July, 2007. Performance series in Ohio communities

view photos from Ensemble Barynya Ohio Summer Tour 2007

Ensemble Barynya was touring the state of OHIO as part of the Ohio Arts Council’s Summer International Music and Performing Arts in Communities Tour (IMPACT). Barynya performed many shows, Russian & Ukrainian dance workshops from July 17 to July 28, 2007. Performance locations included Lakeside, Warren, Marietta, Jackson and Grandview Heights. All performances were free and open to the public.

Barynya in Ohio 2007 tour DVD

Performers: Mikhail Smirnov - vocal, garmoshka, guitar, Alex Siniavski - balalaika, Gypsy guitar, Andrij Cybyk - dancer, choreographer, Valentina Kvasova - dance captain, dancer, Leonid Bruk - balalaika contrabass, Alexander Menshikov - singer, tambourine, Victoria Pichurova - singer, Natalia Ejova - dancer, Natia Rtveliashvili - dancer, Stefan Kuziw - dancer, Alex Sizov - dancer... view videos, order full lenght DVD of this concert.

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"

Cleveland Jewish News.com, April 2007

click image above to view videos and read full article from www.ClevelandJewishNews.com

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 "Svetit Mesyats" (The moon is shining brightly) 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

March 2007. George Washington University

Slavic Spring Festival in Washington, D.C. pictures, video

Highland Park, New Jersey, USA, January 13, 2007

View all videos from concert on Saturday, January 13th, 2007 at Highland Park High School, 431 Raritan Avenue, Highland Park, New Jersey, USA

Ensemble Barynya in Eugene, Oregon in 2006 and 2007

view all photos

University of Texas-Pan American. November 13, 2006

more pictures from University of Texas-Pan American

mpeg video

Daydreams Waltz mpeg video file This waltz composed by "father" of Russian balalaika Vassily Vassilievich Andreev (born 186l).

Leonid Bruk with his balalaika-contrabass

Balalaika-bass and contrabass balalaikas are the biggest in size, and the strongest and deepest in sound.

BALALAIKA BASS DESCRIPTION
First string: D, minor octave.
Second string: A, major octave.
Third string: E, major octave.
The instrument size and form require from the musician to play it in standing position. A metal pin is attached to it from below, which abuts against the floor. So neither the instrument body nor its sounding-board touch the performer's dress, and this causes great resonant effect, resulting in powerful, long and deep sound.

To make the string sound well, musician has to press the strings correctly and tightly by one-two fingers of the left hand, and strike with the right hand softly, but deeply and with strength. There have been no considerable changes since the time of Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev, but the playing technique is being constantly developed and improved.

Leonid Bruk at Russian Cabaret "Moscow" (corner of East 54th Street and Madison Avenue, Manhattan, New York City) with Russian-Gypsy folk dance and music show group. Also on the photo Irina Zagornova, Natalia Smirnov, Svetlana Yankovskaya, Gennady Gutkin, Lev Zabeginsky, Misha Smirnov, Sergey Riabtsev and Yuriy Vodolaga

Leonid Bruk performing famous Russian folk song KALINKA at Russian Maslenitsa Bliny Annual Diner at Holy Virgin Protection Church, Nyack, New York with Russian folk singer Irina Zagornova, garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov, bayan virtuoso Yan Khmel, Russian folk singer Natalia Smirnov, balalaika player Edik Kutovoi and Russian folk dancer Yury Vodolaga

RUSSIAN FOLK SONGS "OTRADA" and "IN THE FOREST"

My Darling lives in high-rise Живёт моя отрада в высоком терему

We were riding a small boat Мы на лодочке катались

More balalaika players, soloists and ensembles

Alex Siniavski balalaika and Gypsy guitar virtuoso from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

New York Balalaika Orchestra performs at Russian Orthodox weddings, fundraising balls, large scale social events, Doctor Zhivago's style corporate parties.

Russian Balalaika Duo: Alex Siniavski and Mikhail Smirnov with program of Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Cossack, Klezmer, and international music and songs performed on balalaika, garmoshka and guitars. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania.

Chicago Cossacks - Russian music and song ensemble from Illinois.

Brooklyn Balalaikas - Russian Folk Music Trio from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Leonid Bruk.

RUSSIAN BAND specialty is Gypsy, Ukrainian, Russian music and songs. All RUSSIAN BAND members are top professionals with many years of experience. Choice of Gypsy, Ukrainian, Russian (2 different sets) and Cossack costumes. Extended repertoire. Formal concert, background music or music for dancing party. Our main instruments are balalaika, domra, drums, garmoshka (Russian button accordion), Gypsy guitar, classic guitar, contrabass balalaika, cello and vocals. Travel with own pro-quality sound system.

Old Red Wine - Klezmer, Yiddish, Russian dixieland band from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Shlomo Leiderman.

Russian traditional music and song ensemble from Los Angeles, California has built a reputation as a unique, dynamic and accomplished group performing on traditional Russian instruments: the domra, the balalaika, and the bayan. The quartet's repertoire ranges from traditional Russian and Eastern European songs, to well known classics and contemporary works.

Balalaika Russian Dance and Music Trio - Russian Cossack dance, balalaika and garmoshka music from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Russian Balalaika and Garmoshka Duo - Sasha Resitor-balalaika, Mikhail Smirnov - guitar, garmoshka.

Sasha (Alexander) Ressetar - Balalaika virtuoso from Harrisburg, PA.

Balalaika prime Simon Lemberskiy from Brooklyn, New York.

Balalaika virtuoso Lev Zabeginsky from New York City.

Balalaika Contrabass player Leonid Bruk from Brooklyn, New York.

New York Balalaika Duo - balalaika player Lev Zabeginsky and Mikhail Smirnov (vocals, garmoshka, guitar).

Kalinka Duo - Sergey Vashchenko-balalaika, Vladimir Kaliazine-bayan from Austin, TX.

Balalaika virtuoso Sergey Vashchenko from Austin, TX.

Balalaika Stooges.

Brighton Beach Menestrels.

The Balalaika Russe - Russian balalaika band photos and story.

Tum Balalaika - Russian, Jewish, Ukranian, Gypsy band from Chicago, Illinois.

MORE TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE GROUPS