Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet performs with David Doucet and Mitchell Reed
…from the 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Michael Doucet, fiddler, composer, and bandleader, is perhaps the single most important figure in the revitalization of Cajun music in the USA. Cajun is the shorthand name for the French settlers of southwest Louisiana who were expelled from the Acadian region of Canada in the 18th century. During the first half of the 20th century, both the language and music of French Louisiana seemed to be in decline. In 1975, Doucet applied to the National Endowment for the Arts for an apprenticeship grant to study with and document the master fiddlers of his region. As a result of this project, he was able to learn first-hand from the great masters of Cajun and Creole music with links to an earlier era.
Find Michael Doucets Smithsonian Folkways album, From Now On, at http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=3207
To learn more about Smithsonian Folkways visit http://www.folkways.si.edu
To find out more about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival visit http://festival.si.edu/
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Duration : 0:4:25
Cajun Country – Acadia Village & Vermilionville
Offthetrails explores the Cajun culture of Louisiana by visiting two
recreated villages. For more, visit www.offthetrails.com.
Duration : 0:9:55
Cajun Music at Vermillionville, Lafayette, Louisiana
Here is some authentic Cajun music at the Vermillionville historical center in Lafayette, Louisiana. The melodian player is Nonc Jules Guidry and the guitar player is Burnel Mareau and they are singing a song in Cajun:
The mosquitos all ate my sweetheart,
All they left was the big toe.
I used the big toe to put a stopper on my whiskey jug,
(then he goes on to describe his family)
Your little brother looks like a frog,
Your sister looks like an elephant,
Your momma looks like the corner of a sidewalk,
You might also like my Steel Drum video from St. Lucia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ggMqVqo5V0
Duration : 0:2:16
Five Foot Two – Cinq Pieds Deux – In Cajun French!
In March, 1929 Okeh records gathered a representative group of Acadian French “Cajun” musicians from Lafayette, Louisiana in Atlanta Georgia for one of the first recording sessions featuring their music and culture. What resulted were eight sides that featured both Cajun standards and their interpretations of some popular American songs of the day. This version of “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” is performed by Patrick “Dak” Pellerin accompanying himself on the Banjo in both French and English. This is Okeh 45332 recorded March 20th, 1929.
Duration : 0:3:44
Acadian Culture
Acadian culture is enjoyed and blends freely throughout Cape Breton.
Duration : 0:7:26
Cajuns – Acadiens
The Cajuns
Cajun Music
Song: Parlez-nous à boire
From the Movie: Southern Comfort
“O, parlez-nous à boire, non pas du mariage,”
“Toujours en regrettant nos jolis temps passes.”
1755
Les Anglais Déportent les Acadiens.
1755
The British deport the Acadians.
1764
Première arrivée documentée des Acadiens en Louisiane.
1764
First documented arrival of Acadians in Louisiana
1860
La Guerre Civile laisse la Louisiane en ruine. Le Général Nordiste Butler désire punir les Cajuns pour s`être alliés avec les États Confédérés en interdisant l`utilisation du français dans les activités publiques.
1860′s
Louisiana lay in ruins after the Civil War. The use of French in public activities is interdicted by Union General Butler to punish Louisiana for being allied with the Confederate States.
1921
La Constitution des États-Unis interdit l’usage de nul autre langue que l`Anglais en Louisiane.
1964
L’Acte de Droit Civil de Lousianne interdit la discrimination basée sur la race, couleur de peau, religion ou Nationalité.
1969
L’arrivée des premiers enseignants Français et Québécois.
Duration : 0:3:53
