Album Notes

University of Wisconsin Russian Folk Orchestra. The Lakes.

The Orchestra is made up of two groups of authentic Russian stringed instruments: domras and balalaikas. Most of them have three strings (domras sometimes have 4) but are tuned differently. Domras are oval shape instruments and come in 4 sizes: piccolo, prima, alto, and bass; balalaikas are triangular shape instruments and come in 5 sizes: prima, secunda, alto, bass, and contrabass. Most are played with plectrums. The Orchestra also uses accordions, bayans (button accordions), woodwind and percussion instruments.

The repertoire consists mainly of Russian and other Slavic folk songs, dances, ballads, etc. The orchestra also plays music of Russian classical composers, such as Tchaikovsky. Occasionally, selections of Western music are introduced. The orchestra conductor, Victor Gorodinsky, has written several original compositions for the ensemble.

Victor Gorodinsky, Music Director, is a Slavic Studies Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Memorial Library. Originally from Russia, he immigrated to the United States in 1982. He has a Master's Degree in Music (classical guitar and orchestral conducting) from Gnesin College of Music in Moscow. Before moving to Madison in 1995, he worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where, in addition to being a Slavic Librarian, he was Assistant Director (under the late Professor John Garvey) and later, Music Director of the University Russian Folk Orchestra, the official School of Music performing and touring ensemble. Under Victor's baton, the 40-piece orchestra was performing several times a year at the University of Illinois' Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and toured around the Midwest.

In 1996, with the generous financial help from CREECA, Victor was able to purchase authentic Russian folk instruments, domras and balalaikas, and rehearsals began in the fall of 1997. Currently, membership varies between 28 and 31 members.

In his spare time, Victor devotes time to his lovely cat Asya, reading, listening to other music, performing magic, and traveling.

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