Complete Balalaika Book
About this ebook
A glossary of musical signs and Russian musical terns is included. A Brief History of the Balalaika is well written and nicely illustrated. The Repertoire Section offers a valuable resource of Eastern European folk tunes. All but two selections in this section are written in both notation and tab with suggested guitar chords, the exceptions being an arrangement for balalaika and piano, and a balalaika orchestra score. More than simple melody chord lead sheets, these are the author's own arrangements of tunes for solo balalaika and balalaika orchestra. Online audio with selections performed by the author completes this highly effective instructional package.
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About the author
Born in London, U.K., of mixed Polish-English background, Bibs Ekkel is one of few outstanding exponents of the balalaika outside Russia. His career as a professional balalaika player has covered con certs, cabaret, recordings, films, and innumerable radio and TV appearances throughout Europe and North America. It has earned him recognition too in
the balalaika's Motherland, where he has performed on radio and TV as well as at Moscow's prestigious "Hall of Columns" and "Tchaikovsky Hall." He has lectured on Russian folk music at American Universities, coauthored a BBC radio educational series on the subject and worked as Russian music adviser for several BBC TV productions. He has also had Russian and Polish speaking roles in a variety of movies. In addition to his activities as soloist, Bibs Ekkel runs a highly successful Russian music and dance ensemble, "Tziganka" (which has toured internationally since 1975), an instrumental quartet "Balalaika Potpourri" (started by him in Vancouver in 1989, soon after his move there from London), and the duo "Russian Tornado" (specifically aimed at school concerts). Some of his many recordings have been issued by "Russkiy Disk" Moscow, CBS Israel, and "Decca" in London.
