Russian folk Squeezebox "Garmoshka" (or garmon') is a Russian folk button accordion. Musician who plays "garmoshka" called in Russia "Garmonist".
Garmoshka is a free-reed wind instrument. It has two rows of buttons on the right side, which play the notes of a diatonic scale, and two or three rows of buttons on the left side, which play the primary chords in the key of the instrument as well as its relative harmonic minor key.
Garmoshka has 25 treble buttons in two rows: Three diatonic octaves plus three accidentals and 25 bass buttons in three rows: Two rows of eight buttons, with bass notes and chords; one free-bass row.
The garmon' is also known by the names Tusl'skaya (after town of Tula, where Russians have famous Garmoshka factory), garmoshka, garmonika, "25 na 25", Hromka, bayan and accordion.
Russian Garmoshka is one of the most popular (after guitar) in Russia
between common country folks, the easiest instrument to learn, play and carry around.
On this page you can see three garmoshkas. Two of them (green color on the bottom of the page)
are factory made standard TULSKAYA garmoshkas.
But the one on the top (red color) is different story.
RUSSIAN FOLK ACCORDION (GARMOSHKA) VIDEO
Russian traditional song "Korobushka" (The Peddler) performed by New York based GARMONIST Misha Smirnov at the Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, New Jersey) in May 2006.
Russian Garmoshka Traditional Music Album
Garmoshka Traditional Music Album "Russian Restaurant" recorded by Mikhail Smirnov, performer, musician, folk singer, founder of New York based Russian dance and music ensemble Barynya in February 2007. Recording was made possible by singers-songwriters, Russian bard musicians Yuriy and Viktor Tenman from New York at their recording studio in Staten Island (Villa Nova Studio). If you ever attend a Russian party where people are singing, you will be able to recognize all the tunes from this album. The very first song that people will do together at the Russian restaurant, cafe, apartment or "izba" (country log house) after a few drinks at the Russian wedding or Birthday party most likely will be "Moroz-Moroz" or "Gorochka". There is no singing on this album. Well, almost no singing... Album contains traditional Russian tunes: "Kalinka", "Moscow nights", "Korobushka" and other Russian favorite songs performed on Russian garmoshka. Enjoy free Russian Garmoshka MP3 music downloads
I ordered and purchased red garmoshka myself at the black market (or "Bazar") in town of Tula in 1987.
At that time in USSR you were not able to buy from the government owned music store exact instrument that you wanted.
You could only get factory made instruments in same green or black color and same key (mostly A or C).
But I wanted beautifully crafted thing with nice grille with double or
tripple hand made reeds in D key with Master Bar and good quality bellows.
That was something you could only get by special order from people who made those garmoshkas
or buy used from second hand stores.
I had to travel to town of Tula two times from Moscow by train to get what I needed.
It was like 4-5 hours each way. In Tula I found garmoshka dealers and ordered the instrument I wanted.
After two weeks I have to travel there again and pick it up.
I remember paying over 1500 rubles for that wonderful instrument. I think maybe it was 1650 rubles to be exact.
Back in 1987 I was still a student in the Moscow State Institute of Culture making 40 rubles a month.
It was the biggest amount of money I ever carried around in my pocket and it was dangerous.
Fortunately I was able to pay for my new garmoshka and safely take it back home.
I was playng it for many years in Russia, Kongo, Mongolia and the United States and as you can see
on the pictures it is still in great condition.
I always tell a joke at our performances of Russian folk ensemble Barynya which I founded in 1991 with A.Anchutin and N.Demidova.
I tell people that garmoshkas are made at the same factory
as notorious AK-47 Assault Rifle and that's why the instrument is of such a great quality.
You can play my garmoshka in the cold russian winter outside till your hands will stop feel the bottons.
Garmoshka "Tulskaya - 301"
Garmoshka "Tulskaya - 301" is regular factory quality diatonic Garmoshka (Russian button Box Accordion)
made in Soviet Union in the town of Tula in 1990.
The weight of the Garmoshka is around 20 pounds with hard case.
Bass side: 25 bases, three rows.
Treble side: 25 buttons, three rows.
This class of Russian button accordions is unisonoric, and limited to a diatonic scale.
The layout of the right-hand buttons is such that the diatonic scale is played by alternating rows top to bottom.
A few useful accidentals are often included at the top of the keyboard.
The two outer rows of the left-hand are in a bass-chord arrangement,
with a combination of major and minor chords that fit in with the major
and relative harmonic minor key of the instrument.
The innermost row of buttons are double-bass notes for the entire diatonic scale.
Tula accordions are named for the city of Tula, where the first ones were built.
This instrument is widespread throughout Russia and former Soviet states.
Russian New Year's characters Father Frost and Snow Maiden
Ded Moroz and Snegurochka (Russian: Дед Мороз и Снегурочка)
Father Frost and Snow Maiden are the most important characters of the New Year's celebration in Russia. Father Frost (Ded Moroz, Russian: Дед Мороз) plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. The literal translation of the name would be "Grandfather Frost". However, English-speakers traditionally translate "DED MOROZ" as the alliterative "FATHER FROST". Ded Moroz is always accompanied by his granddaughter Snegurochka - Snow Maiden (Russian: Снегурочка).
New York based ensemble Barynya created a special Russian New Year's program with traditional Russian winter songs, dances and music: "In the forest a fir-tree was born" (V Lesu Rodilas' Yolochka), "Small Fir Tree is Freezing during the Winter" (Malen'koi Yolochke Kholdno Zimoy), "The snowstorm is blowing along the street" (Metelitsa), "Father Frost" (Moroz-Moroz), "Five minutes" (Pyat' Minut).
Ded Moroz and Snegurochka are available for hire in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania (within 100 miles driving distance from New York City). For a fast price quote contact Mikhail Smirnov
