Description: The balalaika is primarily found through out Russia, Byelorussia and Ukraine. In a formal setting a balalaika ensemble maybe arranged from duet, trio, quartet, to orchestra may consist of a bayan (chromatic accordion) or the garmoshka (diatonic accordion). In the rural communities small ensembles would include the balalaika, skripka (fiddle), accordion and the buben (tambourine).

Vasilye Vasilyevich Andrev: Vasilye Andriev is considered the father of the academic-folk instrument movement in Eastern Europe. He is responsible for transforming the balalaika in the current design it is in today. Through a collaborative effort between Valsye Vasilyevich Andrev and the violin maker V. Ivanov (b. 1th of January 1861 to 1918) the standardization of the balalaika took root in the 1880s. In the current design of the balalaika we see the 16 chromatic frets more or less. During the same time under his watch the domra, gusli and some percussion instruments also became standardized. Many traditional folk songs for the balalaika were also standardized and re-arranged for balalaika orchestras who still play these melodies today.

The Balalaika Family: The current format of the balalaika ensemble to orchestra are arranged in the following order from prima (solo) to secundo, alto, tenor and contrabass which is being the largest of the balalaika family During the 1930s the picollo balalaikas were quite common, although today they are quite rare. Currently the repetoire of the balalaika orchestra often consists from arranged traditional folk songs to classical melodies by Tchaikovsky, Bach, Schubert, Chopin, and Bartok.

Balalaika Tunings: The standard tuning for the balalaika is E-E-A two strings are tuned in unison and the rhid string is tuned a fourth apart. In the charts below compare the standard to the alternate tunings. In the rural areas there are many alternate tunings that are listed in the second chart. The tunings presented are a snapshot of the tunings used during V. Andrye's time and today's rural balalaika music.

 

Standard Tunings

Piccolo	B-E-A
Standard	A-E-E
Alto	E-E-A
Bass	E-A-D
Contrabass	E-A-D

 

Balalaika, Alternate Tunings

	A-E-A	C Minor / C-Maj	C-C-G
	A-D-A	F Major	C-F-A
	B-E-A	F# Minor	C#-F#-A
	C-C-G	A Major	C#-G-A
	C-F-A	A Major	E-C#-A
		A Min / C Maj 6	G-A-C
		D Major	D-F-A
		D# Major	D-F#-A
		F# Major	D#-F#-A
		F Major	E#-F#-A

Citations: Discography: Pan Records CD2002, Sigrai Vanya (Play Vanya) is a good audio compilation of rural Russian instrumental and vocal music. Bibliography: New Grove Dictionary of Music by Stanley Sadie Book 1, Page 113, Balalaika, book A-F. ISBN number: 0-943818-05-02. The Balalaika and how to play it, by Bibs Ekkel ~ A comprehensive Guide & Tutor, covering Elementary to advanced level Recommended further study ~ V. K. Galakhov (of Orel Conservatoire): "Various Tunings of the Folk Balalaika" printed as part the collection "Studies in Musical Folklore" ("Izuchenie muzykalnogo folklora") Rostov-on-Don, 1986. web sites: Bibs Ekkel Russian Music Services > Bibs Ekkel & Dmitri Belinskiy article about Balalaika > Barnaya.com > Balalaika And Dombra Association of America