Author Topic: Did Anastasia play the guitar? (Read 16693 times)

ARfreak · « **on:** November 02, 2005, 05:08:50 PM »

Hi, I read somewhere that Anastasia and Alexei played the guitar. Is this true?

Holly · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2005, 05:55:08 PM »

Welcome to the forum!!!

Ummm...Not exactly. Anastasia and her siblings played something called a balalaika. Its similar to a guitar. It is triangle shaped. I don't know much more about it though. Its a traditional Russian instrument.
Holly

Sarushka · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2005, 06:16:53 PM »

Holly's right! Both Anastasia & Aleksei played balalaika (I'm not sure about the other sisters, though).

Here's an article about the instrument:
Balalaika on Wikipedia

And here's a CD available on amazon (it's a good one -- I've borrowed it from the library). You can hear samples of the songs.

I'm particularly fond of the last track -- Flight of the Bumblebee
Balalaika Favorites CD

ARfreak · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2005, 08:19:44 PM »

Thank u guys. :)I knew that A and A played the balalaika, but I thought that they might have played the guitar as well.

Romanov_fan · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2005, 10:51:04 AM »

What does that instrument sound like? I think I have heard it before in Russian folk music. Is not it used in Russian folk music?

Sarushka · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2005, 12:00:44 PM »

Click on the link I posted yesterday and you can hear some samples...

ARfreak · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2005, 06:46:41 AM »

What songs would they have played on the balalika probably???

Anastasia_R · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2005, 07:06:54 PM »

Probably traditional Russian music-during WWI German music,customs,etc. would've been banned I'm sure.I'm not quite sure but would it be possible for them to play Tchaikovsky,etc.?

Anastasia_R · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2005, 07:09:02 PM »

Sorry two posts in a row here.

Quote

Holly's right! Both Anastasia & Aleksei played balalaika (I'm not sure about the other sisters, though).

Didn't Olga play the piano?I'm not quite sure but I think that she played the piano.

Sarushka · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2005, 07:16:52 PM »

Yes, Olga and Tatiana both played piano. As I remember, Tatiana had the best technique, but no real interest in her playing. Olga, however, could play well by ear and was better able to convey a sense of emotion through music than her sister.

Anastasia_R · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2005, 07:24:56 PM »

Quote

Yes, Olga and Tatiana both played piano. As I remember, Tatiana had the best technique, but no real interest in her playing. Olga, however, could play well by ear and was better able to convey a sense of emotion through music than her sister.

That's kind of what I thought.Thanks Sarushka!

I would have loved to hear how they played.
Just because this is about balalaikas I thought I'd say this:
When my grandparents came to Wisconsin they went to a concert or something given by a Russian man that they(my gparents)knew,so they attended his concert(for balalaika).ALOT of Russians were there and they were all so glad to see him because my grandma said something along the lines of not many Russians being able to get out of the country.
And try saying balalaika 10 times fast.

Such beautiful music-does anybody know if any stores such as Barnes and Noble,etc. sell them?(balalaika music)

Anastasia Nikolaievna · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2009, 02:28:13 AM »

Balalaika:

Olga Maria · « **Reply #12 on:** May 15, 2009, 07:41:12 PM »

I envy Anastasia. She knows how to play this instrument...I like to have lessons with it but I'm completely miserable. Does she also play it for guests?

Yelena Aleksandrovna · « **Reply #13 on:** June 29, 2009, 07:16:06 PM »

Balalaika is similar to the guitar, well that's my opinion

Tina · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2009, 06:09:22 AM »

Quote from: Kaiserin Alzbeta Sissi on June 29, 2009, 07:16:06 PM

Balalaika is similar to the guitar, well that's my opinion

Actually, balalaika and guitar are quite different and sound different as well. The bodies (? do you call them like this in English? :-/ ) are also different. Plus, the balalaika has 3 strings (sometimes 6, but not that often); and guitars usually have six (there are also guitars with 4, 8, 11 etc, strings). And after all, balalaika is a traditional Russian musical instrument. : )

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