Bayan Mix

[maugein96]

Think bayan and youll probably imagine a very serious looking player behind an even more very serious looking accordion type instrument.

Then watch these two Russian guys and have a re-think. OK, they are playing Cavagnolo boxes, which adds a different flavour to the mix, but thats what its all about.

Its interesting to watch some of the more mature audiences looking on in disbelief in other clips where they feature, as though they were expecting formal music recitals.

 

[jozz]

I had a good laugh with this. Although it mostly qualifies as pulp, countries need acts like this to promote the accordion. Only in Russia they have crazy stuff like this.

 

[maugein96]

Hi jozz,

I must admit I found them by accident when looking for Lezginka music in the Caucasus.

I definitely wouldnt pay to go and see them, but if they were giving their old Cavagnolo accordions away Id be happy to take one off them.

As you may know Im sort of stuck in the 50s 60s (and often before) with the accordion, and I surprised myself by actually listening to the clip right through.

Theres over the top, and then Russian over the top. They both won classical music awards early in life and can certainly play. In some other clips of them you see older people in the audience just staring in what appears like disbelief at what theyre watching.

It sometimes gets better than that in the Ukraine:-



Same band with mickey take of Tiroler stuff in this one. Balalaika player is exceptional, and accordionist can play a bit as well. They describe their usual style as Ukrainian Indie Folk.

 

[Morne]

Its interesting to watch some of the more mature audiences looking on in disbelief in other clips where they feature, as though they were expecting formal music recitals.

To be honest, as somebody whos younger than those players I would have the same reaction (if I somehow ended up in the audience by accident). Not because I expect every bayan player to go full classical, but simply because thats not how/where I want to hear a bayan. I guess Im stuck in the past as well.

If Im going to go with something modern to make the accordion cool, Id prefer a bunch of random guys playing something much less (un-?) produced. Here the domra and balalaika make for an actual bayan mix:

 

[maugein96]

Hi Morne,

I think I know what you mean. There is a Romanian guy named Paul Stanga, who is one of the most famous players there, and when they first brought out Rolands he was sort of paraded on the various TV channels demonstrating all of the "Extrrraorrrdinarrr" sounds that could be had out of it. One clip of him performing at the behest of an elderly female compere became infamous for the number of times she exclaimed "extraordinar!" while he was demonstrating the different tonal possibilities of the Roland.

Bayan Mix is a contrived "sit up and listen to us" type of performance that can be a bit intrusive. I was attracted to the novelty of it, but I suppose novelty is all that it is.

Spontaneous type music like the one in the clip is probably the best "tonic".

 

[Deleted member 48]

Call me old fashioned, but I prefer this music over the Bayan Mix glamour and glitter show:
duo domra and bayan

А. Цыганков Вариации на цыганскую народную песню «Мар дяндя»
(A. Tzigankov, Variations on the gypsy folk song Mardyandya)
Sheet music for this tune is online

Vera Makhan on the domra with orchestra in this same folk tune:

А. Цыганков Мар-дяндя. Солистка Вера Махан - домра

 

[maugein96]

Well Stephen,

I had seen the domra being played before, but not quite like that. To be honest I never knew the instrument was actually called a "domra" and had to look it up to find out more about them. I just assumed it was a variation on a mandolin, although I suppose the four string version is.

I've played a lot of different fretted stringed instruments in my time, but I reckon there is a tremendous amount of effort required to play like that.

Greek bouzouki is much the same. A lot of us can "play" a few tunes reasonably well on them, but making them "sing" is hard work.

 

[Deleted member 48]

I think you are right about the efforts in learning the domra, mandolin or balalaika. Those tremolos can only be achieved through years of dedication and rehearsal.
Im glad to have chosen the accordion.
Can you feel the pain in your fingertips with the steel strings of a domra or mandolin in those high notes top of the fretboard?
Off course they can use alternative strings than steel strings, nylon or nylgut. But steel strings are common in domras.
Classical balalaika players can use nylon strings, a bit softer for the flesh of the fingertips.

Some delicate domra playing by Tamara Volskaya in the Rondo Capriccioso by Camille Saint-Saëns:

Домра Тамара Вольская Рондо-каприччиозо

Also masterful and delicate performance on the baroque mandolin:

Abel - Allegro

 

[maugein96]

Hi Stephen,

Never heard a baroque mandolin before either. Maybe 5 years to learn how to string and tune it and another 5 to develop fingertips capable of fretting it!?

I fancied one of these lutes, but there are two problems I can see:-

a. I cannot play any stringed instrument fingerstyle.

b. My wife would string me up if I bought one.



Thanks for sharing those clips.