During my last visit to the Mennonite Heritage Centre on Pickwick Avenue in Leamington, Ontario, John Dick came by, along with his son Edward Dick. Edward is an accomplished luthier with a school of lutherie in Denver, Colorado where he builds and repairs string instruments and teaches others to do the same. While Edward was in town visiting his father, the pair brought us a wonderful surprise — a balalaika! Edward played a few tunes for us, which you can hear in the videos below. Have a listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yNSI-4kGMs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJG44yDZ3UM
After the performance, John and Edward donated the balalaika to the Essex Kent Mennonite Heritage Association collection. Edward was able to provide a few details about the instrument. On the donation record he wrote:
Balalaika built in approximately 1950. I bought this from a Russian immigrant in 1985, the same week my grandfather died. In 2011, I gave it to my father, John H. Dick, for his 90th birthday.
We are very grateful to welcome this treasure into the collection.
