Volga German Music in Kansas

From heartfelt wedding songs to solemn funeral hymns, Volga Germans in Kansas depended on music to be a lifeline of connection – across generations, and sometimes across oceans – and to mark life’s most sacred movements. In "The Heart and Soul of Volga German Life," Jerry Braun shares the rich musical traditions of the Volga German community and highlights how music shaped the culture as people moved to the Kansas plains from Russia. Through a live vocal performance of traditional folk songs, audience members will discover the heart and soul of Volga German music and the artistry behind instruments like the dulcimer, accordion, dolcette, and harmonica.
This Kansas Folklife event is made possible by Humanities Kansas as part of “By the People: Beyond 250,” an initiative of the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.