Russian Cabaret: The Balalaika of Sasha Polinoff

The balalaika is the Russian stringed instrument characterized by its triangle-shaped body and three strings. It ranges from the piccolo to the contrabass in size and tone. In this recording, Sasha Polinoff plays the prima balalaika on 13 instrumental Romani songs. He is supported by an ensemble of balalaika, domra (a three-stringed Russian lute), and accordion. The music ranges from the spirited “My Heart” (Serdtse) and rousing “Karapet” (Russian Two-Step) to the soulful “Love Has Passed” (Luybov Proshla) and “Snow Flurries” (Metelitsa).

Track Listing

101	Karapet (Russian Two Step)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	01:46
102	Lyubov Proshla (Love Has Passed)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	02:21
103	Proschai Moy Tabor (Farewell Gypsy Camp)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	01:35
104	Allah Verde / Shamil's Prayer and Lezginka	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	05:30
105	Kazbek / Stenka Razin	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	02:15
106	V Lyesu Prifrontovom (In the Forest at the Front)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	03:20
201	Nochka Tyemnaya (Dark Night)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	01:59
202	Metelitsa (Snow Flurries)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	01:11
203	Gde eta ulitsa, gde elot dom (Where is the Street)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	01:10
204	Red Bricks / Days of Our Love (Dni Nashey Zhizni)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	04:18
205	Fonariki / Pust Vsegda Budyet Solntse (Street Lights / Let There Always Be Sunshine)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	02:59
206	Serdtse (My Heart)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	03:07
207	Akh, Eti Chorniye Glaza (Oh, Those Dark Eyes)	Sasha Polinoff with the Russian-Gypsy Ensemble of Kostya Poliansky	01:50