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Lesson

The Role of “Louisiana French” in Cajun and Zydeco Music

Cajun and Zydeco Music: Flavors of Southwest Louisiana (6-8) / The Role of “Louisiana French” in Cajun and Zydeco Music

Louisiana cultural identity––especially as it relates to Cajun and zydeco music––largely revolves around the French language. The Acadians, descendants of French settlers in eastern Canada, carried their native language to southwest Louisiana, where it evolved over time into what is now known as “Cajun French.” The Louisiana Creole language is also an amalgam, combining French vocabulary with African syntax. Both Cajun French and Louisiana Creole are primarily spoken––as opposed to written––languages, which allows ample room for informal expression in both speech and music. This lesson provides opportunities to engage with the unique dialects of the French language in southwest Louisiana and become familiar with their historical contexts in Cajun and zydeco musics. You will learn to recognize French colloquialisms in the music and will have an opportunity to arrange and perform the French-language Cajun standard, "J'ai Passé Devant Ta Porte!"

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

  1. Louisiana French

    • Explain why French is the language of Cajun & zydeco musics.
    • 25+ minutes

  2. Listening for Colloquialisms

    • Identify colloquialisms (common phrases) in Cajun & zydeco musics.
    • 30 minutes

  3. Jouer et Chanter! (Play & Sing)

    • Arrange and perform the French-language Cajun standard, "J'ai Passé Devant Ta Porte!"
    • 30+ minutes

More +
Less -

Bibliography

Text

Delafose, John. "Co-Fe Lyrics and Translation," lyrics. In Joe Pete Got Two Women. Arhoolie Records, 1990. Lyrics Worksheet prepared by Jennifer Mellizo.

Farr, Mollie. "Cajun French Colloquialisms," 2020, worksheet. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

“J'ai Passe," trad., sheet music. In Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People, Vol. 1. Music and lyrics transc. by Ann Allen Savoy. Bluebird Press, Inc., 1984.

"J'ai Passe," trad., lyrics. In Under a Green Oak Tree, as performed by Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy, and D. L. Menard. Arhoolie Records, 1989. Lyrics Worksheet prepared by Jennifer Mellizo.

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. n.d. “Office of Cultural Development Resources (CODOFIL).” Accessed March 18, 2022.

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

"Two Step de Eunice Lyrics and Translation," trad., lyrics. In Live! At the Dance, as performed by the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Arhoolie Records, 1994. Lyrics Worksheet prepared by Jennifer Mellizo.

Valdman, Albert, Kevin J. Rottet, Barry Jean Ancelet, Richard Guidry, Thomas A. Klingler, Amanda LaFleur, Tamara Lindner, Michael D. Picone, and Dominique Ryon, eds. 2010. Dictionary of Louisiana French: As Spoken in Cajun, Creole, and American Indian Communities. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi.

Audio*

Balfa, Dewey. "Basile Cajun Hour: Commercials, Station Identification Madeleine." On Cajun Fiddle, Old and New: Instruction. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, FW08362_202, 1977, streaming audio.

Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. "Two-Step De Eunice." On Live! At the Dance, recorded January 28, 1994. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00418_113, 1994, streaming audio.

Delafose, John. "Co-Fe." On Joe Pitre Got Two Women, recorded 1980. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00335_105, 1990, streaming audio.

Balfa, Dewey, Marc Savoy and D. L. Menard. "J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte." On Under a Green Oak Tree, recorded 1976. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH00312_102, 1989, streaming audio.

Farr, Mollie. "Pronunciation Recordings: Lesson 3." recorded 2021. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, streaming audio.

Video*

Louisiana Public Broadcasting. A Louisiana French Renaissance. Louisiana Public Broadcasting, 2018, film. Streamed from YouTube. Uploaded by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Institute of Musical Traditions (IMT). Zydeco a Pas Sale, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys. YouTube video, June 28, 2012.

Mo Creole. Hiram Sampy | Mô Kèr Kassé | Mizik Kréyòl Lalwizyàn | Post Vietnam Era. YouTube video, February 17, 2012.

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.

Clyne, Ronald, designer. Louisiana Creole Music. Russell Lee, photographer. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, 1978, album cover.

Barry, Lynda, designer. J'ai Été Au Bal: I Went to the Dance, Vol. 1, El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1990, album cover.

ErgoSum88. "Welcome to Louisiana Road Sign," photograph. Wikimedia Commons, 2008.

Marchand, J. N. Lasalle Taking Possession of Louisiana A.D. 1682, 1904, painting. Washington, DC: Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Unknown artist. "North American, Spanish, French, and British Territories Circa 1700," video still. In 18th Century Turning Points in U.S. History. Ambrose Video Publishing Inc./Centre Communications, 2003.

Levy, David. "Louisiana Purchase," digital image. Wikimedia Commons, 2019.

Lee, David. "Large Cajun Family on Farm South of Crowley, Louisiana," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress. Library of Congress, Prints & photographs Division, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Unknown artist. "Mother and Child Silhouette 8 - Mother Telling Stories," digital graphic. Karens Whimsy, n.d.

Lee, Russell. "Daughter of Cajun Cane Farmer Removing Clothes from Line near New Iberia, Louisiana," 1938, photograph negative. Washington, DC: Library of Congress. Library of Congress, Prints & photographs Division, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives.

Unknown photographer. "Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys," n.d., photograph. In Jeffery Broussard electronic press kit, Michael Scott, booking agent. J Jams Entertainment, LLC, 4.

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

Mellizo, Jenifer. "English Colloquialisms," 2020, digital image. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Pope, Wayne, designer. Live! At the Dance, by the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Ken Light, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1994, album cover.

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

Unknown photographer. "Cleoma & Joe Falcon," photograph. In J'ai été au bal (I went to the dance) vol. 1, Chris Strachwitz and Maureen Gosling, soundtrack and text editors. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1990, 15.

Weil, Elizabeth, designer. Under a Green Oak Tree, by Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy & D. L. Menard. Dewey Balfa, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 1989, album cover. Promotion for the film Spend It All, courtesy of Les Blank Films.

Powerpoint ClipArt. "Dancing Icon," digital graphic. Microsoft Powerpoint, n.d.

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