Russian folk song duo "Misha and Natasha From Russia"

"Misha and Natasha from Russia" STORY

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Russian folk song duo "Misha and Natasha from Russia" are professional Russian traditional entertainers. Mikhail Smirnov (Misha) and Natalia Demidova (Natasha) have started performing together in Moscow, Russia.

Duo specializes in traditional Russian folk songs from various regions of Russia. "Misha and Natasha from Russia" are based out of Brooklyn, New York. Garmoshka (Russian button accordion), guitar, gusli and balalaika are used to accompany folk singing.

Mikhail and Natalia are the founders of acclaimed Russian folk dance and music ensemble Barynya from New York.

As student Natasha (Natalia Demidova) was performing as a soloist singer/dancer with a few Russian folk music ensembles such as Rudnev's folk group from Moscow and professional ensemble "Bylina".

Before graduation Misha (Mikhail Smirnov) was a soloist/choirmaster at vocal semi-professional group "Moskovia" (director Valery Nesterov).

Both performers graduated with Master's Degree as Russian folk chorus conductors from Moscow State University of Culture and Arts formely known as Moscow Institute of Culture. After finishing a formal education Natasha (Natalia Smirnov) and Misha (Mikhail Smirnov) have worked at Russian folk Theatre "Matanya" and then Moscow State Folk Center "RUSSKAYA PESNYA", director Nadezjda Babkina as a professional performers. In May of 1991 Natalia Demidova and Mikhail Smirnov have made United States of America their home. In 1991-1992 they were part of the show in Russian club/restaurant Fyodoroff in Glem Cove, Long Island, NY. By the end of 1991 they founded Russian folk ensemble "Barynya" with great Russian folk dancer Sasha, former member of Moiseyev Dance Company. In the begining of 1992 in the same Russian Restaurant Fyodoroff jazz-saxophone virtuoso Igor Butman helped to choose name for Natalia and Mikhail who started to perform as a duo more and more. Rusian folk duo "Misha and Natasha from Russia" was born.

Misha and Natasha were performing with many different group and ensembles including New York based folk show "Drago" (Nina Moston), Neva Russian Dance Ensemble (Vladimir Riazantsev), New York Russian-Gypsy folk show "Moscow", The Don Cossacks Chorus and Dancers of America (George Margitich).

"Misha and Natasha from Russia" PHOTOS

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"Misha and Natasha from Russia" BROCHURE

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"Misha and Natasha from Russia" mp3 samples

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New York based Russian folk duo "Misha and Natasha from Russia" compact disk "Beyond The Don River" Russian folksongs was released by RUSA Records, Philadelphia, PA. CD cover by artist Vladimir Nekrasov. Please feel free to download Russian folk lymericks, cossacks ballads and marching songs, popular tunes and chastushki with accompaniment of garmoshka, guitar and balalaika.

cd cover

"Along The Kazanka River"
An old jocose song-game.

 "At the Blacksmith's"
Authentic blacksmith's work song accompanied by rhythmic folk instruments.

"Barynya"
Russian folk dance.
Wild dancing with foot stomping and knee-bending jumps. The dancers get so wound up they often break the heels from their boots.

"Beyond The Don River"
A young woman bids farewell to her lover riding off to war. He becalms her not to worry as he will return soon from The Red Army.

"Blooming Guilder Tree"
Young girl fell in love with a man , but her love is not happy. She` afraid to tell him, and more afraid even to thing to explain the sadness of her love.

"Bold merchant was returning from market..."
This is a city romance from the 19 century, one of the favorite Leo Tolstoy songs.

"By the field"
Cossacks marching song and dance.

"Carry the water, Gala"
Lyric folk Ukrainian song Young man is saying to beautiful Gala: "You are so cute, it is a pleasure just to look at you."

"Do not wind the threads"
This is a lyrical song of suffering in the form of "chastushka" a series of four line folk verses.

"Kalinka"
Folk song and dance

"Natalia"
Tongue twister Siberian song. A young man falls in love with so awesome a beauty Natalia.
In jest he thinks to kill himself, then he rethinks to kill her.  Moral is the knife is broken, the pitchfork is bent and Natalia is still alive.

"Not the wind that Bends the Branch"
This is a city romance from the 19 century, one of the favorite Leo Tolstoy songs. ...It is better to die than to live without your dear one...

"Oh, Extreme Cold"
A Russian favorite. In extreme cold weather a man forces his horse to get them home as soon as possible. He sings asking that neither he nor his horse freeze. Because his wife is beautiful and waiting to get him in her arms

"Saturday Affair"
The young girl explains to her boyfriend that they should not kiss, but only hug.

"Shorty"
The parents wish to marry their daughter to a short fellow with a foul personality. Against the will of her parents, the young maiden picks the one she loves for a husband.

"Stenka Rasin`s Dream"
A fragment of an ancient ballad about the famous brigand - Russian Robin Hood - who went to war against the Tsar. According to the legend, Stenka had a dream in which a furious wind blew his black hat off his head. Razin`s colonel quickly foretold the ataman`s imminent death.

"The Don Cossacks"
Don Cossack Military formation Song. The Don Cossacks were famous for their freedom-loving character. The Tsar freed them from the bond of serfdom, and in return, the Cossacks guarded the Russian borders from unfriendly neighbors.

"The Peddler"
This lyric folk song and dance has been a Russian favorite for 150 years. A countryside peddler has a basket filled with attractive prints and brocades. At first-sight he falls in love with a pleasant girl. He is ready to lay at her feet all his worldly goods for a glance from her dark eyes and a kiss from her ruby-red-lips. Lyrics are by the great poet N. Nekrasov, "Only the dark night knows how they got on together"

"The Curly Mountain Ash-tree"
A famous lyric. The young women can't choose between two guys.

"By the long road"
An old gypsy song.

"Thin Thread"
Belgorod`s region tap-dance and song with balalaika.

"Varen`ka" 
This popular Cossack dance and song about a young officer's love for a pretty girl "Varen`ka". The young man can not figure out what to get his beloved for the holiday.

"Varenichki (pirogi)"
The hungry husband begs his wife to prepare Varenichki. The lazy wife finds every possible excuse to refuse him.

"Village, 4 Yards"
A cunning young women is out all night with her lover. At sunrise her jealous old husband asks the beauty where she was all night. She replies: "I slept on the stove!"

"Where did you go, Vanya?"
It is a popular civil war song. Vanya`s parents are asking him not to be a soldier at the Red Army.

"Wild Strawberry"
Cossack's song and dance.

"You did deceit me!"
Playful authentic Ukrainian song. Fellow's girlfriend never keeps her promises.

"Katiusha"
Popular Song from the period of W.W.II.

"Moscow Nights"
Popular Russian songs

"Quips" With Garmoshka
This is a genre with particular stylistic traits: short and funny quips with accordion.

"Misha and Natasha from Russia" JOKE OF THE DAY

Question: - What do you get when you play Russian folk music backwards? Answer: - Russian Folk Music!

ballad

"Misha and Natasha from Russia" CONCERT PROGRAM