The River Ramblers


   

 

“Rich and Jonathan’s lively juxtaposition of songs of the Hudson and stories of its history is most enjoyable and engages the audience’s attention throughout.” – Mary Grimaldi, Fort Crailo State Historic Site, Rensselaer, NY

Storyteller Jonathan Kruk and folk balladeer Rich Bala have been rambling the villages and valleys of the Hudson River and beyond since 1990, performing the region's tunes, tales, and traditions at schools, museums, libraries, camps and historic sites.  Their programs and workshops illustrate the Hudson's many-faceted role in forging our nation, from its importance during the Revolutionary War, to its use as a major transportation route for sloops, steamboats, and canals during the 1800’s, and even today, as the focal point for the environmental movement.

From Lake Tear of the Clouds on Mt. Marcy, in the high peaks region of the Adirondacks, to Battery Park at the lower tip of Manhatten, the Hudson River offers a rich and textured landscape of history, folklore, song and story. Jonathan and Rich illuminate this landscape with legends and ballads about Captain Kidd's treasure, the Imp of Donderberg Mountain, Benedict Arnold's treason at West Point,  the origins of Yankee Doodle, and why there is a "World's End" on the Hudson.

“You provided our students with informed insights into the life and times of those who helped shape our country, as well as the importance of the natural resources in our historical development.”                                                       - Barbara Mrozik, Principal, Hicksville Middle School

The Ramblers’ education programs blend stories, songs, and music into a cohesive presentation of oral history. They present assemblies of approximately 1 hour in length, and also offer follow-up, classroom “workshops”. Advance material can be provided, including study guides, song lyrics, story outlines, glossary of terms and expressions, bibliography, and suggested follow-up activities. All programs conform to curriculum requirements for the study of local history, and fulfill the NYS Learning Standards for the Arts, particularly #’s 1 and 4.

In addition, Rich and Jonathan present professional development workshops for educators, and have participated in conferences sponsored by Nassau County BOCES (Garden City, NY), New York Historical Association (Cooperstown, NY), and the Kingston, NY City School District.     

 “A great way to learn about those times!” – Pete Seeger   

The Ramblers currently offer 4 different programs, which can be “tailored” to a particular theme or topic:

“Revolution on the River”  -  based on the award-winning CD of the same name, this program demonstrates the crucial, pivotal role the river played in the War for Independence. From the composing of “Yankee Doodle” on its banks near Albany to George Washington’s final victory march from Newburgh (above West Point) to New York City at the end of the war, you’ll learn about the many events, battles, and personalities of the conflict in the valley, including the Battle of Saratoga (considered “the turning point” of the war), the murder of Jane McCrea, the daring midnight ride of Sybil Luddington, Benedict Arnold’s act of betrayal while commander at West Point, and Washington’s historic deeds while at his headquarters on the Hudson.

“The River That Flows Both Ways” –  take a trip back in time program to the “heydays” of the Hudson, when it was the primary transportation route for goods and people traveling between NYC and “the wilderness”. Along the way, you’ll stop at homes, farms, and lumbercamps, and ride on sloops, steamboats, and canal barges to hear the songs and stories of the people whose lives and work forged the “Empire State”.   

“In Goode Olde Colonie Days”  - visit “New Netherland” and early New York State from the time of the first native residents, to the early Dutch and then the English during the Colonial Period. You’ll hear the native legend for how the river was formed, take a ride upriver with Peter Stuyvesant and Anthony Van Corlear, and listen to songs from the first English settlers in the valley. 

“Holidays on the Hudson” – a family-oriented program of secular songs and stories that celebrate the upcoming holidays the way folks did in days gone by. Also included are tales and tunes about life in the valley during the winter season. Go for a ride “in a one-horse open sleigh” with Rich and Jon, as they take on a merry excursion through this joyous winter season!

A list of selected venues where The Ramblers have performed includes:

- West Point Military Academy, Highland Falls, NY   - NY Historical Society, NYC, NY

- NYS Museum, Albany, NY                                        - Litchfield Historical Society, Litchfield, Ct.

-Ft. Crailo State Hist. Site, Rennselaer, NY                 - Governor’s Island, NY                                           

-Cortlandt Historical Society, Peekskill, NY                - Liberty Hall Hist. Site, Union, NJ

 

- Henry Hudson El. School, Rochester, NY                 - NYS School for the Deaf, Rome, NY

- Joyce Kilmer El. School, Mahwah, NJ                     - Birchwood El. School, Nisayuna, NY

- Hicksville Middle School, Hicksville, NY                - Schuylerville El. School, Schuylerville, NY

- Acadia Middle School, Clifton Park, NY                 - Wilton El. School, Wilton, Ct.

 

- Ellenville Library, Ellenville, NY                            - Beacon Library, Beacon, NY

- Piermont Library, Piermont, NY                              - LaGrange Library, LaGrange, NY  

 

For bookings, or more information, contact the River Ramblers at:

     E-mail:  baladeer@aol.com
         Or:    Rich Bala
                  P.O. Box 179
                  Billings, NY 12510