Vasily Andreyev

Vasily Andreyev was born in Bezhetsk, Tver Governorate, Russian Empire to the family of an honorary citizen of Bezhetsk and merchant of the first guild, Vasily Andeyevich Andreyev and his wife, the noblewoman Sophia Mikhaylovna Andreyeva. When the boy was one year old, his father died. The family moved to Saint Petersburg, where the boy was brought up by his stepfather, Nil Seslavin. Paris' orchestra was the first mandolin orchestra in Russia, and, similarly, Andreyev put together the first orchestra based on Russian instruments. The popularity of Andreyev's group grew significantly after their performance in Paris, France at the world Exhibition, where they became celebrities. ==The Great Russian Orchestra==

In 1881 Andreyev organized his Great Russian orchestra that included string instruments: four types of domras, six types of balalaika, gusli, woodwind instruments: zhaleikas; percussion instruments: makras (a sort of timpani), bubens. Many instruments were heavily customized to work in an orchestra setting. In a few years, the orchestra became famous, generating thousands of followers as well as causing an explosion of balalaika compositions. ==Criticism==

Still many members of the intelligentsia criticized the orchestra and its instruments for being not Russian (as the name implies) but Turkish. This new form of folk music gained international popularity after Andreyev's many concert tours in Great Britain between 1900 and 1910. ==Notes and references==