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Exuberant and poignant folk music from Russia, Ukraine and other eastern European countries opens the new season at the Theatre at Washington, Va. The 35-person orchestra of the Washington Balalaika Society brings its beautiful collection of traditional Russian folk instruments to the Theatre for a performance on Saturday, Sept. 8 beginning at 8 p.m.
The Russian folk orchestra was conceived in the 1880s by the nobleman Vasily Vasillevich Andreyev. Orchestras using folk instruments are now prevalent throughout Russia, not just in the cities but in schools and workplaces.
The triangular balalaika and the round-bodied domra, the principal instruments of the folk orchestra, derive from the primitive lute of two or three strings which was played by Russian peasants in the 17th century, and which is believed to be of Tartar origin. All the domras and balalaikas played by the Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra are authentic instruments, and most of those to be played on stage at the Theatre were made in Russia.
Over the years since folk instrument orchestras began two centuries ago, stringed instruments have come to be built in a variety of sizes, in order to produce the range of tones expected by audiences accustomed to the violin family.
A third Russian string instrument, the gusli, which is a sort of harp, has been added; and the string sounds are now enriched by the addition of flute, oboe and accordion (the Russian form is known as a bayan), as well Russian percussion instruments.
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