Album Notes

Balalaika and Gypsy guitar virtuoso from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Alex Siniavski is one of most popular balalaika players. Alex (Alyosha) is a genuine balalaika YouTube sensation. He has had over 90 thousand (and counting) views on YouTube, placing him in the top 10 most-viewed balalaika videos of ALL TIME and the top 10 most-subscribed Russian folk musicians of all time. Mr. Siniavski is the musicial director of Barynya - the best Russian dance and music ensemble outside of Russia.

His own compact disk Barynya Russian folk songs was well recieved by Europian and American Russian folk music fans and professional musicians community. Tune "Dorogoi Dlinnoyu" from repertoire of Alex Siniavski have been selected for compact disk "Compilation of Russian Classic Folklore" released in Israel.

In March 2005 Alex Siniavski released BALALAIKA TUTORIAL ON DVD, the easy way to learn all balalaika techniques. 12 free video lessons are available to download from the website: scales, basic chords, Left Hand Position, learning a folk song, strumming, Thumb Pizzicato, Pizzicato Vibrato, Double Pizzicato, Single Pizzicato, Tremolo and Rolls Acclaimed balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavsky arrived in the United States of America in 1992 from St. Petersburg, Russia. As a soloist and director of Barynya he performs around the world, composes and arranges all music material for the concerts, compact disks and video of the ensemble.

Alex plays museum-quality balalaika, a three-stringed Russian instrument whose mandolin-like sound is perhaps best known in this country from the Dr. Zhivago soundtrack.

Alex was a leading member (balalaika prima) of The Andreev State symphonic balalaika orchestra, one of the most prestigious in former USSR. Alex graduated with honors from the Leningrad State Musical Conservatory. He have toured throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe and America, appeared on the television and radio in Russia, America and Africa.