Employing the melodic character of this instrument as well as its various sounds and bellow techniques, the interpretor was capable of creating new spheres of sound in the popular miniatures of Russian composers. Russian folklore instruments occupy a special place in the history of music. Bayan, Domra and Balalaika spread widely and have become a firm element in music. A lot of folk songs were arranged for Bayan by Russian composers. Arrangements of popular melodies have developped into a characteristic pecularity of the Russian School for Bayan. They present themselves as variations, paraphrases, fantasies, rhapsodies and various other forms. On this CD we find works of lyrical (“Hey Thou Nice Little Snowball-Tree” by I. Panizki), humorous (works by P. Londonow and A. Bisow) and dance-like character (works by G. Schenderjow). The fantasy about a Ukrainian theme by W. Podgorni is a symphonic example. A particular position among these arrangements is held by the “Russian Song” from the opera “The Mavra” by I. Strawinski. This oeuvre has been transcribed by Friedrich Lips from the original for violin and piano.

M. Mussorgski (1839-1881)

In the village 3:53

Scherzo c sharp-minor 4:44

 

S. Rachmaninow (1873-1943)

Serenade 2:54

Humoresque 3:30

 

A. Borodin (1833-1887)

Nocturne 3:36

 

W. Rebikow (1866-1920)

Polka 1:20

 

A. Ljadow (1855-1914)

Musical snuff-box 1:48

 

A. Iljinski (1859-1920)

Whip-top 0:49

 

A. Rubinstein (1829-1894)

Russian and Trepak 6:55

 

N. Bogoslowki (*1913)

Three Russian Pieces – Myth-Round Dance-Dance 7:25

 

I. Panizki (1906-1990)

Variatons on the Russian folk-song

“Hey Thou Nice Little Snowball-Tree” 3:45

 

P. Londonow (1928-1981)

Arrangement of two Russian folk-songs “Come and see us, precious guests”

“My teeny ones, Weeny gnats, Gnatlings mine” 1:50

 

W. Podgorni (*1928)

Fantasia on the theme of an ukrainian folk-song

“Hey Thou Wind, blow up your country” 6:33

 

A. Bisow (*1953)

Arrangement of the Siberian jesting-song “Vatalinka” 2:01

 

G. Schenderjow (1937-1984)

Russian dance 3:03

Arrangement of the Russian folk-song “There’s a Pathway in the Firewood” 1:20

Russian suite: Dumka, Chastushka, Russian dance 7:47

 

I. Strawinski (1882-1971)

Russian song from the opera “The Mavre” 3:48

 

Total Time 67:01