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Peter the Great worked hard to transform his country by introducing Western culture. Lenin and his colleagues, on the other hand, were even more interested in those elements of traditional Russian life that they felt represented the culture of the proletariat. Russian folk music was high on their list and it was vigorously supported by the state. During the Soviet period, schools of music all over the country introduced the serious study of the traditional instruments and music. Groups like this orchestra and individuals like these musicians benefited greatly from these developments. Today, not only is the balalaika taken seriously by music buffs around the world, but so is the traditional Russian folk orchestra.
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