High Noon Talk: Czech Songs in Texas

Onsite Program

May 4, 2022 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Learn about a little-known genre that had a big influence on Texas music.

Event Details

Texas Folk music traces its roots straight back to the Czech immigrants who brought Polka to Texas in the mid-nineteenth century. Come on a musical journey with musician and folklorist Frances Barton as she tells stories of the songs that fill Texas dance halls and drinking establishments as well as outdoor church picnics and festivals to this day.

Purchase this book online through the Museum Store. All purchases support the Bullock Museum’s exhibitions and educational programs.

If you'd like to experience Texas folk music, including the style featured in this talk, join us for The Big Squeeze Accordion Contest and Concert at the Museum on May 14.

High Noon Talks highlight interesting and often untold topics through a casual lunch-time lecture.

Program is FREE to the public.

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Help us continue to share the story of Texas through free programs with a tax-deductible donation.

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About the Presenter

Frances Barton, a musician and folklorist, plays accordion in a Texas Czech polka band and is descended from Moravian immigrants to Central Texas. She studied music and journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

About Public Programs

Public programs at the Bullock Museum explore relevant history and celebrate the culture that has shaped our modern world. Through engaging discussions, performances, and scholarship guests are invited to see local connections and discover how Texas fits into a broader national story.

Banner image courtesy General Photographs Collection, 075-0307, UTSA Special Collections

This program is made possible with funding from Humanities Texas and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the federal ARP Act.

The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.