Balalaika
A Russian plucked string instrument with a triangular body, usually three strings, and a bright, percussive tone.
Balalaika tuning: The arrangement of pitches assigned to a balalaika’s open strings. The common E–E–A tuning shapes its chords, drones, and melodic possibilities.
Vasily Andreyev: A Russian musician who organized balalaika ensembles and helped establish the instrument’s concert tradition. His reforms and orchestras transformed the balalaika from folk instrument into a concert instrument.
Balalaika performance: The practices and techniques used to perform music on the balalaika. Performance combines strumming, plucking, and rapid tremolo to create its characteristic attack.
Domra: A Russian plucked string instrument with a rounded body, commonly played with a plectrum. The domra shares Russian folk settings with the balalaika but has a rounded body and different tone.
Tremolo: A musical technique that rapidly repeats or varies a note to sustain its sound. Rapid picking gives the balalaika its bright, sustained notes.
Russian folk music: Traditional music of Russia, encompassing regional songs, dances, and instrumental practices. The balalaika developed within this varied folk tradition.
Russian dance music: Instrumental and vocal music composed or performed for dances in Russian traditions. The balalaika’s crisp rhythm suits dance accompaniment.
Guitar: A fretted string instrument usually played by plucking or strumming its strings. The guitar’s familiar flat body and six-string setup contrast with the balalaika’s triangular form and typical three strings.
Plectrum: A small implement used to pluck or strike the strings of a musical instrument. Balalaika players use plectrums, especially on larger instruments, to project their sound.
Russian balalaika orchestra: An ensemble that combines balalaikas of different sizes to perform arranged music. Andreyev’s ensembles helped popularize the balalaika in organized group performance.