Balalaika

The balalaika is the most widespread instrument in Russia, and the best-known Russian instrument in the world.

It has a triangular body with small sound holes and a long neck divided by metal frets. Its strings, first of gut and later of metal, were at first two and later three. They are played with the fingers of the right hand and can be tuned in several ways, most often E–E (in unison) and A.

The balalaika has a very long history. It began to be played in Russia as early as the 13th century, at the time of the Mongol and Tatar raids. Although the clergy were completely against it, it spread very quickly across the country. In the 17th century the clergy's opposition was so strong that all the instruments were confiscated and burned.

But people made new instruments by hand, changing the older ones: they chose a triangular shape and added a third string. This was the birth of the balalaika, whose name means something like 'a means of amusement'; it is thought to come from the verb 'balovat', to play about or joke.

The balalaika is first mentioned in 1688, in a Ukrainian document about two villagers who were arrested for playing it.

It was the music of village feasts and gatherings, but over time it won over townspeople, young people and soldiers as well.

Craftsmen of the time often made balalaikas from wood reused from furniture and other objects.

In 1886 the Russian nobleman Vasily Andreyev founded a society for balalaika lovers, and in 1898 he formed an orchestra that performed in Paris with great success.

There are five types of balalaika, which differ in size and number of strings.