Schools & Libraries

Chris Vallillo Programs

Abraham Lincoln In Song

The life of Abraham Lincoln spanned a period of change, growth and struggle in our young nation, and the music of his era movingly characterizes these remarkable times. From his days as a flat-boater, through his time at New Salem, his years as a circuit lawyer and on up through his presidency, Lincoln's life is a microcosm of the development of Illinois during that period.

Abraham Lincoln in Song helps shed light on one of history's most beloved figures – not only as a remarkable leader, but as a man – who knew and loved many of these very songs himself. Special emphasis is placed on showing Lincoln 's unique bond with the common man and his desire for reconciliation, not revenge. It is an extensively researched, historically accurate program Chris uses period music Lincoln may well have known and sung, and Lincoln 's own stories to illustrate his life and put it into context.

The show is designed to be an interactive, accessible, program that educates as well as entertains. It covers Lincoln 's life from his birth on the big south fork of Nolan's Creek in Kentucky in 1809 through his death in 1865. It has been performed in association with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, The Lincoln Home National Historic site and various touring exhibits including Forever Free from the Huntington Library. Abraham Lincoln in Song has recently been endorsed by the Illinois Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The show works well for both school audiences (grade 3 and up) and adult audiences.

Roots Music of Rural Illinois

Illinois is unique among all the states in that its access to the major waterways of the Mississippi, Ohio and Illinois Rivers as well as the Great Lakes made it a virtual crossroads of peoples, cultures and ideas. As railroads surpassed the rivers as a means of transportation, Illinois would become the Central hub for the nation's rails. This mingling of people produced a rich body of roots music which paints a colorful portrait of our heritage and gives detailed insight into the people and times that forged the state we have become. From the songs of the first pioneers through the era of Steamboats, trains and early radio, award winning folksinger/music collector Chris Vallillo brings this rich heritage to life in a lively performance and discussion of the roots music of rural Illinois and its impact on our lives today

Folk Music and Folk Musicians of Centeral Illinois

In 1986, in association with the Illinois Arts Council and the Library of Congress, Chris Vallillo carried out a project to interview the last of the pre-radio generation and to collect their oral histories and music. The master tapes and transcripts from that project are now part of the Folklife Collection in the Library of Congress. In a musical program and commentary, he brings to life the stories and performs the music of people from rural Illinois in the late 19th century. He includes a brief description of the collecting process and performs a selection of the material he documented.

Folk Music For Little Folks

In this engaging and entertaining performance, Vallillo presents a folk musical performance geared towards younger audiences. Chris introduces and discusses traditional Illinois folk music and performs on the guitar, resonator slide guitar, Jew's Harp and an 1880's hammered dulcimer.