Tambourine, gusli and IT balalaika: unique folk instruments in the Department Store at the RUSSIA EXPO

Arctic tambourines infused with the energy of forests and lakes, the famous Tula accordion and balalaikas made according to ancient Russian traditions. Folk musical instruments of the highest quality from all over the country can be found in the Department Store.

Shopping at the RUSSIA EXPO can be quite comparable to going to a museum: guests are welcomed with real works of art from the best folk craftsmen from all over the country. Musical instruments are especially interesting. For example, Nenets "Chum Tambourines" will be a great gift, even for someone who has no musical experience. It is not difficult to master such an instrument, and the main thing is that tambourines have incredible energy. After all, they are made of natural materials in the traditional way: in special chums (raw-hide tents) in the Arctic.

Photo: Alexey Naritsin

The balalaika, which is familiar to everyone, can also be a surprise. Unique instruments, whose history dates back to the 2000s, were brought specially for the Department Store. It was then that the future masters learned during an ethnographic expedition in the Ulyanovsk region that a rare art of balalaika making had been preserved there. It is based on the traditional technology of "knitting in the handle". This is a complex joining of body plates, thanks to which the instrument acquires exceptional properties of strength and acoustics. For many years this method was considered lost due to its labor-intensive nature, but it has been restored by adding modern high-tech IT solutions to produce a high-class instrument.

Photo: Alexey Naritsin

In addition, the Department Store presents famous accordions from Tula, which have long been famous not only in our country, but also abroad: in France and Switzerland. You can also buy a unique harp from Alania and author's seven-stringed gusli (Russian harp).

Photo: Alexey Naritsin