Gentle Music

My first memory of balalaika music was from the movie “Dr. Zhivago.” It was romantic and captivating, while quite foreign from anything I had ever heard.

Imagine a whole stage filled with balalaikas and their Russian cousins domras, with a couple of guslis, a few accordians, some flutes, and a small percussion section. That would describe the Washington Balalaika Society, as they performed on the stage of the Schlesinger Center last night.

All of the stringed instruments were from Russia, with the exception of one giant contrabass balalaika, which was made by the musician who played it. Most of the balalaikas have 3 strings, 2 of which are tuned to the same note. They don’t make a lot of sound, but enough of them sound like an army of beating wings of little birds.

We were treated to the all-time favorites of Russia, many of which we had heard throughout the years. There was Strangers in Paradise from Borodin’s Prince Igor, Moscow Nights, and of course Those Were the Days, which found the audience accelerating their clapping to a riotous finish.

What amazed me most was when the announcer asked how many of the performers had joined the group after hearing a performance and at least half of them stood up! Although there are clearly native Russians among them, it’s a rather diverse group who come together to celebrate this beautiful music from the old country.

Only in Washington, DC, would you find the largest balalaika troupe in North America!