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Lesson

Cajun and Zydeco: Style, Structure, and Social Contexts

Cajun and Zydeco Music: Flavors of Southwest Louisiana / Cajun and Zydeco: Style, Structure, and Social Contexts

The first characteristic many people notice about Cajun and zydeco music is the unique singing style of each genre. They both feature a high-pitched vocal style, often accompanied by yells and other sound effects. In addition to the lyrics, Cajun and zydeco song themes (such as suffering or loneliness) are often reflected through such vocalizations. Most Cajun and zydeco songs are in a major key and have simple chord progressions. This is in order to accommodate the accordion, one of the most prominent instruments in both styles. Since both Cajun and zydeco music are intended for dance, most songs utilize one or two possible time structures: the two-step or the waltz (which has three beats). In this lesson, engage with recordings to learn about typical characteristics of Cajun and zydeco musics, and the role that dance plays in the musical style of each. At the end of the lesson, you will use your new knowledge and skills to compose your own song.

Lesson Components & Learning Objectives

  1. Exploring Musical Elements

    • Identify and describe common applications of musical elements and expressive qualities in Cajun and zydeco musics (singing style, form, time structure, and melodic & harmonic structure).
    • 25+ minutes

  2. The Two-Step and the Waltz

    • Perform a basic Cajun two-step to demonstrate understanding of the social context of Cajun and zydeco music.
    • 20+ minutes

  3. Compose Your Own Song!

    • Make creative choices related to form, time, rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumentation, and lyrics to compose music in a Cajun or zydeco style.
    • 30+ minutes

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Bibliography

Text

Dôle, Gérard. 1990. Liner Notes for Cajun Social Music. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings SFW40006.

Farr, Mollie. "Chord Changes for Lesson 6," 2021, worksheet.

François, Raymond E. 1990. Yé Yaille, Chère! Traditional Cajun Dance Music. Ville Platte, LA: Swallow Publications.

Louisiana Division of the Arts. n.d. “Folklife in Louisiana.” Accessed March 18, 2022.

Savoy, Ann. 1984. Cajun Music: A Reflection of the People. Eunice, LA: Bluebird Press.

64 Parishes. n.d. “Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities' Encyclopedia.” Accessed March 20, 2022.

Strachwitz, Chris. 1995. Liner Notes for Cajun Fais Do-Do. Arhoolie Records ARH00416.

Strachwitz, Chris. 1997. “Zydeco Sont Pas Sale’–King of the Real Creole French Zydeco.” Liner Notes for Chenier, Clifton. Zydeco Sont Pas Sale. Arhoolie Records ARH09001.

Audio*

Abshire, Nathan, Allie Young and Armand Babineaux. "Chere Tout-Tou." On Cajun Social Music, recorded 1975. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, SFW40006_104, 1990, streaming audio.

Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. "Diggy Liggy Lo." On Two Step d'Amede, recorded 1988. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00316_111, 1989, streaming audio.

Preston Frank's Swallow Band. "Tante Na Na." On 15 Louisiana Zydeco Classics. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00105_107, 1997, streaming audio.

Balfa, Dewey. "Blues in Cajun Fiddling." On Cajun Fiddle, Old and New: Instruction. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, FW08362_104, 1977, streaming audio.

Chenier, Clifton. "Blues De Ma Negresse." On Zydeco Sont Pas Salé. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH09001_102, 1997, streaming audio.

Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. "Kaplan Waltz." On Two step d'Amede, recorded 1988. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00316_106, 1989, streaming audio.

Chenier, Clifton. "Zodico Two-Step." On King of the Bayous, recorded 1970. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00339_104, 1992, streaming audio.

Farr, Mollie. "Pronunciation Recordings: Lesson 6." recorded 2021. streaming audio.

Video*

Baker, Sean, Emma Cregan, Andrea Curran, Alexis Ligon, Michelle Mehrtens, Ryan Shank and Abby Sternberg, cinematographers. Cajun Reel Medley. Colin Stucki, editor. Featuring the Beausoleil Quartet and Michael Doucet. Recorded summer 2017. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folklife Festival Blog, October 31, 2017. Video, 5:02. Streamed from YouTube.

Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau. How to Cajun Two Step. Lake Charles, LA: Visit Lake Charles, 2015. Video, 1:35. Streamed from YouTube.

Images*

Erskine, Reed and Susan. "Clifton Chenier," 1974, photograph. Washington, DC: Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institution. Taken at the 1974 American Folklife Festival. Provided by the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, CFCH-FAF1974_0193.

Lee, Russell. "Fais-Do-Do Dance. Cajun Girls. Crowley, Louisiana," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Terrill, Ruby. "Cajun Fiddler, Louisiana," 1934, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Lomax Collection.

Unknown photographer. "Dewey and Will Balfa in the Studio," photograph. In Dewey Balfa: Master of Cajun Music, Artist Spotlight by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, July 2016.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Edward Poullard and Lawrence ‘Black’ Ardoin," photograph. In Tradition Creole, by Lawrence “Black” Ardoin. Morgan Dodge, cover design. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1984, cover image.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Lawrence ‘Black’ Ardoin," photograph. In Tradition Creole, by Lawrence “Black” Ardoin. Morgan Dodge, cover design. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1984, cover image.

Pope, Wayne, designer. Clifton Chenier Sings the Blues. Edmund Shea, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, album cover.

Lee, Chungho. "3/4 Time Signature," digital image. Wikimedia Commons, 2021.

Weil, Elizabeth, designer. Two-Step d'Amédé, by the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Philip Gould, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1989, album cover.

Unknown artist. "2/4 Time Signature," digital image. In Simple Meter and Time Signatures, online article by Chelsey Hamm, Kris Shaffer, and Mark Gotham. Open Music Theory, accessed September 28, 2022.

Robert.Allen. "4/4 Time Signature," digital image. Wikimedia Commons, April 6, 2010.

Pope, Wayne, designer. King of the Bayous: I'm Coming Home, by Clifton Chenier. Chris Strachwitz, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1992, album cover.

Lee, Russell. "Fais-Do-Do near Crowley, Louisiana," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Unknown artist. "Guitar and Trumpet," ClipArt. Microsoft Powerpoint, n.d.

* Audio, video, and images listed in order of slideshow sequence.