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.
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| Bill Stenach (651) 786-8237 |
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**The public release of our new CD "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 the CD through the mail can send an email to alto.balalaika@yahoo.com. The cost is $20.00 plus shipping and handling.
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Upcoming Schedule: (click on the links below for more information) Kramarczuk's East European Deli
July 25 and 26 (Saturday night and Sunday afternoon): 100th Anniversary celebration of the Orthodox Church of St. Mary, Cornucopia, Wisconsin. Multiple performances. Sept 6 and 7 (Sunday and Monday--Labor Day): Minnesota State Fair International Bazaar Stage. Multiple performances.
*************** 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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