Singers: Tamara Smislova, Elena Sergeeva, Tatyana Skitikova, Sergei Jzirkov, Pavel Skitikov, A. Kondyurin.

First we started collecting folk songs. We have travelled all over Russia, the sharp point of our attention have brought us to small villages and practically forgotten rural farming areas, where songs and customs have been remaining without any changes for many many years. We have created a "live library' of folk songs and ways and traditions of different regions.

Our ensemble of folk music is led by T. Smyslova, the honored artist of Russia, who started her career in the ensemble of D. Pokrovsky from the moment of it's organisation till the untimely death of the Master.

The Folk Music Theatre fell heir to D. Pokrovsky ensemble traditions.

The repertoire of the ensemble is formed by the melodies of ancient Slavs, the songs of Rusian North and South, Cossak music. The songs, which habe been being collected for many yaers throughout Russia allowed to present several programmes. "Peasant Calendar Holidays", "Russian Folk Theatre", "Russian Wedding" and others.

Our perfomance "Strela" ("An arrow") lays out a variety of styles and traditions of folk singing and playing folk instruments, including the relatively rare: kalyuka, kugikly, Vladimir horns, horn-pipe, Kursk flute, harp, whisles, hurdy-gurdy, jewish harp.

Orthodox church music, music of Old Believers and Dukhobors (religious groups) is played in the "Sacred Music" and " Spiritual Singing" programmes.

The musicians play the music of russian composers as well ("Composers and Folklore" programme).

We perform the works of Mussorgsky, Igor Stravinsky, S. Prokofiev, T. Chudova, V. Gavrilin, A. Batagov.

The leader of the ensemble T. Smyslova and A. Kondyurin have recently recorded "Three Songs" cycle, composed by A. Sheludyakov. The author himself, not only has perfomed the piano part, but the vocal part too (he has worked for a long time in the ensemble led by D. Pokrovsky).

The ensemble is involved into the cultural life of the world community. The musicians participate in international festivals, cultural events, "Days of Russia" abroad. On the music you can listen to the recording of the ensemble's performance in Belgium with commentaries in French.

The musicians have big experience in taking part in joined jazz and rock performancies. We collaborated with A. Kozlov, V. Ganelin, V. Resitsky, A. Gradsky, Paul Winter and Peter Gabriel.

The soloists of the ensemble are involved into the recording of "Les Noces" (by Igor Stravinsky).
Unfortunately, we don't have a copyright for our work, so on music you can hear only small fragments. Nevertheless you will get the overall impression of this beautiful music.

Musicians of the ensemle keep maintaining the thesis of D. Pokrovsky: "FOLKLORE IS A LIVING ART, NOT A MUSEUM EXHIBIT".

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