I came across a Russian player who was involved with developing the multitimbral, free bass bayan.
He is Yury Ivanovich Kazakov (Юрий Иванович Казаков). Around 1951 he was involved in the design and construction of this bayan along with the master Moscow-based accordion builder Fedor Figanov (Федор Фиганов) and a master reed maker from the Tula factory, Nikandr Pavlovich Seleznyov (Никандр Павлович Селезнёв). That bayan moved the instrument from being a folk-only instrument to one that can take part in orchestras and even a full solo recital.
It features characteristics which were common on older bayans:
- only 3 rows on the treble side (along with having the thumb behind the keyboard most of the time)
- 5 rows on the bass, with the outer 3 for free bass
- there is only one shoulder strap
Register sliders are behind the keyboard and on the bass plate.
That might sound simple compared to the modern 5 row instruments with chin switches and what not. Despite that, this instrument is more than capable.
Here he is playing Bachs Toccata And Fugue in D Minor in 1965 (on what I believe is the final version of the instrument):
And here he is playing a piece specifically composed for bayan and orchestra:
A lot more can be read about him on his English website: http://www.yurykazakov.com
Here are also some Russian sources:
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Казаков,_Юрий_Иванович
http://pravdasevera.ru/culture/-bawfd2b7
http://cultnord.ru/?act=showItem&id_item=257
https://ale07.ru/music/notes/song/bayan/novojilov_bayan5.htm
He is Yury Ivanovich Kazakov (Юрий Иванович Казаков). Around 1951 he was involved in the design and construction of this bayan along with the master Moscow-based accordion builder Fedor Figanov (Федор Фиганов) and a master reed maker from the Tula factory, Nikandr Pavlovich Seleznyov (Никандр Павлович Селезнёв). That bayan moved the instrument from being a folk-only instrument to one that can take part in orchestras and even a full solo recital.
It features characteristics which were common on older bayans:
- only 3 rows on the treble side (along with having the thumb behind the keyboard most of the time)
- 5 rows on the bass, with the outer 3 for free bass
- there is only one shoulder strap
Register sliders are behind the keyboard and on the bass plate.
That might sound simple compared to the modern 5 row instruments with chin switches and what not. Despite that, this instrument is more than capable.
Here he is playing Bachs Toccata And Fugue in D Minor in 1965 (on what I believe is the final version of the instrument):
And here he is playing a piece specifically composed for bayan and orchestra:
A lot more can be read about him on his English website: http://www.yurykazakov.com
Here are also some Russian sources:
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Казаков,_Юрий_Иванович
http://pravdasevera.ru/culture/-bawfd2b7
http://cultnord.ru/?act=showItem&id_item=257
https://ale07.ru/music/notes/song/bayan/novojilov_bayan5.htm
