Balalaika

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New words Wooden – деревянный. Strings – струны. Village folk – деревенский. Entertain – развлекать. Jabber – трещать. Underline – особенность. Uncover – раскрывает. Essence – сущность. Sonorous – звонкий. Soft – мягкий. Tender – нежный. Rather weak – слабоват. Banned – запретили. Enhance – повысить. Still remain – все еще остается. Various – различный. Purchase – купить. Via – с помощью.

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Balalaika is a traditional Russian instrument with a wooden triangle-shaped body and three (or rarely six or four) strings. It is sometimes called a “Russian three-string guitar.” For centuries , balalaika was a popular village folk instrument played by skomorokhs (a kind of jester-musician) to entertain people.

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Balalaika’s babble This connection not only underlines the folk origins of the balalaika but also uncovers its essence as an easy and fun instrument with a sonorous but soft and even tender voice. The word balalaika is similar to the Russian words “ балакать ” , “ балаболить ” meaning “babble” or “jabber”.

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Symbolic triangle Some researchers suppose that the three sides and three strings of the balalaika may symbolize the Holy Trinity. But this theory is rather weak: at different times in Russian history the instrument was banned by the Church and, moreover, musical instruments are not allowed in the Orthodox liturgy.

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In Russia and beyond Growing interest in Russian folk instruments from outside Russia has enhanced the popularity of the balalaika. The balalaika has been well known in North America since the beginning of the 20th century, when the Russian Balalaika Orchestra first toured the continent. Over the past half-century a number of balalaika associations have been set up in different corners of the planet.

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Handmade Balalaikas are produced at a number of musical instruments factories in Russia but handmade balalaikas still remain the most precious articles. You can buy homemade and factory-made balalaikas at various musical shops in Russia and abroad or you can easily purchase one via internet.

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