Our A-Z journey through Louisiana ends this morning. Before we return to the clamor of everyday life that awaits us, I thought we'd put on our virtual shoes and and return to Opelousas, the center of Zydeco music, for our last cup of ritual coffee and a bit of toe-tapping music in a video clip here.
Zydeco's musical roots are found in another American musical style, Cajun music. Cajun music, which began in the late 1700s, comprises French fiddle tunes, Irish Celtic fiddle tunes, the German button accordion, Latin rhythms, and Appalachian styles. (Wikipedia) Cajun music is a gumbo of musical notes and styles pulled from South Louisiana's various ethnicities.
Zydeco revved up the foundation.
Zydeco's name evolved from a French phrase, Les haricots ne sont pas sale's that means the snap beans aren't salty -- a colloquial expression for I have no spicy news for you or I'm so poor, I can't afford any salt meat for the beans. (It would be interesting to know if there's a Canadian French expression along this line.) When the phrase is spoken in Cajun French, it goes something like this (Wikipedia): let-zy-dee-co sohn pay salay . . . from which we get Zydeco.
The piano (button) accordion and a washboard (frottoir) give Zydeco its fast tempo a unique sound that evolved from families gathering around in the evenings and looking for a bit of fun to pass the time.
And, at day's end -- or journey's end -- I think that's what people everywhere do -- perhaps not as often as before -- but people are people, social beings who enjoy a bit of company to pass the time before the sandman sprinkles dust and shutters the eyelids and life's journey begins anew the next day.
We all have our joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams, aches and pains, expectations and disappointments. I personally don't think it's wise to hang one's dirty laundry in public, as the expression goes, but I also think there's a time and a place for everything, as another expression goes. Sitting around with family and friends provide the opportunity to lighten one's burdens and brighten one's days.
I thank the sponsors of the A-Z Challenge for their organization, hard work, and selfless dedication, not just to the Challenge, but to a community without borders called Blogville.
I thank you for joining me on our little journey. I know there were times when we were tired or time-challenged, but we shrugged it off and continued on our way. If you're like me, you're probably going to take a few days off to rest up, tackle those dust bunnies under the bed or maybe flop on the sofa and do nothing.
But soon -- very soon -- wherever we are in this beautiful world we call home (for all its faults, it is beautiful), we'll hear the coffee dripping and know another journey has begun. Wherever this journey takes you, I hope the breezes are soft and gentle. But if you tire, please go HERE to hear "Amazing Grace" sung in Cajun French. Every journey needs lagniappe.
Zydeco's musical roots are found in another American musical style, Cajun music. Cajun music, which began in the late 1700s, comprises French fiddle tunes, Irish Celtic fiddle tunes, the German button accordion, Latin rhythms, and Appalachian styles. (Wikipedia) Cajun music is a gumbo of musical notes and styles pulled from South Louisiana's various ethnicities.
Zydeco revved up the foundation.
Zydeco's name evolved from a French phrase, Les haricots ne sont pas sale's that means the snap beans aren't salty -- a colloquial expression for I have no spicy news for you or I'm so poor, I can't afford any salt meat for the beans. (It would be interesting to know if there's a Canadian French expression along this line.) When the phrase is spoken in Cajun French, it goes something like this (Wikipedia): let-zy-dee-co sohn pay salay . . . from which we get Zydeco.
The piano (button) accordion and a washboard (frottoir) give Zydeco its fast tempo a unique sound that evolved from families gathering around in the evenings and looking for a bit of fun to pass the time.
And, at day's end -- or journey's end -- I think that's what people everywhere do -- perhaps not as often as before -- but people are people, social beings who enjoy a bit of company to pass the time before the sandman sprinkles dust and shutters the eyelids and life's journey begins anew the next day.
We all have our joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams, aches and pains, expectations and disappointments. I personally don't think it's wise to hang one's dirty laundry in public, as the expression goes, but I also think there's a time and a place for everything, as another expression goes. Sitting around with family and friends provide the opportunity to lighten one's burdens and brighten one's days.
I thank the sponsors of the A-Z Challenge for their organization, hard work, and selfless dedication, not just to the Challenge, but to a community without borders called Blogville.
I thank you for joining me on our little journey. I know there were times when we were tired or time-challenged, but we shrugged it off and continued on our way. If you're like me, you're probably going to take a few days off to rest up, tackle those dust bunnies under the bed or maybe flop on the sofa and do nothing.
But soon -- very soon -- wherever we are in this beautiful world we call home (for all its faults, it is beautiful), we'll hear the coffee dripping and know another journey has begun. Wherever this journey takes you, I hope the breezes are soft and gentle. But if you tire, please go HERE to hear "Amazing Grace" sung in Cajun French. Every journey needs lagniappe.
2 comments:
Thanks so much for this tour through LA. I enjoyed it very much! And I love Zydeco...so glad to have a little background on it's origins. Thanks!
I have a beloved sister living in Picayune Mississippi and I've saved up lots of questions from reading your posts to ask her. Won't she be surprised by what I know.
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