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Lesson

Join the Band: Instruments of Cajun and Zydeco Music

Cajun and Zydeco Music: Flavors of Southwest Louisiana (6-8) / Join the Band: Instruments of Cajun and Zydeco Music

Although Cajun and zydeco music employ many of the same instruments, they are used in slightly different ways in each genre. Cajun music is primarily associated with acoustic instruments, whereas electric instruments take center stage in zydeco music. Though the repertoire is often shared, each genre’s instrumentation creates a unique sound. The accordion, as it turns out, is a defining feature of both. This lesson provides an opportunity to actively engage with Cajun and zydeco music while learning about the instruments responsible for each genre’s unique sound. Through active listening, you will compare Cajun with zydeco instrumentation and the effect of that instrumentation on style. You will then participate in your very own Cajun-style band!

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

  1. The Fiddle, the Accordion, and Beyond

    • Identify typical Cajun and zydeco instrumentation.
    • 25+ minutes

  2. Cajun & Zydeco: Similar Songs, Different Sounds

    • Through attentive listening, identify similarities and differences between Cajun and zydeco interpretations of the same song.
    • 20+ minutes

  3. Build a Band!

    • Demonstrate (through performance), the ways in which music elements such as melody, rhythm, timbre, and harmony are used in a traditional Cajun tune..
    • 20+ minutes

More +
Less -

Bibliography

Text

Balfa, Dewey, and Tracy Schwarz. 1976. Liner Notes for Traditional Cajun Fiddle: Instruction. Folkways Records FW08361.

Comeaux, Malcolm L. 1999. “Introduction and Use of Accordions in Cajun Music.” Folklife in Louisiana.

Dôle, Gérard. 1977. Liner Notes for Traditional Cajun Accordion: An Instruction Record. Folkways Records FW08363.

Garnier III, D’Jalma. 2015. “The Musical and Cultural Roots of Louisiana Creole and Zydeco Fiddle Tradition through Canray Fontenot.” Folklife in Louisiana.

"Hip Et Taïaut," trad., lyrics. In Cajun Music Pioneer, as performed by Joe Falcon. Arhoolie Records, 1997. Lyrics Transcribed by Mollie Farr.

"Hip Et Taiaut," trad., sheet music. In Cajun Music: A Reflection of the People, Vol. 1, S. Rothfield, music transcription. Ann Savoy, lyrics transcription. Bluebird Press, Inc., 1984.

Korges, Wilson. 2017, July 19. “Accordions on the Move.” 2017 Folklife Festival (blog). Smithsonian Folklife Festival. https://festival.si.edu/blog/accordions-on-the-move.

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.

Savoy, Marc. 2018. “Reminiscences of a Cajun Accordion Builder.” Folklife in Louisiana.

Strachwitz, Chris. 1989. “Zydeco.” Liner Notes for Zydeco Volume 1: The Early Years 1949–62. Arhoolie Records ARH00307.

Audio*

McGee, Dennis. "O, Malheureuse." On J'ai été au bal (I Went to the Dance) Vol. 1, recorded 1981. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00331_111, 1990, streaming audio.

Fontenot, Canray. "Joe Pitre A Deux Femmes." On Louisiana Hot Sauce, Creole Style, recorded 1971/1973. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00381_104, 1992, streaming audio.

Dôle, Gérard. "Two-Step in G, J'etais Au Bal Hier Au Soir." On Traditional Cajun Accordion, recorded 1977. New York, NY: Folkways Records, FW08363_206, 1977, streaming audio.

Choates, Harry. "Hackberry Hop." On Fiddle King of Cajun Swing, recorded 1950. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00380_124, 1993, streaming audio.

Chenier, Clifton. "Ride 'Em Cowboy." On Bogalusa Boogie, recorded 1975. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00347_104, 1990, streaming audio.

Landreneau, Cyprien and Adam. "Grand Mamou." On Cajun Fais-Do-Do, recorded 1966. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00416_127, 1995, streaming audio.

Delafose, John. "Grand Mamou." On Joe Pitre Got Two Women, recorded 1982. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00335_116, 1990, streaming audio.

Falcon, Joe. "Hip Et Taiaut." On Cajun Music Pioneer, recorded 1963. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00459_109, 1997, streaming audio.

Farr, Mollie. "Pronunciation Recordings: Lesson 5." recorded 2021. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Records.

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. (Additional resource. Not in slideshow).

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Accordionists Joel Guzman, Ed Poullard, and David Farias. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2008, video, 1:49. (Additional resource. Not in slideshow).

Louisiana Educational Television Authority. “Accordion Maker Mark Savoy,” 1982. Louisiana: The State We're In. Beth George, host. Aired March 3, 1982, on Louisiana Public Broadcasting, video, 07:35. Retrieved from the Louisiana Digital Media Archive. (Additional resource. Not in slideshow).

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.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Fiddler Canray Fontenot and Accordionist Alphonse 'Bois Sec' Ardoin," photograph. In Canray Fontenot interview, by Chris Strachwitz. El Cerrito, CA: The Arhoolie Foundation, n.d. Chris Strachwitz Collection.

Unknown photographer. "Dewey Balfa and Tracy Schwarz," photograph. In Traditional Cajun Fiddle: Instruction. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, 1976, cover photo.

Gould, Philip. "The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band," photograph. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1989. Promotional photo.

FireflyDesignn. "Cajun Musical Instruments," digital image. Etsy, n.d.

Unknown photographer. "Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas," photograph. Sunset Center, n.d.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Wallace Cheese Reed," photograph. In Folksongs of the Louisiana Acadians, vol. 2, Wayne Pope, cover design. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, n.d., cover photo.

Lee, Russell. "Fisherman's Home Along the Bayou, Akers, Louisiana," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Potter, Alvin. "Potter Folk Fiddle," 1919, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Strachwitz, Chris. Musique Creole, by the Carrière Brothers. Chris Strachwitz, photograph. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, album cover.

Strachwitz, Chris. "John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys," photograph. In Zydeco Man, by John Delafose. Wayne Pope, cover design. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1981, cover photo.

Dole, Noelle. "A Mouton Hand-Made in Crowley, Replica of the Old Monarch," photograph. In Traditional Cajun Accordion, by Gérard Dôle. Ronald Clyne, cover design. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, 1977.

Unknown maker. "Globe Accordion," 1935, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Charles A. Blank.

Unknown photographer. "Man with Accordion," ca. 1907, photo postcard. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, 3 3/8 in x 5 3/8 in; 8.5725 cm x 13.6525 cm.

Unknown maker. "Black Beauty + Plus," musical instrument. Eunice, LA: Savoy Music Center, n.d.

Hohner. "Musica Tipica Panther Accordion," musical instrument. Trossingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany: Hohner, n.d.

Unknown maker. "Double Row Accordion," musical instrument. Wikimedia Commons, 2010. Photo uploaded to Wikimedia by Rotatebot.

Excelsior Accordion Manufacturing Co. "Accordion," 1930, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Deanna Van Burgh.

Unknown maker. "Triangle with Beater," 1910, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Pamela A. Carlin and Evelyn A. Mark in memory of William T. Armstrong.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Cleveland Chenier," photograph. In Zydeco Sont Pas Salé: King of the Real Creole French Zydeco, Chris Strachwitz, liner notes. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1997, p. 6.

Zoerner, Armin. "Zoerner Guitar," n.d., musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Mrs. J. Ryan Devereux.

Yule, Ron. "Hackberry Ramblers: Minus Broussard, Crawford Vincent, Luderin Darbone, Jack Theriot," photograph. In "La Breakdown A Pete" - Hackberry Ramblers, blog post by "WF". Early Cajun Music, February 4, 2018. Courtesy of the Luderin Darbone Collection.

Gibson Guitar Corporation. "Steel Guitar," 1959, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Unknown maker. "Electric Guitar," 1975, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Steve Cropper.

Unknown maker. "Saxophone," ca.1927, musical instrument. Washington, DC: National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Gift of Juliana Sivik Samoriski.

Pope, Wayne, designer. Cajun Fais Do-Do, Chris Strachwitz, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1995, album cover.

Weil, Elizabeth, designer. Joe Pete Got Two Women, by John Delafose. Chris Strachwitz, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1990, album cover.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Cyp and Adam Landreneau with Band," ca. 1966, photograph. In Cajun Fais Do-Do, Wayne Pope, cover design. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records.

Lee, Russell. "Musicians in Cajun Band Contest at National Rice Festival. Crowley, Louisiana," October 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

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