Ethnic Russian music specifically deals with the folk music traditions of the ethnic Russian people. It does not include the various forms of art music, which in Russia often contains folk melodies and folk elements.

The roots of Russian folk music can be dated as far back as to the first millennium AD, when Slavic tribes first settled in the European part of what is presently Russia.

In Greek chroniclas state that in 591 the Avar khan sent Slav's were captured who had musical instruments (kitharas often thought to be gusli) players.

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