balalaika

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balalaika

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

balalaika , Russian stringed musical instrument, with a triangular body and a long fretted neck fretted instrument. Usually there are three strings, which are generally plucked with a pick. The balalaika is made in various sizes, and several may be combined to make a band or orchestra. A similar instrument, the bandura, is found in Ukraine and Russia, and other types are to be found in the countries of the Middle East, where the balalaika almost certainly originated. The instrument did not appear in Russia until c.1700. Like the guitar, it has been much used to accompany folk songs and country dances.

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balalaika

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | © The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

balalaika guitar-like instrument. XVIII. — Russ.

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T. F. HOAD. "balalaika." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "balalaika." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-balalaika.html

T. F. HOAD. "balalaika." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-balalaika.html

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balalaika

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music | 1996 | | © The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

balalaika. Russ. guitar, triangular in shape with (normally) 3 str., and a fretted fingerboard. Exists in various sizes. Assoc. with it, in balalaika bands, are the domra, a somewhat similar instr., and the gusli.

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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "balalaika." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 18 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "balalaika." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 18, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-balalaika.html

MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "balalaika." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved December 18, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-balalaika.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Tourism in Russia.(Tourism)
Magazine article from: Earth Focus Une Planete/ Une Communaute; 6/22/2007
Free Article Publication noted: an anotated listing of new folk recordings, videos & books.(Directory)
Magazine article from: Sing Out!; 9/22/2004
Free Article From Russia with love - and a dash of capitalism. (marketing of Russian collectors' items)
Magazine article from: Los Angeles Business Journal; 1/25/1993

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Balalaika and Domra Association of America festival concert July 20th in Pomona, California.
PR Newswire; 7/17/1984; 700+ words ; ...annual performance of the 100-piece folk Balalaika and Domra Association of America orchestra...Cherniavsky, is comprised of members from balalaika and domra orchestras from Texas to Maine...artists scheduled to appear: The American Balalaika Company from Miami, Fla. This dramatic...
The Balalaika Story: Romantic to Its Roots
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 7/9/1990; ; 531 words ; The tale of the balalaika orchestra's origin is as romantic...in its repertoire. Groups like the Balalaika Orchestra of Detroit-one of two American...ensembles heard at Saturday night's Balalaika and Domra Association (BDA) Festival...
The annual performance of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America will take place at Stockton State College.
PR Newswire; 6/28/1984; 700+ words ; ...annual performance of the 100-piece folk Balalaika and Domra Association of America orchestra...Gherniavsky, is comprised of members from balalaika and domra orchestras from Texas to Maine...artists scheduled to appear: The American Balalaika Company from Miami, Fla. This dramatic...
Folk orchestra comes from Russia with balalaikas
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 2/12/1989; ; 700+ words ; ...reached for our hankies when the balalaikas started strumming "Lara...folk dancers when we hear balalaika music at Chicago's lively...restaurants. A whole stage full of balalaika players - 82 to be exact...The Moscow-based Osipov Balalaika Orchestra is celebrating its...
Stirring balalaika comes to Bath
Newspaper article from: Bath Chronicle, The; 2/26/2009; 552 words ; ...Russian Cossack dancing and stirring Balalaika music are set to thrill audiences in...7.30pm featuring Bibs Ekkel on the balalaika. With performances which draw on the...style and material. Bibs Ekkel, prima balalaika soloist and the group's leader, is...
THE BALALAIKA, UPDATED
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 1/22/1989; ; 407 words ; The balalaika has come a long way, baby. Far from...Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the Osipov Balalaika Orchestra will team the mandolinlike...McCullough, president of the 500-member Balalaika and Dorma Association of America. Through...
Balalaikas! It's time for sergei's samovar
Newspaper article from: Sentinel, The (Stoke-on-Trent UK); 7/1/2007; 685 words ; ...perhaps accompanying myself on the balalaika (although the wife and kids says they...busking community before practising the balalaika in public. Street entertainers can be...see evidence of your proficiency on the balalaika, so you should take lessons rather than...
Balalaikas Lend Music a Russian Accent
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 5/17/2004; 431 words ; The balalaika, a three-stringed, guitarlike Russian...distinctive body of sound in the American Balalaika Symphony, which performed Saturday at...that other Gorbachev) is a remarkable balalaika virtuoso, as he demonstrated in a piece...
FROM BLUES TO BALALAIKA, IT'S HIGH TIDE FOR MUSIC FANS
Newspaper article from: The Record (Bergen County, NJ); 5/23/1992; ; 678 words ; ...for information, call 835-6421. Balalaika lovers Never heard a balalaika? Make up for it at 2 p.m. today, when you can hear a whole bunch of balalaikas playing in the Troika Balalaika Orchestra at Passaic Community College...
Balalaika orchestra to perform tonight
Newspaper article from: Intelligencer Journal Lancaster, PA; 2/25/2002; ; 428 words ; The Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra from Russia...the world, the Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra has 70 musicians...brijolka and kugilka, balalaikas and domras in every size...direction the Ossipov Balalaika Orchestra has taken on...

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