Rozhechniki

an ensemble (“choir”) of Russian rozhok players. The ensembles became very popular in the second half of the 19th century and in the early 20th, especially in Vladimir and Tver’ provinces.

Among the best rozhechniki were those directed by N. V. Kondrat’ev and N. Korzinov. Organized in the 1870’s, Kondrat’ev’s Vladimir Rozhechniki Choir toured various Russian cities and performed at the International Exhibition in Paris in 1884. Its repertoire included dance and song melodies, which they interpreted by variational polyphonic development, in which the members of the ensemble took turns repeating improvisational versions of the theme. Ensemble and solo rozhok performances are occasionally given in Vladimir Oblast.