Russia

Terem

Released 02 March 1992

Lyrical Dance
Fantasy
The Legend Of The Old Mountain Man
Cossack's Farewell
Toccata
Variations On Swan Lake
Simfonia Lubova
Old Carousel
Two-Step Nadya
Tsiganka
Letnie Kanikuli
Country Improvisation
Valenki
Barnynia

Liner notes

The Terem Quartet is unique. As classically trained musicians, their technique and expertise are astonishing. As players of traditional folk instruments, their music is startlingly original.

The group came together at the Leningrad Conservatoire in 1986 and are still very rooted in the city of Leningrad (now St Petersburg). With just one accordion, two domras (lutes) and one huge bass balalaika, the Quartet create a swelling and retreating orchestra of sound.

Full of subtleties and contradictions, their repertoire moves seamlessly from gypsy melodies to popular theme tunes to Tchaikovsky. Such an eccentric range of material is completely in tune with the humour of their live performance.

Listen

Further Listening

Classical

The Terem Quartet

Released 24 October 1994

More dazzling reinterpretations from the strings of the St Petersburg quartet, this is an album of classical pieces arranged and performed in the unmistakable Terem style.
City Of Love

Ashkhabad

Released 09 May 1993

Ashkhabad take their name from the capital city of their home state of Turkmenistan, formerly a part of the Soviet Union. With violin, keyboards, accordion, clarinet, saxophone and percussion, City of Love ranges from wildly romantic melodies to the vibrant folk music of their roots.

Terem

Further reading

Announcing Palabras Urgentes: the new album by Susana Baca

Debut EP by Montparnasse Musique out now on Real World X

Michael League on the making of ‘Palabras Urgentes’, sending a strong political message and celebrating the rich black history of Peru

Track of the day: ‘Sorongo’ by Susana Baca