A Soulful Sound
Music of the Germans from Russia

"A Soulful Sound, Music of the Germans from Russia" is the fourth in the Prairie Public Germans from Russia Series, which includes "Germans from Russia: Children of the Steppe, Children of the Prairie"; "Schmeckfest: Food Traditions of the Germans from Russia"; and "Prairie Crosses, Prairie Voices: Iron Crosses of the Great Plains."

The documentary series tells the story of the German-speaking peoples who settled in Russia in the 18th and early 19th centuries, then migrated yet again to North America and South America. Throughout their travels, this enduring ethnic group maintained their traditional religious music, their lullabies and folk songs, their vocal and instrumental music.

"A Soulful Sound, Music of the Germans from Russia" blends expert commentary with performances of traditional music - in the original language - from regional talent, including St. Andrews Lutheran Centennial Choir (Zeeland area), University of Mary Concert Choir (Bismarck), Jamestown College Concert Choir (Jamestown), Young People's Hutterite Singers (Glyndon, MN), Alive Choir (Kulm area), James Valley Singers (Jamestown), Centennial Mens Choir (Harvey area) and the Napoleon area folk singers. Singers featured in the program include Maria Appelhans (Fort Collins, Colorado), Rosalinda Kloberdanz (Fargo), John Gross (Napoleon), Tony Wangler (Kintyre), Robert Erbele (Lehr) and Ron Volk (Harvey).
Marv Zander (Mandan), Victor Schwahn (Bismarck) and their bands will perform accordion music at a barn dance, and also recreate a traditional wedding reception in The BlueRoom in Strasburg. "Dutch Hop" music is performed from Torrington, Wyoming.

"A Soulful Sound, Music of the Germans from Russia" was produced by Prairie Public Television in partnership with the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, North Dakota State University Libraries, Fargo; and the German from Russia Cultural Preservation Foundation. This is the fourth in a series of documentaries about the Germans from Russia produced by Prairie Public Television.

Production funding was provided by the North Dakota Council on the Arts, The North Dakota Humanities Council, Roger and Bernadine Lang Kuhn, Clarence and Marilyn Bauman, Thomas and Janice Huber Stangl, Michael M. Miller, the Germans from Russia Heritage Society, and the members of Prairie Public Television.