Greetings fellow students. An introduction in Russia's musical culture greets you on the silver strings of the domra. A guitar like instrument that was introduced to Eastern Europe by the Mongol invasion of Gangues Kong. This potatoe shaped stringed instrument has continued to grow in popularity throughout Western Europe even today. To my ears, the domra sounds like a haunting violin and has remained on my mind as one of my most gratifying auditory moments while visiting St. Petersburg, Russia. The domra plays melody as heard on this 18th century fife song from Colonial America. In the orchestras of Russia, this group of stringed instruments executes the melodious function of bliss and sleep. When you play the domra, you play with a plectrum and mostly, you use a tremolo method giving a monotonous endless tone that carries you beyond flight. All the domra instruments are tuned in quarters that carry you away from stillness and drowsiness henceforth. Have fun MBE 600 and carry knowledge beyond the "airs"!

For the whole domra group, the playing methods are as follows:

• The before mentioned tremolo method which consists of fast up - and downward beats with the plectrum on the strings. The strength of the beats must be equal. The tremolo can be disconnected after every note (detache). This is shown with a short line over or under the note. On the other hand, the tremolo can combine several notes and bars (legato) as well. This is shown with a curved line over or under the notes and the line is called liga. As the tremolo method is the most used playing method on the domra, it is only indicated in the notes when other methods have been used. It is abbreviated as "trem".
• The staccato method where there is one beat down on every note. It is indicated with a dot over or under the note.
• The pizzicato method where you make short tones without the plectrum with the help from the right hand thumb. Abbreviated as "pizz".

The glissando method is one of the more rare methods used. You glide from one tone to another. The flageoletto method where you make the overtones with a slide touch of the string in the points where it is divided in two, three and four equal parts. Indicated with an "o" over the note. You can use the chord play on the domras except the domra bass. The clang of the chords are very colorful.

DOMRA PRIMA; Bright and full of life, is tuned as follows: 1st string: D in second octave. - 2nd string: A in first octave. - 3rd string: E in first octave. This is one of the most flexible instruments in the Russian Orchestra; technically speaking. It plays the same role in the folk orchestra as the violin in a symphony orchestra. The domra primo has a leading position in the orchestra. Above all, it is a melody instrument with big possibilities of execution of voices of virtuous character. The domra prima is divided in two voices: The domra prima I and the domra prima II. The above is an overview of domras of the so called "Andrejeff model" - all of them have three strings and are tuned in quarters. Domras of the "Ljubimoff model" exist with four strings and tuned in fifth (like violins and mandolins). All information is from the following sources: V. Andrejeff: "Russisk folkeorkester", Petrograd 1913. N. Retjmenski: "Folkemusikinstrumenterne", Moscow 1956. V. Avksentjeff: "Orkester af russiske folkeinstrumenter", Moscow 1962 and Evgeni Pavlovski's own experience, as described in "Balalajka Blade" from 1963 to 1971, publiced by Evgeni Pavlovski. Domra Music Links: Helsinki Balalaika Orchestra Victor Solomin's Page Portfolio Museek

Here are MIDI files for standard GDAE tuning for the four string domra:

G

first course of strings, lowest pitch

D

second course of strings, second-lowest in pitch

A

third course of strings, second-highest in pitch

E

fourth course of strings, highest in pitch

Simple Gifts Mandolin Tablature Archive