Domra

[jamesrenz]

Does anyone have any information about the Russian "domra?" #I have seen this mandolin-like instrument played, and have a few recordings of it with orchestra, and know it's picked with a plectrum. #However, I haven't had one in my hands, and haven't been able to find out anything about how it's tuned, or located any method books describing playing technique. #Any help would be appreciated. #Thanks.

[Martin Jonas]

The Wikipedia entry here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domra) is pretty useful as a brief introduction. There is more stuff here (http://balalajka.dk/english/instruments.html) and there is a Balalaika and Domra Association of America here (http://www.bdaa.com/).

Martin

[Michael Wolf]

And here is some splendid Domra playing:

Caprice 24 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddeVs_K1ha4&mode=related&search=)

The flight of the bumblebee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsua-qf2Ku0&mode=related&search=)

Russian Quartet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WjFGFJ_7mQ)

Russian Quartet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0yCtpywo00)

Tamara Volskaia domra Tchaikovsky Danse russe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVaPVIpzpvc&mode=related&search=)

Tamara Volskaia domra Saint-Saens Rondo Capricioso (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve_EhkMVbFY&mode=related&search=)

TEREM QUARTET (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=farBRjM28Zw)

TEREM-QUARTET and Vladimir Chernov (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqgK-Nnvhy8&mode=related&search=)

TEREM QUARTET PROMO FILM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nBEOZAPQ90&mode=related&search=)

[powercat]

I saw this link (http://balalajka.dk/english/domra.html). What note is "H"?

[Arto]

"What note is "H"?"

For example in Germany and in Scandinavian countries "H" means B, and "B" means B flat.

[Michael Wolf]

A medieval monk have made a mistake in writing and confused an b with h. Other colleagues of him copied this mistake faithfully and spread this spelling across the German speaking regions.