MODAL MUSIC

World Music Bands

LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Interactive all-ages Concerts and Lectures for Libraries

Our energetic bands offer a wide array of engaging, budget-pleasing library concerts of traditional music and dance and ethnic history lectures with illuminating examples of music, all designed to transport your soul (and soles), on an exciting worldbeat tour.

Flexible content and program length to fit your library’s needs and interests.

Our bands have a total repertoire of about 400 melodies and 50 dances from over 20 cultures so their programing is very flexible with what can be presented. Programs can focus on a specific area of interest such as Chanukah / Christmas ethnic holiday music as seen below, or on a specific ethnicity like the Greek, Balkan Gypsy, Jewish, Scandinavian, French, or German, cultures. Special American music programs are also available.

So, whether your library needs a group that can highlight the theme of your reading series or needs a program that focuses on a specific culture, we are happy to talk about how a presentation will enhance the experience of your patrons.

General
Concerts
Click on a program title below for more infomation on that program.

Three musicians playing mandolin, drums, guitar.  Click to see our library concert program.

Meet Your Neighbors Folk Music

A cultural adventure in music and dance for all ages.

Meet Your Neighbors Folk Music

A cultural adventure in music and dance for all ages.

LACONI YSS (Library Administrators Conference of Northern Illinois Youth Services Section) included the Hi-Dukes in their “Best of the Best” list.

Carol Carter (Lake Bluff Public Library’s Head of Adult Programming) wrote: “Your concert was delightful and so entertaining.”

Librarian M. Wegnzyn (Flossmoor Public Library) summed it up, saying: “A musical treat for the whole family to enjoy.”

Three musicians playing mandolin, drums, guitar. Click to see our videos.
Click for videos of the band playing!
Living, interactive culture

Awareness of the world, society, and history all increase when the Hi-Dukes introduce folks to the traditional music and dance of over twenty cultures, such as those of the Balkan lands.

Gorgeous musical scales like Hijaz and Sabach ride on the asymmetrical rhythms of the Balkans while the Hi-Dukes play traditional ethnic instruments, like the Bulgarian end-blown flute, Greek baglama, Middle-eastern drums, and world-famous ocarina alongside the violin, mandolin, and guitar. Vocals are sung with up to three-part harmonies.

Audience members learn dances, sing simple songs in non-English languages, and drum along on the band’s percussion.

Click to see our holiday program.

Discover Three Continents of Christmas and Chanukah music

An ethnic holiday tour that gets audiences singing, drumming, and dancing along.

Discover Three Continents of Christmas and Chanukah music

An ethnic holiday tour that gets audiences singing, drumming, and dancing along.

Jutta & the Hi-Dukes are your travel guides for the Holiday season. The eclectic band takes audiences on a three-continent holiday tour and gets audiences singing and drumming along to a very old French Noel as well as giggling to the humorous version of “Deck The Halls” written by Walt Kelly for his famous cartoon strip “Pogo.”

Folks will learn to count to eight in Ladino (the Spanish-related language of the Sephardic Jews) as part of a Bosnian Chanukah song and then find out about the Julenisse of Danish Christmas tradition. Plus, folks will have the chance to do some simple, fun traditional ethnic circle dances.

Blending Winter Seasonal music with the holiday music of Jews and Christians makes this program a wonderful end-of-the-year change of pace.

Ethnic
Concerts
Click on a program title below for more infomation on that program.

Click for more about Klezmer In America lecture.

Klezmer / Jewish

Klezmer tunes and songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, and Ladino, presented by the Ensemble Mchaiya.

Click for more about Klezmer In America lecture.

Klezmer / Jewish

Klezmer tunes and songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, and Ladino, presented by the Ensemble Mchaiya.

This engaging program will put your soul in touch with your soles! The uplifting energy of Chicagoland’s first revival Klezmer band will get your heart and feet dancing to its eclectic repertoire of hot Klezmer tunes with Gypsy grooves, swinging Sephardic and Yiddish songs, and energetic Israeli dance tunes.

Click to see our videos.
Click for videos of the band playing!

You’ll get to sing along in Yiddish, Hebrew, Ladino (a language based on 500+ year-old Spanish), and for those who enjoy direct involvement, folks can drum along on band-supplied percussion and the band will lead folks through a Klezmer dance or two.

Click for more information about our Greek concerts.

Greek

Greek music beyond boundaries (tm) presented by Terrans Greek Band.

Click for more information about our Greek concerts.

Greek

Greek music beyond boundaries (tm) presented by Terrans Greek Band.

Old style, acoustic Greek dance music! Audiences get to dance the syrtos, set to classic songs like “Apo Tin Athena”, and the tsamikos accompanied by favorite songs like “Itia.” Whatever the tune, this energetic band will move your soul (and soles) as they dance you back down the path to the world of your “Yiayia”!

Click to see our videos.
Click for videos of the band play­ing!

From Eipiros in the north to the islands in the south, this band goes beyond the boundaries of any one specific style, time period, or region. The groups lay list includes selections from the powerful Rembetika, melodic Laïki, enchanting Demotiki, and hypnotic Eipirotikan traditions.

Click for more information about Scandinavian concerts.

Scandinavian

Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish music presented by the Nordland Band.

Click for more information about Scandinavian concerts.

Scandinavian

Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish music presented by the Nordland Band.

Warm music from cool lands to melt your heart Scandinavian music from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland

From Hambo to Hopsa, this sweet, melodic music is satisfying to listen to, fun to dance to, and is a refreshing change of pace. The rolling bounce of the Scandic rhythms, like Hambo and Hopsa, insists you move your feet.

Click to see our videos.
Click to see Ulv, Ræv, Hare

Nordland Bands warm sound starts with violin, mandolin, guitar, wooden flute, and two singing voices. (And that is just the duet!) Percussion, acoustic bass, second violin, and saxophone can be added.

Repertoire is carefully chosen from folk pieces, popular music, and the bands own compositions which live within the folk tradition. Jutta Distler, the leader, researches most of the music during visits to her musician family in Sweden and Denmark.

Engaging

To make sure folks connect with the powerful roots music, this engaging, skilled band teaches and leads dances when circumstances allow it. The audience is encouraged to drum along on percussion as well as sing along. The entire family, from toddlers to seniors, gets to join in the very accessible fun!

As Chicagos only profess­ional pan-Scandinavian band, the Nordland Band has, since its inception in 1990, been invited to perform for the Royal Danish Consulate, at the Winnipeg and the Earth Song Folk Festivals in Canada, Michigans Spirits of the Woods Folk Fest, the University of Michigans Folk Life Fest, Chicagos Field Museum, and Chicagos Andersonville Midsommar Fest for over a decade.

Viking beat will thrill your feet

If you’re looking for a group that can fill everyone with good spirits, the Nordland Band is ready to play for your patrons!

Click for more information about Scandinavian concerts.

Americana

Swingin’ Songs from Pops Golden Era presented by Razzemetazz

Click for more information about Scandinavian concerts.

Americana

Swingin’ Songs from Pops Golden Era presented by Razzemetazz.

This is an acoustic, exhuberant, loving exploration of American pop music. The bands lyric-driven and rhythmic rootsy-style approach means you won’t hear a single complex chord in the bands decidedly eclectic repertoire of Swing, Tin Pan Alley, Bluegrass, Country, and 1950s rock songs spiced with a sprinkling of Dixieland tunes.

Click to see our videos.
Click for videos of the band play­ing!

Razzemetazz is respectful of tradition, but there is no “cutesy”-ness nor nostalgia here. The intensity and vitality of this living music flowers in these veteran players’ experienced hands.

Its all great to listen to and fun to dance to! From festivals and parades to private parties and corporate events, Razzemetazzs fresh sounding repertoire goes with everything!

The color of their energetic sound is like their taste in repertoire: sweet and melodic yet personal and powerful. One song can feature mandolin on a swung Bluegrass song with twangy vocals, the next tune a flute riding on a guitars groove. The trios truly one-of-a-kind instrumentation is mandolin, Bulgarian flute, two acoustic guitars, percussion, and three singing voices.

Whatever its sound, every number grabs your attention, gets your feet tapping, urging you to dance. (And the groups musicians are all dancers so, when the situation allows for it, they jump off the stage to lead folks through dances like the “Tennessee Wig Walk” and the “Jiffy Mixer”.)

Click for more information about French concerts.

French / French Canadian

A French potpourri ranging from Edit Piaf chansons to the Renaissance presented by Les Beaux Chemins.

Click for more information about French concerts.

French / French Canadian

A French potpourri ranging from Edit Piaf chansons to the Renaissance presented by Les Beaux Chemins.

Including yet extending beyond the Edith Piaf-style Cabaret “Chansons”, this wide-ranging program will add sparkle and fun to your concert series, festival, party, or Bastille Day event.

With Celtic-sounding French Canadian dance tunes juxtaposed with Medieval and folklorique songs as well as the more recent “Chansons”, this eclectic and fresh program surprises and pleases everyone from the Francophile to the casual listener.

When the setting allows for it, the band loves to get folks directly involved with the music. Audience members are invited to play percussion with the band, do fun yet simple traditional folk dances led by the band, as well as to sing along.

We invite you to take a listen to the bands sample music below.

  • Marins de Groix
    French Canadian folk song / Trio
  • La Fontaine
    French Canadian folk song / Quintet
  • Je Suis Allé Á Marsaille
    Old folk song / Trio
  • Hanter Dro
    Bretagnese-Celtic folk song / Trio
Click for more information about French concerts.

German / Oktoberfest

Medieval, folkloric, and Oktoberfest music presented by Die Chicago Stadtmusikanten.

Click for more information about French concerts.

German / Oktoberfest

Medieval, folkloric, and Oktoberfest music presented by Die Chicago Stadtmusikanten.

A fresh approach to German traditional music! The bands special, affordable, and eclectic program ranges from Medieval songs to Oktoberfest Blasmusik-style tunes.

The multi-instrumentalist core duet / trio plays flute, mandolin, guitar, and percussion with two to three vocalists. When a larger band is requested additional instrumentalists can be added including percussion, rhythm guitar, trombone, and / or acoustic bass.

We invite you to take a listen to the bands sample music below.

  • Muss ’I Denn
    German folk love song / Quartet
  • Hofbrauhaus / Trink, Trink Brüderlein, Trink medley
    German folk Oktoberfest drinking songs / Quartet
  • Mein Mädel Hat Einen Rosenmund
    Old folk love song / Quartet

Ethnic History
Lectures
Click on a program title below for more infomation on that program.

Click for more information about Klezmer In America lecture.

Klezmer in America

Discover what Klezmer is, how it came to America, and how it helped shape American popular music.

Click for more information about Klezmer In America lecture.

Klezmer in America

Discover what Klezmer is, how it came to America, and how it helped shape American popular music.

In Klezmer in America, audiences discover what Klezmer is, how it came to America, and how it helped shape American popular music. The story comes to life via the engaging examples of Klezmer tunes chosen to underline the spoken content.

Audiences will learn how Big Band leaders like Benny Goodman incorporated Klezmer into Americas unique musical style, Swing.

For those who enjoy direct involvement, folks can drum along on band-supplied percussion and the band will lead folks through a Klezmer dance or two.

Click for more information about the shared path of the Gypsies and the Jews lecture.

The Long Road

Follow the shared path of two historically wandering cultures: the Roma (popularly known as “gypsies”) and the Jews.

Click for more information about the shared path of the Gypsies and the Jews lecture.

The Long Road

Follow the shared path of two historically wandering cultures: the Roma (popularly known as “gypsies”) and the Jews.

The Roma (commonly known as “gypsies”) and the Jews have, as primarily landless cultures, faced many of the same challenges.

This musical lecture takes a look at the individual histories of these two groups as well as examining how they have interacted together and how they have been treated by the world at large.

Click for more about the 200 Years of Ethnic Illinois lecture.

200 Years of Ethnic Illinois

A look at the cultures which shaped Illinois from before its incorporation in 1818 to the current day.

Click for more about the 200 Years of Ethnic Illinois lecture.

200 Years of Ethnic Illinois

A look at the cultures which shaped Illinois from before its incorporation in 1818 to the current day.

For the 200th anniversary of Illinois incorporating as a state, Jutta & the Hi-Dukes developed 200 Years of Ethnic Illinois: A Look at the Cultures Which Shaped Our State.

This lecture sweeps across the prairie of Illinois history giving you a bird’s eye view of culture in this state. Since its incorporation in 1818 and even before then, Illinois has been a crossroads for water and rail travel, attracting people from across the world.

Your patrons will hear how ethnic groups and their skills created the conditions that set the stage for the next wave of immigrants to arrive. The audience will also experience some of the traditional music these immigrants brought with them from Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Bulgaria, and many other cultures.

In this fascinating exploration of Illinois, just as in all the band’s other programs, everyone is invited to participate by singing, drumming, and even dancing with the band.

Flexible and affordable

We fit the bands size to your budget, needs, and interests.

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Contact us today to discuss your plans!

Folks say…

You get Gypsy music, music from Spain, Israel, everything. Finland! What more could you ask for? Not only is it entertaining and educational but you get up and dance and get a little sweaty, which is awesome! … Book them! Amazing!” Enthusiastic librarian

[Their] music is exciting, and listeners will find it hard to keep from leaping up to dance.” Natalie Wainwright, Arts & Life reviewer, Round Table

… such a wonderful show! Not only was your performance entertaining, but also informative and instructive, which is what we were hoping for in a university environment. … everybody had a wonderful time. Thank you again for a great show!” Michael B. Cosmopoulos, Ph.D., Fellow, Academy of Science St. Louis, Professor of Archaeology, The Hellenic Government-Karakas Foundation Professor in Greek Studies, Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri

Your performance was truly amazing and we are very glad that you could be part of this special event.” Juan Carlos Acevedo, Outreach Coordinator, Wheeling Park District

Thank you so much for performing at our Bishop Hill Folk Festival! We have heard nothing but compliments about your music.” Todd DeDecker, Bishop Hill Heritage Association Administrator

Their artistry and sense of musical history is infused in their delicious tracks. I like [their] intelligent approach to music as well as the old world flavor of what [they] do.” Terry Loncaric, entertainment writer and poet

After over twenty years of focusing on rootsy Blues acts, I decided to branch into World Music because of this eclectic band. Their enthusiastic and authoritative approach to music convinced me to sign them to the Earwig Music label. Their CD, ‘On the World Beat’, is a fine overview of their work. I imagine you will find Jutta & the Hi-Dukes(tm) as exciting as I do!” Michael Frank, owner of Earwig Music Company.

I am not exaggerating or giving empty words when I say your performance was my favorite ever.” Ashleah White, Reporter for The Current, University of Missouri – St. Louis, Nov. 28th, 2015

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