RUSSIAN MUSICIAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

RUSSIAN MUSICIAN.

RECITALS IN SCHOOLS. Recitals 011 the Russian national instrument, the balalaika, have been given during the past week at Auckland secondary schools by Mr. Simon Philipoff, who has completed a very successful tour of Now Zealand. Mr. Philipoff possesses a keen mastery of tho instrument and the excellent quality of the programmes 110 has rendered, speaks volumes for tho capabilities of tho balalaika. Tho balalaika has beon tho Russian national instrument for many centuries It was originally a one-stringed rectangular instrument, until about 180 years ago it took its present form, a triangular three-stringed instrument. Since then improvements have been made and tho , instrument used by Mr. Philipoff, represents tho latest developments. In Russia, tho balalaika is used for tho playing of folk songs and poasant dances, and Mr. Philipoff has made an innovation in using it for tho playing of classical music. Tho programmes played by Mr. Philipoff have included many difficult classical numbers: Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody, " Liobcsfreud," by Kroisler, Variations from " Corelli," by Tartini-Kroisler, " Czardas," by Monti, Chopin's Waltz in 0 Sharp Minor. Jillet's Pizzicato de Concert, and several of his own compositions ( including a very dainty Caprice, variations from " Tho Shining Moon," and a brilliant arrangement of - Tho Volga Boatmen,''