A troika is a traditional type of Russian folk dance, for groups of three (two women and one man). This particular troika was used in the wedding scene of the movie "The Deer Hunter" (link). My recording for two mandolins and tenor guitar is based on a setting for two violins from: http://www.kiwifolk.com/dfc/DSFO%20Violin.pdf 1898 Giuseppe Vinaccia mandolin (x2) Vintage Viaten tenor guitar Martin
A very evocative delivery here, Martin. I like your choice of instruments and the Vinaccia is sounding really great on this one. I had not known that the troika was also a folk dance for three people; I knew of the troika as a carriage or sleigh pulled by three horses.
Thanks, John! I think the dance is named after the three-horse carriage configuration. Here is a teaching video in strict tempo that shows more clearly how the dance and the music fit together: https://youtu.be/RYcMkhX7b-U Martin
that's just class Martin , great sound and playing
Great recording. Martin. The two Vinnacias sound brillant and the tenor guitar gives a lot of drive, sounds a bit like a piano playing chords.
Sounds great, Martin. The harmonies really get the tune going along with the rhythm on the tenor guitar.
Thanks, folks. With Russian tunes, I usually find they sound best with a heavy quarter note rhythm, full chords on all beats in the bar equally, for that mood of inescapable doom... Martin
Martin, I've always wanted to do Cavatina from Deer Hunter - but it would really need some tremolo - or a nice guitar like the YT versions. Even though the melody gets the attention, it is the guitar accompaniment who, I think works the hardest. (this may be a hint to see if you will play it?)
Thanks, Ginny. I do have an arrangement of Cavatina for full mandolin orchestra (parts for two mandolins, mandola, guitar, mandocello and double bass) from the Nakano site, but would have to see if it can be scaled down to (say) a trio of two mandolins and tenor guitar. It's such a sparse tune that less is more, I think. Martin