Firma Melodiya presents a record of traditional Russian songs. “Folk song like a fairytale source of the elixir of life gave the composers strength and inspiration, taught them beauty and craftsmanship, taught them how to love life and man,” Dmitri Kabalevsky wrote. Today they call Russian folklore a “treasury of song art,” “the people’s soul” and “example of truth and beauty.” Neither art nor daily life of this country across the ages would be imaginable without folk song. Bylinas, drawling and dance songs, chastushkas, gypsy and Russian romances – all of its numerous kids are still as popular as before, and the best performers make them a part of their repertoire. This record features traditional songs recorded in the 1960s to 1980s by the best instrumental and choral collectives of the country such as the Twice Decorated with the Order of the Red Banner Academic Alexandrov Ensemble of Song and Dance of the Soviet Army, the State Russian Folk Ensemble Rossiya led by Lyudmila Zykina, the State Academic Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Choir, the Academic Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments of All-Union Radio and Central Television, the State Siberian Russian Folk Choir, the Russian Concert Orchestra Boyan and others.