The German-speaking countries have a strong folksong tradition. Folk songs were long a part of daily life, sung not only by organized choral groups by also by ordinary people while hiking, working, or sitting around the communal table at an outdoor restaurant. While these songs aren’t sung spontaneously out on the hiking trail quite like they used to be, they remain an important part of the German cultural heritage.

In this class, we will familiarize ourselves with the folksong tradition by...