Cajun fiddle
Encyclopedia
Cajun fiddle music is a part of the American fiddle
music canon. It is derived from the music of southwest Louisiana
and southeast Texas
, as well as sharing repertoire from the Quebec
and Cape Breton
traditions. It is one of the few extant North American folk music traditions rooted in French chanson
.
According to Ron Yule, "Louisiana fiddling had its birth roots in Europe, with fiddling being noted as early as the 1400s in Scotland". Zydeco
music is a geographically, culturally, and musically related style.
, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadian
s of Canada
. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole
-based, Cajun
-influenced zydeco
form, both of Acadiana
origin. These French Louisiana
sounds have influenced American popular music
for many decades, especially country music
, and have influenced pop culture through mass media
, such as television commercials. It is an aural tradition dating past the Acadian conquest of southwest Louisiana after their displacement from Nova Scotia, from whence they brought a rich musical tradition.
Blues fiddle
has been directly influential in the development of Cajun fiddling, as with all music in the New Orleans music scene, and even proto-bluegrass
influences from early American balladry.
(Let's Go to Lafayette). By 1928 Cajun fiddle had already diverged into variegated styles. The most prominent proponent was Leo Soileau
of Ville Platte, Louisiana
, who started recording in 1928 with Mayuse Lafleur, accordionist, who "met his death from a stray bullet in a tavern brawl in October of that same year". The fiddle was the central instrument in Cajun sound until the twenties when it was somewhat eclipsed by the accordion, both in Canada and the United States. In the early 1930s strings once again dominated. Mandolin
s, piano
s, and banjo
s joined fiddles to create a jazzy swing beat strongly influenced by the western swing
of Texas.
s, jig
s, hornpipe
s, reel
s, one-step
s, two-steps
, airs
, mazurka
s, schottisches, and waltz
es.
"Jambalaya
" is based on a Cajun melody and has been covered by musicians of all genres, including Aldus Roger
, Jo-El Sonnier
and even a 1971 rock version by the young Bruce Springsteen
Hank William's recording of the song is so influential it is covered in and of itself, as by Dwight Yoakam
.
American fiddle
This page is about fiddle music in the USA. For other North American styles, see Fiddle#Fiddling_styles.American fiddle playing began with the early settlers who found that the small viol family instruments were portable and rugged. According to Ron Yule, "John Utie, a 1620 immigrant, settled in...
music canon. It is derived from the music of southwest Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and southeast Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, as well as sharing repertoire from the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Cape Breton
Cape Breton
-Geographic locations:*Cape Breton Island, a Canadian island on the Atlantic Ocean coast*Cape Breton, a cape located at the eastern tip of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island*Cape Breton Highlands, a mountain range in northern Cape Breton Island...
traditions. It is one of the few extant North American folk music traditions rooted in French chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
.
According to Ron Yule, "Louisiana fiddling had its birth roots in Europe, with fiddling being noted as early as the 1400s in Scotland". Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
music is a geographically, culturally, and musically related style.
Cajun music
Cajun music, an emblematic music of LouisianaMusic of Louisiana
The music of Louisiana can be divided into four general regions. Southwest Louisiana, , Southern Louisiana, west of New Orleans the southeast, the region in and around Greater New Orleans has a unique musical heritage tied to Dixieland jazz, blues and Afro-Caribbean rhythms...
, is rooted in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadian
Acadian
The Acadians are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia . Acadia was a colony of New France...
s of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Cajun music is often mentioned in tandem with the Creole
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
-based, Cajun
Cajun
Cajuns are an ethnic group mainly living in the U.S. state of Louisiana, consisting of the descendants of Acadian exiles...
-influenced zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco is a form of uniquely American roots or folk music. It evolved in southwest Louisiana in the early 19th century from forms of "la la" Creole music...
form, both of Acadiana
Acadiana
Acadiana, or The Heart of Acadiana, is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that is home to a large Francophone population. Of the 64 parishes that make up Louisiana, 22 named parishes and other parishes of similar cultural environment, make up the intrastate...
origin. These French Louisiana
French Louisiana
The term French Louisiana refers to two distinct regions:* first, to colonial French Louisiana, comprising the massive, middle section of North America claimed by France; and,...
sounds have influenced American popular music
American popular music
American popular music had a profound effect on music across the world. The country has seen the rise of popular styles that have had a significant influence on global culture, including ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, rock, R&B, doo wop, gospel, soul, funk, heavy metal, punk, disco, house, techno,...
for many decades, especially country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, and have influenced pop culture through mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
, such as television commercials. It is an aural tradition dating past the Acadian conquest of southwest Louisiana after their displacement from Nova Scotia, from whence they brought a rich musical tradition.
Blues fiddle
Blues fiddle
Blues violin or fiddle originated as a variety of American fiddle and is the expressive interpretive performance of a relatively standardized repertoire of music from the various blues genres on a violin which may have been outfitted with a flattened bridge, an electric pickup, and different strings...
has been directly influential in the development of Cajun fiddling, as with all music in the New Orleans music scene, and even proto-bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
influences from early American balladry.
History
According to Bill Malone and David Sticklin, authors of Southern Music/American Music, Cajun music was first discovered commercially in the 1920s with release of Allons à LafayetteAllons à Lafayette
"Allons à Lafayette" is the B-side of the 78-RPM album "Allons à Lafayette" recorded by Joe Falcon and Cléoma Breaux in 1928. The song is based on an older traditional tune called "Jeunes Gens de la Campagne"...
(Let's Go to Lafayette). By 1928 Cajun fiddle had already diverged into variegated styles. The most prominent proponent was Leo Soileau
Leo Soileau
Leo Soileau was one of the most prolific Cajun recording artists of the 1930s and 1940s. He recorded over 100 songs, which was a substantial amount considering the reluctance to record the music during its early stages...
of Ville Platte, Louisiana
Ville Platte, Louisiana
Ville Platte is a city in and the parish seat of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,145 at the 2000 census. Its name is derived from the French ville plate, or "flat town."-History:...
, who started recording in 1928 with Mayuse Lafleur, accordionist, who "met his death from a stray bullet in a tavern brawl in October of that same year". The fiddle was the central instrument in Cajun sound until the twenties when it was somewhat eclipsed by the accordion, both in Canada and the United States. In the early 1930s strings once again dominated. Mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
s, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s, and banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
s joined fiddles to create a jazzy swing beat strongly influenced by the western swing
Western swing
Western swing music is a subgenre of American country music that originated in the late 1920s in the West and South among the region's Western string bands...
of Texas.
Repertoire
Cajun fiddle includes quadrilleQuadrille
Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. It is also a style of music...
s, jig
Jig
The Jig is a form of lively folk dance, as well as the accompanying dance tune, originating in England in the 16th century and today most associated with Irish dance music and Scottish country dance music...
s, hornpipe
Hornpipe
The term hornpipe refers to any of several dance forms played and danced in Britain and elsewhere from the late 17th century until the present day. It is said that hornpipe as a dance began around the 16th century on English sailing vessels...
s, reel
Reel (dance)
The reel is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. In Scottish country dancing, the reel is one of the four traditional dances, the others being the jig, the strathspey and the waltz, and is also the name of a dance figure ....
s, one-step
One-Step
The One-Step was a ballroom dance popular in social dancing at the beginning of the 20th century.Troy Kinney writes that One-Step originated from the Turkey Trot dance, with all mannerisms of the latter removed, so that "of the original 'trot' nothing remains but the basic step".The One-Step...
s, two-steps
Two-step (dance move)
The two-step is a step found in many folk dances, and in various other dances. It seems to take its name from the 19th century dance related to the Polka....
, airs
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
, mazurka
Mazurka
The mazurka is a Polish folk dance in triple meter, usually at a lively tempo, and with accent on the third or second beat.-History:The folk origins of the mazurek are two other Polish musical forms—the slow machine...
s, schottisches, and waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
es.
"Jambalaya
Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
"Jambalaya " is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams that was first released in July 1952...
" is based on a Cajun melody and has been covered by musicians of all genres, including Aldus Roger
Aldus Roger
Aldus Roger was a Cajun accordion player in southwest Louisiana, best known for his accordion skills, and television music program.-Early life:...
, Jo-El Sonnier
Jo-El Sonnier
Jo-El Sonnier is an American singer-songwriter and accordionist who performs country music and Cajun music. Originally signed to Mercury Nashville Records, Sonnier charted several minor singles on the Billboard country charts in the late 1970s...
and even a 1971 rock version by the young Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
Hank William's recording of the song is so influential it is covered in and of itself, as by Dwight Yoakam
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
.
Prominent proponents of the style
- Dewey BalfaDewey BalfaDewey Balfa was an American Cajun fiddler and singer who contributed significantly to the popularity of Cajun music. Balfa was born near Mamou, Louisiana...
- Al BerardAl BerardAl Berard is a Cajun musician, recording artist, and composer in addition to being considered a world-renowned cajun fiddler.Berard, influenced by the Cajun songs heard as a young child growing up in South Louisiana, began playing guitar at age eleven...
- Breaux BrothersBreaux BrothersBreaux Frères or Breaux Brothers , were Cajun musicians. They were the earliest to record the song Jolie Blonde, under the title of Ma Blonde Est Partie....
- Hadley CastilleHadley Castille-Early life:Castille was born to a Cajun French speaking family. His father was named François Castille. He learned to play the fiddle from his Uncle Cyprien Castille at around the age of 9. After moving around for a while, he ended up in Pecaniere - a small community near Leonville, LA...
- Harry ChoatesHarry ChoatesHarry Choates was an American Cajun music fiddler....
- Varise ConnerVarise ConnerVarise Conner was a Cajun fiddler born in Lake Arthur, Louisiana. His works and personality has inspired many prominent Cajun musicians.-History:...
- Sady CourvilleSady CourvilleSady D. Courville was a Cajun fiddler noted for his extensive collaboration with Dennis McGee.-Early life:...
- Luderin DarboneLuderin DarboneLuderin Lawrence Darbone was a Cajun-Western swing fiddle player for the band Hackberry Ramblers....
- Michael DoucetMichael DoucetMichael Doucet is a Cajun fiddler, singer and songwriter who founded the Cajun band BeauSoleil from Lafayette, Louisiana.In 2005 Doucet was one of 12 recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA award, which recognizes artistic excellence, cultural...
- Wade FrugeWade FrugeWade Fruge was a Cajun fiddle player in southwest Louisiana. He raised sheep and farmed. He learned to play from contemporaries of his time. His only album was recorded in 1988 with various tunes recorded in 1979, 1983, and 1989 at the home of Marc Savoy...
- J. B. FuselierJ. B. FuselierJean Batiste "J.B." Fuselier was a Cajun musician most remembered for his tune "Ma Chere Bassette." He played for many years with the group J. B. and His Merrymakers.-Early life:...
- D'Jalma GarnierD'Jalma GarnierD'Jalma Garnier III is a musician and composer best known for Creole and Cajun fiddle and "outside" musical compositions and collaborations with other artists....
- Doug KershawDoug KershawDoug Kershaw, born January 24, 1936, is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1949, Kershaw has recorded fifteen albums and charted on the Hot Country Songs charts.- Early life :...
- Gundula KrauseGundula KrauseGundula Krause, born 7 July 1966 in Göttingen, is a German folk violinist. She lives in Mainz, Roetgen nearby Aachen and East-Clare .-Life and work:...
- L'Angélus L'Angélus (band)L'Angélus is an American band composed of four siblings, Katie, Paige, Johnny, and Stephen Rees, who have performed together since they were children. They started playing together with their mother Linda, as "Linda Lou and the Lucky Four"...
- Dennis McGeeDennis McGeeDennis McGee was one of the earliest recorded Cajun musicians.A fiddle player, he recorded and performed with black Creole accordionist and vocalist Amédé Ardoin, with accordionist Angelas LeJeune, and with fiddlers Sady Courville and Ernest Frugé...
- Rufus ThibodeauxRufus ThibodeauxRufus Thibodeaux was an American Cajun music fiddler.Thibodeaux played guitar from age six and fiddle from age twelve. He played in local dance halls at 13, and joined Julius Lamperez's Cajun band in 1949. He worked extensively as a studio musician for J. D...
See also
- History of Cajun musicHistory of Cajun musicCajun music has its roots based in the ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada and Country music.-Early years:The first form of traditional cajun music began before the 20th century in south Louisiana. When the Acadians came from New Brunswick & Nova Scotia to Louisiana in 1764, they...
- Cajun French Music AssociationCajun French Music AssociationThe Cajun French Music Association is an association dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Cajun music and culture.-History:The Cajun French Music Association is a non-profit organization of Cajuns and non-Cajuns whose purpose is to promote and preserve, not only Cajun music, but also...
- List of festivals in Louisiana
- List of people related to Cajun music
- Cajun accordionCajun accordionA Cajun accordion also known as a squeezebox is single-row diatonic button accordion used for playing Cajun music.-History:Many different accordions were developed in Europe throughout the 19th century, and exported worldwide...
- American fiddleAmerican fiddleThis page is about fiddle music in the USA. For other North American styles, see Fiddle#Fiddling_styles.American fiddle playing began with the early settlers who found that the small viol family instruments were portable and rugged. According to Ron Yule, "John Utie, a 1620 immigrant, settled in...
- Canadian fiddleCanadian fiddleCanadian fiddle is the aggregate body of tunes, styles and musicians engaging the traditional folk music of Canada on the fiddle. It is an integral extension of the Anglo-Celtic and Québécois Frenchfolk music tradition but has distinct features found only in the Western hemisphere Due to...
- Scottish fiddlingScottish fiddlingScottish fiddling, even to many an untrained ear, can be distinguished from other Celtic and folk fiddling styles by its particular precision of execution and energy in the delivery. The style has a very large repertoire consisting of a great variation of rhythms and key signatures, arguably more...
- Irish fiddle