To learn more about Dewey Balfa, please visit:
http://www.folkways.si.edu/explore_folkways/dewey_balfa.aspx
An impassioned ambassador for Cajun music and culture, fiddler and singer Dewey Balfa (1927-1992) was a driving force in the revival of traditional Cajun music. Raised 125 miles northwest of the great port city of New Orleans, the Balfa family inherited the rich legacy of songs, tunes, tales, and traditions of Louisiana’s French-speaking Cajun community.
In performance, Balfa introduced the vibrant sound of Cajun music to countless people around the world. Through his role as a musical ambassador, he reawakened a deep and abiding sense of pride in Cajun culture among his fellow Cajuns. Filmed in 1976, Dewey Balfa and the Balfa Brothers perform a Cajun waltz. Listen as Balfa translates the lyrics of love and longing.
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Duration : 0:2:41
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music
Duration : 1 hr 11 min 31 sec
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Viewer Involvement – Cajun Culture – Storytelling – History
Mesmerizing Videography – Woodworking / How-to
BRIEF
Making Traditions is a locally produced television show which combines the culture of Louisiana, its stories and craftsmanship and presents them in a mix of viewer involvement, storytelling, history and how-to videography.
THEME
With Making Traditions, we examine those pieces of furniture we associate with images of days past. Their stories are told by those best able to tell them and we then recreate the pieces in a modern home workshop.
PILOT EPISODE
In this pilot episode, the story is told by the family matriarch. Mrs. Lura Schuff of Ville Platte tells the story of the breakfast table made for her by her father when she first set out on her own in 1945. Through the years, her children and grand-children used and were served on this table, and now her great-grandchildren consider it a fixture on Nanas back porch.
We then recreate the table in a step-by-step process that is informative and visually entertaining and relaxing. The finished product is reviewed and re-associated with the original story.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Family. The show has a much broader appeal than just a woodworking instructional video. The visual reconstruction of the piece is not just informative, but the high definition videography and professional editing literally captivate and mesmerize the viewer.
The stories have a common appeal. Additionally, the effort will be to interview the patriarch/matriarch of the family related to the piece.
MULTI-MEDIA VIEWER INVOLVEMENT
In addition to traditional media (outdoor advertising, radio, television) to direct viewers to the initial shows, we will incorporate the following to incite viewer involvement:
•Project Give-away: The winner will receive the project made on that episode.
•Sawdust Buddy of the Week: Family can register on the website with content.
•Project Plans: Detailed project plans for every project will be available for download.
•Project Videos: Short clips and video tips will be available on the website. Full episode videos will be available for a reasonable charge.
Duration : 0:5:45
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This is one of P-con’s classic Improv songs
Duration : 0:6:1
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Whats on all our favorite characters ipods?
Duration : 10 min 18 sec
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Ryan’s site http://www.captainfiddle.com In this video Ryan performs at Pontine Theatre, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In this short performance he plays 7 different instruments including fiddle, banjo, bones, tin whistle, cajun triangle, Irish wooden flute, and accordion. The original show was 12 minutes long but several small portions were removed to meet the 10 minute You Tube limit. Ryan performs and teaches professionally. Visit his web site for bookings and descriptions of his books, videos, and instructional materials.
Duration : 0:9:52
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