Balalaika - A Voice of Its Own

The Balalaika has a 3-sided body made from spruce or fir and usually only has 3 strings. From the front, the triangular shape makes it easily distinguished from other stringed musical instruments. The back of the instrument is rounded with 3 to 9 inset sections of wood creating a bowed appearance. The instrument ranges in sizes from the high-pitched prima balalaika to the lowest, the contrabass balalaika. In Russian, the name Balalaika means “the voice”.

The earliest known reference to the Balalaika is in 1688 in a book speaking of a people called the Skomorohi. According to Russian history, these were minstrels who traveled around the country and performed at weddings, fairs and other small events.

The performers dressed in character costumes such as animals, witches, sorcerers, etc. The Russian stringed instrument acted as the voice of the character and the composition became the words.

At a time when religion was challenged across the continent, these performers were considered evil by the clergy and entertaining by the people. The authorities in the big cities arrested many and others disappeared into the countryside.

By the late 1700s, the authorities in the Court had forgiven the evil of the musicians. The Court Violinist, Handosjkin, played the Balalaika for the Court of Ekaterina II who enjoyed the peculiar harmonics. Only through the blessing of the Russian Royals did any musical form acquire total acceptance nationally. During the 1850s, one famous Balalaika instrumentalist gave free concerts in the parks in Moscow using Balalaikas with only 1, 3 or 4 strings. With the high levels of poverty and the tragedy of death and wars knocking on the front door, the Russian Balalaika music gave voice to the people in a new way.

This Russian musical instrument has been compared to the guitar by many although the chording and tuning are dissimilar. Nonetheless, professional musicians play modern pieces with as much alacrity as any other stringed instrument.

The expressive voice of the Balalaika has traveled far from the Russian countryside and has been adopted by musicians around the world wanting one more ways to reach the soul of the audience.

Building A Balalaika

David Hedvall has put together a do-it-yourself Balalaika guide and acoustic-to-electric conversion tutorial complete with pictures. Check it out!

Sources: Cover photo from TurboSquid