Balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski and Mikhail Smirnov (guitar)performing Russian folk song “The Moon Is Shining Brightly” (Svetit Mesyats) Светит месяц…

I love this little instrument and it has a powerful history for an instrument. It is not just small in size though and there are some versions that are plain huge…

Tidbit of information: It is said that the Balalaika embodies the Russian people’s character, with its ability to switch from happiness to sadness with ease. Originally it was a folk and peasant instrument. It was common for the peasant ballads, composed for the Balalaika, to irreverently poked fun at the authority of the times. For this reason there were times when the Balalaika was banned by both the Orthodox Church and the State. The instrument enjoyed its greatest folk popularity in the early 18th century…

Russians love their Balalaika…

Russian Video From Russia!