Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Pennsylvania Dutch Ballads

Pa. Dutch Ballads Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

1. Pa. Dutch Ballads Marker

Inscription.

The ballad is a narrative song which deals with murder, suicide, natural calamities, & unrequited love. Although ballads were sung throughout Europe, most American ballads parallel the British Isle's ballads. Pa. Dutch ballads were often of a religious nature & dealt with Biblical subjects & personal religious experiences: the wages of sin: & Biblical stories such as Solomon & the Queen of Sheeba. Both secular & religious ballads usually dealt with some tragedy: they were better suited to solo rather than choral singing. In days gone by, Pa. Dutch grandmothers would sing these ballads to youngsters to warn them of evil.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 40° 31.065′ N, 75° 47.034′ W. Marker is in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. Marker is on the Kutztown Fairgrounds, home of the Kutztown Folk Festival. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 450 Wentz Street, Kutztown PA 19530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Cider Making (here, next to this marker); Colouring Easter Eggs (here, next to this marker); Two Worlds - Dutch Country (here, next to this marker); Brick-End Decorated Barns

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(here, next to this marker); Griener Dunnerschdag (a few steps from this marker); Wheelbarrow Matches (within shouting distance of this marker); Quilting Lore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Conestoga Wagon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kutztown.

Regarding Pennsylvania Dutch Ballads. Excerpt from "Today... and Yesterday" by The Morning Call

Also see . . .
1. The Pennsylvania German Society. (Submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. (Submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Kutztown Folk Festival. (Submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Pa. Dutch Ballads Marker and Other Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 3, 2017

2. Pa. Dutch Ballads Marker and Other Markers

Looking SW

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 183 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.