Repertoire



With a repertoire of over 70 numbers, the group can provide in excess of 4 hours of varied entertainment, whether in a concert setting, as background music, or for dancing. By arrangement, particular pieces requested by a client, but outside this existing repertoire, can be researched and performed.

A range of sample excerpts are provided, taken from our repertoire.


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Russian and Eastern European Repertoire
We perform a range of numbers which show off the Russian tradition at its best, combining fiery passages with moody sensitive passion:
  • Brule Brule (an upbeat medley focussed around Gari Gari)
  • Fisherman (a medley of Na Rybalke, Yes My Darling Daughter, Ural Mountain Dance)
  • Bright Shines The Moon (Svetit Mesyats)
  • Katiusha
  • Papirosn
  • Korobushka (The Pedlar)
  • Dunya
  • Moya Marusishka
  • Cossack Medley (Cossack patrol, Tchubtchik and Poleske Polje)
These include Gypsy numbers:
  • Moi Tziganochki
  • Two Guitars (Dve Gitari)
...as well as music from further afield, such as
  • Zhok (From Moldova)
  • Kafkaz (From Georgia)
Some pieces are well known to audiences not generally familiar with this music:
  • Dark Eyes (Ochie Tchornie)
  • The Long Road (Those were the Days)
  • Lara's Theme
  • Kalinka
  • Midnight in Moscow (Podmoskovnie Vechera)
  • Volga Boatman
We have a range of village dances:
  • Gopak
  • Polyanka
  • Yablochka
  • Polka in D
...walzes
  • Lonely Accordion
  • Manchurian Waltz
  • Ural Mountain Ash (Uralska Rebinushka)
...tangos
  • Chervona Rota
  • Sertdze
...and softer melodies
  • Bolshoya Zhizn
  • Romance (Ya Stretl Vas)
  • Cossack Lullaby
  • Sing Soldier Sing
In addition, a number of Accordion solos and Balalaika solos are available.


Klezmer/Jewish Repertoire

We have a range of Processionals and other gentler pieces suitable for pre- and during wedding ceremonies, or for quieter moments in a long programme. Among these are:
  • Erev Ba (Evening Falls)
  • Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of Roses)
  • Blessing Nigun
  • Mi Haish (Who is the Man)
  • Sham Hare Golan/ Dodi Li (The Hills of Golan / My Beloved is Mine)
  • Processional No 1
  • Omar Haschem l'Yaakov (The Almighty Said to Jacob)
  • Rom'mu
  • Talit
  • Tzu der Khupe
...and of course, at the end of the ceremony:
  • Chosen Kaile Mazeltov
When dancing is requested, some of the most popular numbers are:
  • Zemer Atik/Sherele
  • Mayim Mayim
  • Kol Dodi (The Voice of my Beloved)
  • Beautiful Eyes Medley (A long dance sequence comprising V'Dovid y'fe enayim, Od Yishoma 1 and 2, Hora Medura, Niguno Shel Rossi)
  • Hine Ma Tov 2 (How good it is)
...and of course the evergreen
  • Hava Nagila
Other Klezmer numbers suitable for Concerts or background include:
  • Kandel's Hora
  • Odessa Bulgar
  • Masch'iach
  • Hora Hadera
  • Purim Nigun/Moshe Emes
  • Lustig Zein/ Utso Eitza
  • Hava Netze Medley (comprising Hava Netze , Simantov u Mazeltov, and Evennu Shalom Aleichem)
  • Edna's Nigun
  • Yeverachecha/Asher Boro (The Lord Bless and Keep You)
  • Rumenishe Freilach
  • Kishniev/Von Der Khupe
  • Shtiler Bulgar
And we have instrumental versions of well loved songs:
  • Donna Donna
  • Sunrise Sunset
  • If I were a Rich Man
  • Roshenkis mit Mandeln
  • Tum Balalaika
  • Bai Mir Bis Du Schoen
.....and even, because it has been frequently requested, an arrangement of themes from 'The Godfather'. Naturally, we also have prepared relevant National Anthems, which are used only at the specific request of clients.


Copyright: Balalaikalondon 2004
Music Copyright 2003 Balalaika