The Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University

Music

Drawing of Volga Colonists Dancing

"The Emigrant may lose everything, Love of the Fatherland and the use of his Mother tongue, but the songs of his Homeland survive the longest."  Gustave Freytag

In the 18th, thousands of German-speaking peoples established major German settlements in Russia, along the Volga River. In the late 19th and early 20th century, many migrated again, this time to North and South America. Throughout their travels, these Germans maintained their traditional religious music, their lullabies and folk songs, their vocal and instrumental music alike.

Music Categories

Music played an important role in many aspects Volga German life. There was a wide range of musical types from folk and wedding music to religious hymns sung in the churches. Explore the music of the Volga Germans.

Folk (Volkslieder)

Church (Kirchenmusik)

Classical

Wedding (Hochzeit)

Dance Music (Waltz)

Dance Music (Dutch Hop)

Volga German music in Argentina (Musica Alemana)

Burial

Volga German song book

The cover page from a Wolgadeutsche Volkslieder (Volga German Folk Songs) book by Georg Dinges published in Berlin in 1932.