Balalaika Orchestra


Balalaika

The balalaika (балала́йка) is a stringed instrument of Russian origin, with a characteristic triangular body and 3 strings (or sometimes 6, in pairs).

Interesting history and development of the Balalaika and Balalaika Orchestras can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balalaika.

BDAA (Balalaika & Domra Association Of America)

The St. Mary's Balalaika Orchestra performance schedule can be seen below.

For bookings contact:
Bill Stenach
(651) 786-8237

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** Our new CD "St Mary's Balalaika Orchestra 25th Anniversary Concert," held at St. Anthony High School Auditorium in April of 2009, is now available. We welcome our special guests: The University of Wisconsin Russian Folk Orchestra, and their conductor, Viktor Gorodinsky. Selections include: Moldavian Girl, Fisherman's Revelry, Longing for Home (Russian March), Train to Odessa, Hej Sokoly (Polish Soldiers Song), Old Polka, and Brightly Shines the Moon.

The public release of "TROIKA" (see cover below) has been a big success. All proceeds will go to St. Mary's Renovation Project.

Those wishing to order a copy of either CD through the mail can send an email to alto.balalaika@yahoo.com. The cost is $20.00 plus shipping and handling.

Upcoming Schedule: (click on the links below for more information)

Kramarczuk's East European Deli
215 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: (612) 379-3018
$3.00 cover charge (note change).

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July 2010 St. Mary’s Balalaika Orchestra will be hosting the 32nd annual Balalaika & Domra Association Of America (BDAA) convention.  Information will be updated monthly to keep you informed of the weeklong events of workshops and evening festivities.

  • Mark your calendar now for July 17, 2010, for the festival concert comprised of 100 + performers from across the US, Canada and abroad.  Prima Balalaikas & Domras, Alto Balalaikas & Domras, Bass Balalaikas & Domras, Contra Bass Balalaikas, Flutes, Oboes, Percussion, Accordions, Bayans, Guslis, and everything under the sun, will be played at this concert!!  If you enjoyed our 25th anniversary concert this past April, you won’t want to miss this monumental event!!! 

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The sounds of traditional strings from Russia and Eastern Europe will have your toes tapping and your eyes weeping! St. Mary’s Balalaika Orchestra, a group of parishioners from St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis, play authentic balalaikas and domras creating a traditional sound from lands such as Russia, Ukraine and Czechoslovakia. Instrumentation in our orchestra consists of prima domra, alto domra, prima balalaika, alto balalaika, bass balalaika, accordion, vocals and some light percussion.

Familiar to many when appearing in popular culture, such as through the film Dr. Zhivago, the balalaika is a three stringed instrument with a distinctive triangular body. Various sizes of the instrument produce a range of notes. The sister instrument to the balalaika, the domra, can be three or four stringed and has a round shape. Like its counterpart, the domra also is crafted in several sizes providing for a range of sound.

Members of the St. Mary’s Balalaika Orchestra find that their involvement with the group is an important way for them to share their love of Slavic music with each other, and their listeners. They also value the ability to preserve such an important part of their common heritage.

 

 

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