Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD)

Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD)

Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD)
List Price: $18.98
Our Price: $12.06
You Save: $6.92 (36%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

CD Details

Composer: Nikolai Pavlovich Budashkin
Composer: Russian Traditional
Composer: Pavel Kulikov
Composer: Nikolay Osipov
Composer: Mikhailov-Shalayev
Composer: Vasily Andreyev
Composer: Vasily Pavlovich Solovyov-Sedoy
Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Composer: Yuri Shishakov
Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Conductor: Vitaly Gnutov
Orchestra: Ossipov Russian Folk Orchestra
Edition: Music CD
Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
CD Release Date: 2005-05-10
Music Label: Philips
Soundtracks:
  1. Fantasy On Two Folk Songs
  2. At Sunrise
  3. The Linden Tree
  4. Kamarinskaya
  5. Fantasy On Volga Melodies
  6. In The Moonlight
  7. Midnight In Moscow
  8. Under The Apple Tree
  9. Dance Of The Comedians
  10. The Living Room
  11. Evening Bells
  12. My Dear Old Friend, Please Visit Me
  13. Waltz Of The Faun
  14. Flight Of The Bumble-Bee

Music reviews of Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD)

Music Review: Truly Fine Russian Folk-Style Instrumental Music!
Rating: 5 Stars

This review is based upon the regular CD version, not this SACD disk. I include it here because most of it should be relevant to the newer high-tech version.

The reviewer who complained about disappointed expectations of hearing mostly balalaika music seems justified. The album title is misleading in that the balalaikas, of which there are many playing nearly all the time, are not always prominent nor clearly distinguishable by ear from the domras. Both the domras and balalaikas have three strings and are played mainly in a tremolo fashion, that is, with notes being struck repeatedly by a finger or pick fanning back and forth rapidly. The differences are (1) the balalaika is usually finger-picked while the domra uses a pick or plectrum, (2) the balalaika usually is strung with one metal and two gut/nylon strings while the domra uses all metal strings, and (3) the balalaika belly is triangle-shaped while the domra's is circular. Despite the differences it often isn't easy to tell them apart by sound. In general, because of the finger-picking and nylon strings, the balalaika has a somewhat softer sound with less brightness than the domra. For this reason in Russian folk groups the domra is more often used to play the melody, leaving the balalaikas to play the accompanying harmonies.

If you want to hear balalaikas without domras confusing things you might want to try the CD "Balalaika: Russia's Most Beautiful Tunes" (Musical Heritage Society 514746X ) played by the Stars of St. Petersburg, which includes no domras, but does have several other instruments including a guitar. Another bet would be to focus on solo balalaika music such as that found on the CD "L'Art de la Balalaïka Classique" (Arion ARN 68118), but be warned that this disk, which features balalaika with piano accompaniment, focusses more on classical-style than folk music. Another possibility is to get the video DVD "Red Star: Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble" (Kultur D4051) which includes two balalaika solos, along with lots of great choral and solo Russian singing, a fine band, and spectacular Russian dancing. If you specially want "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago, you can find it on the 2-CD album "Don Cossack Choir" (Brilliant 93094), where it is well sung in Russian by Michael Minsky accompanied by "Balalaika Orkestra, Fedor Astachow."

Regarding the present CD, the name of the performing group is honest enough: the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra. As such it features several types of Russian folk instruments, along with a few which are more modern and non-folk in character. The program notes briefly describe four of the folk instruments: the domra, balalaika, shepherd's horn (rojok), and goosli. (The rojok is a kind of carved wooden trumpet and the goosli is a multi-stringed instrument something like a zither or autoharp.)

The music on this 35-mm film Living Presence disk is, in itself, truly excellent! If you like Russian folk-style instrumental music, you are just about guaranteed to love what's here: a varied selection of fairly familiar composed and traditional pieces presented with great artistry and authentic Russian spirit

Though recorded in early 1960's stereo (non-digital) sound, this disk will hold its own musically against newer releases, I believe. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and don't hesitate to recommend it heartily!
More Balalaika Favorites (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD) free music reviews:
1

Classical CDs

Music Genres
Bestsellers in Classical CDs
Winterscapes ImageWinterscapes
by London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.75
Price in other shops: $6.99
The Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebee ImageThe Queen, the Bear, & the Bumblebee
by Dini Petty
Children's Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops: $13.98
Beethoven Lives Upstairs Cdr ImageClassical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs Cdr
Release date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos)) ImageTchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))
by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] ImageJose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]
Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.86
Price in other shops: $9.99
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] ImageTchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.89
Price in other shops: $29.95
Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] ImageRambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: $29.95
Winter Music: Composing the North ImageWinter Music: Composing the North
by John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.88
Price in other shops: $25.95
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] ImagePuccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops: $29.95
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] ImageVerdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]
Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops: $29.95
Similar CDs
The Decca Sound ImageThe Decca Sound
Release date: 2011-11-15; Music CD
Best price: $111.49
Price in other shops: $177.99
Rhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris ImageRhapsody in Blue / An American in Paris
Release date: 2005-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $6.97
Price in other shops: $9.99
Spain [Hybrid SACD] ImageSpain [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2007-01-23; Music CD
Best price: $7.60
Price in other shops: $9.99
Brahms / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos ImageBrahms / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos
Release date: 2005-07-26; Music CD
Best price: $7.63
Price in other shops: $9.99
Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar [Hybrid SACD] ImagePopular Classics for Spanish Guitar [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2007-01-23; Music CD
Best price: $6.85
Price in other shops: $9.99
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD] ImageRimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2005-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $7.21
Price in other shops: $9.99
Janos Starker: Cello Concertos of Schumann, Lalo, Saint-Saëns [Hybrid SACD] ImageJanos Starker: Cello Concertos of Schumann, Lalo, Saint-Saëns [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2005-10-11; Music CD
Best price: $13.20
Price in other shops: $18.98
Dvorák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104; Bruch Kol Nidrei; Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme / Dorati, Starker, London Symphony Orchestra (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD) ImageDvorák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104; Bruch Kol Nidrei; Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme / Dorati, Starker, London Symphony Orchestra (3-Channel and Stereo Hybrid SACD)
Release date: 2005-05-10; Music CD
Best price: $12.04
Price in other shops: $18.98
Mercury Living Presence Boxed Set ImageMercury Living Presence Boxed Set
Release date: 2012-03-06; Music CD
Best price: $100.61
Price in other shops: $153.99
Offenbach: Gaïte parisienne; Rossini-Respighi: La boutique fantasque [Hybrid SACD] ImageOffenbach: Gaïte parisienne; Rossini-Respighi: La boutique fantasque [Hybrid SACD]
Release date: 2005-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $5.22
Price in other shops: $7.99
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles