Russian balalaika writer Alexei Arkhipovsky: creativity, biography

The balalaika is not the most fashionable and popular musical instrument, even in Russia, therefore such virtuosos as Alexei Arkhipovsky attract great attention. How was the musician's way? What is he famous for? What's worth listening to?

How it all began

Alexei Arkhipovsky was born in the south of Russia - in Tuapse, May 15, 1967. The house often sounded music, as the father played the accordion and the accordion. He could instill the same love for creativity and son. Already from an early age, Alex knew all the variety of Russian music. About his childhood Arkhipovsky recalls with pleasure: the sea, the sun, the balalaika - what else is needed for happiness ?! At the age of nine, the boy comes to music school to master the traditional Russian instrument - a balalaika. His first teacher, Kulishova Eugenia Nikolaevna, says that the student was distinguished by unusual perseverance and diligence. During the first six months, he had to painfully "rearrange" his hand through long exercises, but all this Lesha overcame. And by the end of the school he was the winner of many musical competitions, and by the end of his studies gave his first full-fledged solo concert from two departments.

Later Alexei Arkhipovsky entered the department of folk instruments in the music school. The Gnessins. His teacher was a professor, People's Artist of Russia, a famous balalaika player Valery Evgenievich Zazhigin. The study was given to the student quite easily, he participated in various creative tests and even became a laureate of the All-Russian competition of performers on folk instruments.

Years of Labor

A graduate of the school, Arkhipovsky found a job in a Russian folk orchestra under the direction of V.P. Dubrovsky in Smolensk. Here began his musical experiments. It was not enough for Arkhipovsky to play traditional music in the usual way, he was looking for the possibility to extract more diverse sounds from his favorite instrument. He polished his technique, found new expressive forms for the balalaika.

After 9 years of work as soloist of the orchestra, fate gives Alexei a chance to reach the next level - he is invited to a well-known team led by Lyudmila Zykina, to the ensemble "Russia". At one of the concerts he is instructed to hold the hall for 5 minutes while the next issue is being prepared. He started the audience so much that he was not allowed to leave for 20 minutes. So Arkhipovsky received the right to solo in the orchestra. With "Russia" he traveled a lot of countries and cities, he made acquaintances, but felt that it was time to go solo. Center Stas Namin gave him this opportunity, and since 2002, Arkhipovsky began to work alone. He participated in a huge number of festivals, gaining strength in a new style of modern music, combining fatal and ethnic motifs.

Honored Glory

Since 2003, the musician has joined the movement "Ethnosphere", growing popularity - his performances are gathering halls. Since 2007, the artist's popularity is increasing, he participates in major projects: the Tarkovsky Film Festival, the opening of the Eurovision 2009, the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Vancouver (in the "Russian House"), international festivals of jazz, blues, ethnic and modern music. The musician collaborated with famous musicians, for example, with Dmitry Malikov.

The possibilities of the balalaika turned out to be unlimited, and this was proved by Alexei Arkhipovsky. The best of his legacy is improvisation on the theme of various musical material: folk, modern, classical. In 2011, Arkhipovsky entered the Guinness Book of Records as the best balalaika in the world.

Alexey Arkhipovsky: balalaika is the best instrument

The musician talks with love about his instrument. He asserts that his possibilities are inexhaustible, and every concert it successfully proves. Arkhipovsky says that the balalaika is a continuation of himself, it helps him to think and feel. The works of the musician can not be attributed to any one genre, they organically combine jazz, classical and modern styles, and also they read the fateful and variety beginning. In addition, various national traditions are reflected in balalaika compositions, and not only Russian ones. Alexis is called a virtuoso, often deservedly compared with Paganini and Jimi Hendrix. He proves with his creativity that with great love there are three strings enough to touch the listener's soul.

Creative achievements

His main success Arkhipovsky calls finding "his instrument" and the love of the audience. Many works for the balalaika become real hits, the public discovers the possibilities of this instrument, falls in love with it, and Alexei Arkhipovsky achieves it. "Way home", "Lullaby", "Cinderella", "Lovely" - these compositions enchant the listener, immerse in a special world of instrumental music. Today Arkhipovsky is a very demanded artist, his solo concerts gather complete halls in many countries of the world. His program "Insomnia" consists of his own works created as a new reading of a huge number of different musical compositions.