The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-27
Balalaika Orchestra
Gives Charming Recital

Music OF the most fascinating sort
charmed afternoon and evening audi
ences in the Garrick theater, Sunday
when the Imperial Russian Court
Balalaika orchestra, OF ST Petersburg
was heard in Detroit for the
time. The organization numbered
20 men, under the conductorship
OF NJ W. w. Andreeff, a mu,
stefan, whose handling OF the mate.
rial before him led one TO the con
viction that he would be fully equal
TO the requirements of leader of a
symphony orchestra.
The program was devoted entirely
&c Russian music and Russian com
posers. with the exception OF Rudolf
fo's famous aria from la Boheme''
(PuccinD arranged for the orchestra
and played so beautifully as to lure
the nearer into believing that he
actually heard a tenor voice singing
10 orchestral accompaniment.
The orchestra Is unique as bands
of stringed instruments go and entire
~ deserves the extravaganza compli-
ments which have been paid 10 It,
The balalaika is the ancient national
instrument Of Russia recently re-
stored TO its pristine eminence
through the efforts OF NJ. Andreeff.
who for several years has devoted
bis time and his fortune TO develop
ing the instrument and players of Il.
The balalaika is not unlike either or
mandolin, is an equalateral triangle
in shape and has three stings only.
II comes in four sizes and is pitched
TO correspond TO the violin. viola,
cello and bass viol. In the orchestra
two other ancient Russian instru-
ments are used, the dumro, having a
melon-shaped body, and the goosly,
the latter standing on legs and SINH
lar 10 an old fashioned dulcimer or
harpichord. The Goosly has a key
board Of one octave, the white and
black keys just the same as those OF
piano and a string board like a
piano, only that the goosly has one
string TO a note instead OF three as
IN a modern piano With these curl
Gus instruments the most delightful
and limpid harmonies are produced.
and the effects OF tone shading are
as lovely and fine as anything a SYM
phony orchestra Is capable OF produc-
ing
Many Of the program numbers were
either compositions by NJ Andreeff or
arranged by him for the Balalaika,
and he displayed thorough knowl-
edge OF the resources and the posi-
bilities of the instrument. The grave
and the gay in Russian folk song
were played. two OF the most attrac-
tive numbers, from the unsteady ef-
fective viewpoint. proving to be a
prayer called I'm Church" by
TschaIkowski. and the folk song OF
the Volga boatmen An exquisite ser,
enade brought an equally charming
encore, and three or four valses and
polkas by NJ. Andreff made one lone
to be on ball room floor with the
balalaika players in the musicians
gallery. There is everything about
the organization. it's leader. It's men
its instruments and its music TO at.
tract the music lover and the popular
fancy The artistry displayed. the
tone color the liquid sweetness OF
melody and the unusualness OF the
compositions PLAYED cannot fail to en-.
thuse and win the strong admiration
OF the cultured musician while the
lifting charm OF the music Is bound
TO please the popular taste Should
NJ Andreef and his orchestra visit
Detroit again. the auditorium should
be filed 10 overfowing.
A quartet Of singers from the oper.
attic section OF the Imperial opera
kouse In st. Petersburg sang mum
Der of national songs with good effect
The two women and two men we're
dressed in the rich native costume OF
velvet and brocsde and much gold
! braid with the odd headdresses OF
the women an the fur-trimme caps
OF the men