeg file
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videoclip
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Russian Folk Music Trio "Brooklyn Balalaikas" has extended repertoire of Russian, Ukranian, Gypsy
and international folk and popular music.
References, audio and video samples are available upon request. Professional quality own sound system.
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Balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski
arrived in the United States in 1992
from St.Petersburg, Russia. He was a leading member of The Andreev
State symphonic balalaika orchestra,
one of the most prestigious in former USSR.
Alex Siniavski graduated with honors from the
Leningrad State Musical Conservatory.
He is also master of trombone and euphonium.
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New York based Balalaika-contrabass player Leonid Bruk was born in Leningrad, Russia.
He graduated from music school as a bass guitarist and performed with many different groups.
Since 1989 when he arrived to USA, Leonid was deeply attracted to the bass-balalaika.
He has played with variuos folk groups and soon become
known expert in Russian folk music.
His specialty is playing balalaika-bass and balalaika-contrabass.
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Russian folk performer, singer and musician Mikhail Smirnov has over fifteen years of experience in
traditional Russian folk singing and music,he plays garmoshka and guitar.
Before graduation Misha (Mikhail) was a soloist/choirmaster at vocal semi-professional group "Moskovia" (director Valery Nesterov).
After graduating from Moscow State Academy of Arts Mikhail Smirnov was performing with
Russian folk Theatre "Matanya" and Moscow State Folk Center "Russkaya Pesnya" (Russian Song, director Nadezhda Babkina).
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misha smirnov
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Balalaika players, soloists and ensembles
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Russian Balalaika Duo - program of Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Cossack, Klezmer, and international music and songs performed on balalaika, garmoshka and guitars. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. video
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Alex Siniavski - balalaika virtuoso and Gypsy guitar virtuoso from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. video
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New York Balalaika Orchestra performs at Russian Orthodox weddings, fundraising balls, large scale social events, Doctor Zhivago's style corporate parties. video
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Brooklyn Balalaikas - Russian Folk Music Trio from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Leonid Bruk. video
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RUSSIAN BAND - Gypsy, Ukrainian, Russian music and songs. Instruments: balalaika, domra, drums, garmoshka (Russian button accordion), Gypsy guitar, classic guitar, contrabass balalaika, cello and vocals. video
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Balalaika Contrabass player Leonid Bruk from Brooklyn, New York.
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Kalinka Duo - Sergey Vashchenko-balalaika, Vladimir Kaliazine-bayan from Austin, TX.
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Serge Rogozin - balalaika player, historian, writer from New York. video
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Barynya - traditional Russian music and dance ensemble from New York. Artistic director Mikhail Smirnov.
video
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more Russian music ensembles, trio, and duets
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