| Pesniary Песняры | |
| Background: | group_or_band |
| Origin: | USSR |
| Genre: | Folk rock Folk music Folk pop Progressive rock Psychedelic rock |
| Years Active: | 1969–2003 (five different bands claim this name) |
| Label: | Melodiya |
| Associated Acts: | Verasy |
Pesniary (also spelled Pesnyary, Belarusian: Песняры, in Belarusian pronounced as /pʲesʲnʲaˈrɨ/) was a popular Soviet Belarusian folk rock VIA. It was founded in 1969 by guitarist Vladimir Mulyavin.[1] Before 1970, the band was known under the name Liavony (Лявоны).[2]
Pesniary combined various types of music, but mostly Belarusian folklore though often with various rock elements and later rock as well. Several of Pesniary's songs were composed by Aleksandra Pakhmutova. The surprising influence of early Frank Zappa was also notable.
In 1973, the band participated in Soviet television film "This Merry Planet".
Pesniary was one of the very few Soviet bands (and possibly the first one) to tour in America in 1976. They toured the American South with folk band The New Christy Minstrels.
After Mulyavin's death in a car accident on 26 January 2003, the original Pesniary split. Five different bands claimed to be the official descendants of Pesniary, touring and performing original Pesniary songs.[3] These are:
| Year | Album | Transliteration | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Ты мне вясною прыснiлася | Ty mnie viasnoju prysnilasia | I dreamt of you in spring | |
| 1974 | Алеся | Aliesia | Alesya | |
| 1977 | Перапёлачка | Pierapiolachka | The Quail | |
| 1979 | Волoгда | Vologda | Vologda | |
| 1980 | Гусляр | Husliar | Guslar | |
| 1982 | Зачарованная моя | Zacharovannaya maya | My Enchanted (live album) | |
| 1984 | Через всю войну | Cherez vsyu voynu | Throughout the Whole War |
The band also released dozens of singles.
The lineup of the band changed frequently. Among the most notable and long-lived band members were: