Tag Archives | Cajun

Chanky-Chank, Ting-a-Ling and a Cajun Hoedown

A “fais-do-do” is an energetic “Cajun hoedown,” a community event full of music, good folks and great food, that takes place on a Saturday evening at a public dancehall and may very well go all night. The term “fais do do” means “go to sleep,” and, according to legend — though the origin of the term may be in dispute — refers to the way Cajun mothers would try to shush the young babies they brought with them to the event, handing them to a grandmother or an older relative to put them to sleep in a nearby room so they could dance. At this Cajun dance party a Cajun band plays “chanky-chank” music, featuring a rollicking accordion, a vibrant fiddle and a triangle — a “ting-a-ling.”

And, flying in the face of tradition, during our fais do-do we’re going to keep our kids awake so they can have fun too.

Step, Together, Step, Touch

The Cajun two-step is a partner dance, so find a friend! We’re going out to a “fais do do,” a Cajun dance party that we’ll learn about tomorrow. In the meantime, we’re going to enjoy some Cajun music and, essentially, shuffle around the community space or dance hall with our beloved.

There are few ways to speak out the steps — “push-DROP, push-DROP,” or “Step together step touch, step together step touch.” However you say it, the night is young, the music is grand, and, at least tonight, all is well.

Fais Do Do at the Bayou Barn

A “fais do-do” is an energetic “Cajun hoedown,” a community event full of music, good folks and great food, that takes place on a Saturday evening at a public dancehall and may very well go all night. The term “fais do do” means “go to sleep,” and refers to the way Cajun mothers would traditionally try to shush the young babies they brought with them to the event, handing them to a grandmother or an older relative to put them to sleep in a nearby room so they could dance. At a fais do-do a Cajun band plays “chanky-chank” music, featuring a rollicking accordion, a vibrant fiddle and a triangle (a “ting-a-ling.”) Let’s do a Cajun dance together at this Fais do do at the Bayou Barn.

Fiddlesticks!

We all know the main instrumental attractions in Cajun music are the accordion and fiddle, but neither is nearly as fun to play, or to say! as the fiddlesticks. In this video from the documentary, “Les Blues De Balfa” fiddler Dewey Balfa fiddles while and his nephew Tony Balfa fiddlesticks.

Joe and Cleoma Play Cajun Music, Old-Style

By mid 1930s a large wave of English-speaking immigrants had come to French-speaking southwest Louisiana to work the oil fields. At the same time many Cajuns moved westward into Texas. This brought both British and Texan sounds to Cajun songs. To appreciate some of this old-style Cajun music, listen, in this video, to Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux perform “Osson.”

Dennis Magee at Sady Courville

Yesterday we learned about the orgins of Cajun music, following the Acadians from “New France” to Louisiana, where we pick up the tale. The Spanish eventually relinquished Louisiana to the French, who in 1803 sold it to Thomas Jefferson and the fledgling United States. Throughout all this nation-changing the Acadians, eventually known as the “Cajuns,” became farmers, manual laborers and pretty darned great fiddle and accordion players, fusing French-Acadian music with some Celtic infuences and letting it simmer in the bayou heat. In that context, let’s enjoy this video of Dennis McGee, who was of Irish, Cajun and Native American descent. His playing helped fuse Celtic influences into Acadian music. (The music starts at 1:35).

Down on the Bayou

All Around This World US and Canada "Everywhere Map"
This week, a tasty treat – we go down on the bayou to enjoy a truly international, truly North American form of music.

Cajun Music is a genre that developed in Louisiana but that has its firm roots in the Maritime provinces of Canada. In the 17th century a group of French settlers, hailing from all over France but primarily from urban areas, colonized the eastern part of the country we now call Canada–specifically today’s provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. At the time the land was called Acadia, which was part of “New France.”

In 1710 the British conquered Acadia. The British feared the Acadians in New France would rebel, and, in fact some did. From 1755-1764 the British used this threat as justification for “The Great Expulsion,” during which they brutally deported about 11,500 Acadians, sending most to France. An estimated third of deported Acadians died en route. Acadians who the British had deported to France yearned to return “the New World,” and many thousands did, taking advantage of an opportunity to settle in southwestern Louisiana. The Acadians became known in Louisiana as the “Cajuns.” Say “Acadian” like this — ah-cA-djun — and you’ll get it.

Over the course of this week we’ll enjoy Cajun songs, learn a cajun dance and place fantastic Cajun fiddlestick.

Oh yé yaille, nobody came

This week in class we sing “J’ai Passé,” is a well-known Cajun classic from Louisiana. It’s the sad tale of someone who goes to visit a love, passing by the friend’s doorway and calling their name. Upon not receiving an answer the singer goes inside, see funeral candles and realizes the object of affection has passed away. In this video you’ll hear a classic version of the classic, a 1920’s performance by Cleoma Falcon.