Gusli, the oldest and most Russian musical instrument Legion Media Russian fairy tale characters play music on gusli and even defeat enemies with its help. How? By making them dance! The sound of this folk instrument will make you imagine yourself in a forest in a Russian kosovorotkashirt and hugging a birch. This instrument was in the hands of long-beard staretses (seniors) who were telling their byliny (legends) accompanied by calm music. It was the only instrument the bogatyrs (fairy warriors) played, making their enemies dance until the end. It’s neither a balalaika nor a horn. It’s a gusli, the ancient string musical instrument that was mentioned in most Slavic fairy tales. But what makes it so magic and who plays it now?