Acclaimed New York based balalaika contrabass player Leonid Bruk was born in Leningrad, Russia.
Leonid graduated from music school as a bass guitarist and performed with many different groups.
In 2000 he founded his own Russian folk music trio "BROOKLYN BALALAIKAS".
Balalaika Contrabass player Leonid Bruk
Since 1989 when he arrived to USA, Leonid Bruk was deeply attracted to the bass-balalaika and contrabass balalaika.
He has played with variuos folk groups including
ensemble Barynya and soon become
known expert in Russian folk music.
His specialty is playing balalaika-bass and balalaika-contrabass.
Video from concert in New York City on January 26, 2008
Ensemble Barynya was touring the state of OHIO as part of the Ohio Arts Council’s Summer International Music and Performing Arts in Communities Tour (IMPACT). Barynya performed many shows, Russian & Ukrainian dance workshops from July 17 to July 28, 2007. Performance locations included Lakeside, Warren, Marietta, Jackson and Grandview Heights. All performances were free and open to the public.
The Russian Nobility Association in America annual Spring Russian Nobility
Ball took place at the luxurious "Pierre" Hotel on May 11, 2007 in New York City.
Musicians and dancers of New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya (full company)
provided music for coctail hour and thirty minute music and dance program during the dinner. "Barynya" performed popular Russian Gypsy pieces: "Two Guitars", "Kay One", "Vingerka", "3 lines", Russian favorite balalaika arrangement "The Moon is shining brightly" and Cossack song and dance "Varen'ka"
April 2007. Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood, Ohio
Gop So Smykom literally "Hop With A Violin Bow", an untranslatable slang nickname of a criminal character, roughly "High-Spirited Hop". In the opening stanza he introduces himself: "Gop So Smykom happens to be me, Listen well, friends. For my trade I've chosen theft. I am hardly ever out of prison, and when I am, the prison misses me. But whatever prison I may be in, not a minute passes without me singing. I stick my hands in my pockets, And walk around, singing out of boredom... read more
Russian folk tune "Svetit Mesyats" (The moon is shining brightly) Variations on Russian folk song: "The Moon Is Shining Brightly"
(sometimes translated as "The New Moon is Lighting") written by the "Father of Russian Balalaika" Vasily Vasileyevich Andreyev (1861-1918) is so
popular it was even mentioned in Michail Bulgakov's book "The heart of a dog":
Someone was hard at work playing a rousing tune on the balalaika two
rooms away and the sound of a series of intricate variations on 'The Moon is
Shining' mingled in Philip Philipovich's head with the words of the
sickening newspaper article. When he had read it he pretended to spit over
his shoulder and hummed absentmindedly through his teeth: ' "The moo-oon is
shining . . . shining bright . . . the moon is shining . . ." God, that
damned tune's on my brain!'... read more
Below is the small translation of the song lyrics into English. Russian original text is included as well for those who can read Russian Cyrillic.
СВЕТИТ МЕСЯЦ
Светит месяц, светит ясный
Светит белая заря.
Осветила путь дорожку
Мне до Сашина двора
THE MOON IS SHINING
The moon is shining, shining brightly
The white nightfall is shining too
My pathway is eliminated
All the way to the Sasha's place
Daydreams Waltz mpeg video file This waltz composed by "father" of Russian balalaika Vassily Vassilievich Andreev (born 186l).
Leonid Bruk with his balalaika-contrabass
Balalaika-bass and contrabass balalaikas are the biggest in size, and the strongest and deepest in sound.
BALALAIKA BASS DESCRIPTION First string: D, minor octave.
Second string: A, major octave.
Third string: E, major octave.
The instrument size and form require from the musician to play it in standing position.
A metal pin is attached to it from below, which abuts against the floor.
So neither the instrument body nor its sounding-board touch the performer's dress, and this causes great resonant effect, resulting in powerful,
long and deep sound.
To make the string sound well, musician has to press the strings correctly and tightly by one-two fingers of the left hand,
and strike with the right hand softly, but deeply and with strength.
There have been no considerable changes since the time of Vasily Vasilievich Andreyev,
but the playing technique is being constantly developed and improved.
Leonid Bruk at Russian Cabaret "Moscow" (corner of East 54th Street and Madison Avenue, Manhattan, New York City)
with Russian-Gypsy folk dance and music show group. Also on the photo Irina Zagornova, Natalia Smirnov, Svetlana Yankovskaya, Gennady Gutkin,
Lev Zabeginsky, Misha Smirnov, Sergey Riabtsev and Yuriy Vodolaga
BALALAIKA CONTRABASS DESCRIPTION First string: D, major octave.
Second string: A, contra octave.
Third string: E, contra octave.
The playing method is the same as the playing method of the balalaika bass.
However, the arpeggio is not used here.
To obtain a harmonious and powerful tremolo without rattling, it is recommended to use a big and solid leather plectrum.
The balalaika contrabass is the foundation of the orchestra and its' harmonious and rhythmic support.
The balalaika contrabass plays the same role in the orchestra as the bass.
Leonid Bruk performing famous Russian folk song KALINKA at Russian Maslenitsa Bliny Annual Diner at Holy
Virgin Protection Church, Nyack, New York with Russian folk singer Irina Zagornova, garmoshka player Mikhail Smirnov, bayan virtuoso Yan Khmel, Russian folk singer Natalia Smirnov,
balalaika player Edik Kutovoi and Russian folk dancer Yury Vodolaga
Gop So Smykom
Russian folk tune "Svetit Mesyats" (The moon is shining brightly)
.jpg)
