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Cajun fiddle
Hear it, love it, play it
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (9 votes) 
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ELCBK
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January 19, 2022 - 3:20 am
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Well here's another fun Cajun tune I must play around with, by Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys. 

@Fiddlerman -

This one's for you, Pierre! 

 

 

https://openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/227985/Musical-Heart-3.png

 

...just please don't blame me if the lyrics aren't flattering -  it's all Cajun French to me. (lol) 

- Emily 

 

 

SHOUT OUT if you want to to learn a tune that's been posted without sheet music or a tutorial, and you can't play by ear!  Maybe some more experienced musicians here on the forum can help!

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Fiddlerman
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January 19, 2022 - 2:32 pm
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ELCBK said
Well here's another fun Cajun tune I must play around with, by Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys. 

@Fiddlerman -

This one's for you, Pierre! 

...just please don't blame me if the lyrics aren't flattering -  it's all Cajun French to me. (lol) 

- Emily 

SHOUT OUT if you want to to learn a tune that's been posted without sheet music or a tutorial, and you can't play by ear!  Maybe some more experienced musicians here on the forum can help!

OK, I'll bite.... Why is it for me?
For some strange reason though I did find my foot going up and down. LOL

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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ELCBK
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January 19, 2022 - 5:45 pm
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@Fiddlerman -

Well... how often do you find a fiddle tune with a catchy rhythm that has your name on it? 😎

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ELCBK
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January 19, 2022 - 9:00 pm
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Here's some interesting tips and info from "David Greely" at "Blackpot Camp" and a little about a workshop at Brown University - about Cajun Fiddling!  

 

 

@ABitRusty - 

You might enjoy this one!

Now, this "Femme la dit" of Greely's is something I can really get into - making it a priority! 

 

 

https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/t/love-music-17124994.jpg

...I'm starting to get a clearer picture of what it is about specific tunes I really like. 

- Emily

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ELCBK
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January 20, 2022 - 4:35 am
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Some 'Low' & 'Slow' tunes (💖 these)! 

I love the tune "Je M'Endors" - it's VERY comforting.  The 1st time I heard it was a few years back, a version by Cecile Corbel (Brittany, France), but here are 2 slightly different versions by David Greely and Michael Doucet.

 

💖 these 2 beautiful tunes composed by David Greely!  The 1st tune in this set, "Bridge Street Lullaby", has a similar feeling to "Je M'Endors".  The 2nd, "Lac Martin", is also nice - just no minor bits.

 

I absolutely 💖 THE SWING in "Kräfta"!  I was confused at 1st - 'Kräfta' means 'cancer' in Swedish and I saw the trio, Fru Skagerrak, had recorded it, but they do say David Greely IS the Composer - so here he is!

 

https://hottopic.scene7.com/is/image/HotTopic/10284456_hi?$pdp_hero_standard$

 

🤔 "Kräfta" reminds me some other tunes I like.  ...I better get around to recording something.  

NOW is a GREAT time to start learning to play by ear! 

Learning by ear is just a matching game - YOU can do it!

- Emily

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Ripton
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January 21, 2022 - 11:56 am
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@ELCBK , Emily stop, you're killing me ostrich-chase. I love all of these and losing what hair I have left trying to find sheet music...

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ELCBK
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January 21, 2022 - 9:43 pm
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@Ripton - 

Roll On Floor Laughing Smiley

I apologize - you aren't going to find sheet music for a lot of these tunes.   

Did you want me to remove my posts that don't include sheet music? 

Btw, I've been interested in this Cajun music 

ever since my 1st visit to New Orleans, quite a few years ago.

I'm afraid that, when you started this thread, I took this opportunity to dig in further and learn more about what I could like about this genre. 

Guilty, I intentionally tried to take you, and everyone else, along for the ride! 🤗 

 

https://img1.etsystatic.com/000/0/5650195/il_fullxfull.191789665.jpg

...really great you are learning one of the tunes, so is @JohnG - and I am, too! 

Are any of the tutorials helpful? 

- Emily

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Ripton
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January 22, 2022 - 5:47 am
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@elcbk, no leave them up.  Just a moment of exacerbation.  I may need to just find a decent fake book and start working on techniques.  Eventually every tune can be played by ear.  I need to find a tune slow down app again to help.  

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ELCBK
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January 23, 2022 - 7:33 am
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@wtw , @ABitRusty -

Can't I entice you with anything, so far?  Do you have a special tune for Mardi Gras? 

 

Well, now I'm totally hooked on Molly Mason's version of "La Chanson de Mardi Gras", which is basically the same tune as "La Danse de Mardi Gras" (Mardi Gras Song). 

So, this is what I'm learning!  ...and "La Toussaint".  ... and "Kräfta".  ...and "Je M'endors". (lol)

La Chanson de Mardi Gras

 

Wanted to offer up chords that go to "La Danse de Mardi Gras", for anyone interested. 

ChordU allows you to see the chord notes on piano, guitar, ukulele or mandolin - whatever helps you the most!  The tune audio plays so you can hear and see where the chords change.

La Danse de Mardi Gras - Chords

 

Also, for anyone wanting to learn this on the VIOLIN, here's a tutorial (that is NOT tuned down) by Craig Duncan - shows some double stops, too! 

 

 

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2b/7f/9a/2b7f9ac23cbb46c37fea95faaffd54a3.jpg

 

Mardi Gras is only a little over a month away!

🤔... think I'll send my Brother the chords - maybe he'll play the ukulele or guitar on a Duo call with me! 🤗 

- Emily

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Ripton
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January 23, 2022 - 6:30 pm
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@ELCBK and @JohnG I'm posting in the video critique section for a little more fun, from this thread. 

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ELCBK
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January 25, 2022 - 12:41 am
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New Orleans may have it's famous Mardi Gras Parade, but other rural parts of 'Acadiana' have the "Courir de Mardi Gras"!  

This day-long event is similar to "Wassailing"!  You can read more about "Courir de Mardi Gras" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.....Mardi_Gras

"La Danse de Mardi Gras" is one of the iconic songs sung at the event - info & lyrics: https://www.liveabout.com/caju.....ng-3552995 

Cedric Watson plays the Creole version - "La Vieille Chanson de Mardi Gras"

 

 

Here's a brief overview of the "Courir de Mardi Gras" in Mamou: 

 

 

Cedric Watson - on Creole vs. Cajun Fiddle music. 

 

 

 

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A18ybkIavnL._SL1500_.jpg

 

- Emily

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ELCBK
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January 25, 2022 - 1:14 am
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Chris Haigh has a GREAT tutorial for general Cajun Techniques! 

 

 

Doug Kershaw made Cajun Fiddle music famous! 

A pretty remarkable man, taught himself to play 28 instruments, got an Undergraduate Degree in Math and Served in the US Army - all on top of his Fiddle career!

 

 

 

https://e96pp6nibh-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/masksborder-sm.png

- Emily

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ELCBK
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January 28, 2022 - 10:44 pm
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ABitRusty said
ill have to say flattery will get you everywhere and i am the best fiddler in my house.  coffee1

Yeah im liking that tune!  although this has circled around to cajun music mostly because of the similar sound I heard. but.. Yup i need to try it out.  i like this version alot..  not sure which one you shared that got ut started so ypu can bump that that topic up.

  

https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/1/hunters-courir-de-mardi-gras-seaux-n-seau-soileau.jpg

@ABitRusty -

🤣 That's a GREAT version!  I love, and have been playing their "La Toussaint" (All Saints Day) - post #20! 

I really got energized by the Salebarbes' version (post #18), like the Molly Mason version with the slow beginning (post #29) and Craig Duncan has GREAT TIPS & there's also CHORD help (all post 29)! 

 

BUT, what really got me started/hooked on this tune, was Mitch Reed's video (1st posted a while back in the 'Cross Tuning On The Fiddle' thread) - all strings tuned down 1 whole step!  ...think my new strings have finally settled so I feel better about trying these, now. 😊 

https://youtu.be/sgwuAEyLSmU

...the simple melody of this tune (listed in Treble and Alto Clef at the beginning of this thread) means more time can be spent on dressing it up.

- Emily

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BruceS

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January 23, 2023 - 10:08 am
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I'm listening to the Empty Bottle Stomp on the CD by Linzay Young and Joel Savoy.  About half way through it seems they switch to a totally different tune, but it is not named. Does anyone know the name? Or is it always played as part of the Empty Bottle Stomp?

 

Thanks

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Mouse
January 23, 2023 - 11:41 am
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Welcome tomthe forum, @BruceS. 

I am sending you a Welcome email in a few minutes. 

I am afraid I am of no help with your questiin in the above post.

🐭

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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ELCBK
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January 23, 2023 - 1:37 pm
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@BruceS -

Welcome to the forum! 

Thanks for sharing this GREAT TUNE!

'Stomps' have baffled me a bit, trying to figure out the structure, but think it might be "Crapaud" in the last half (?) 

 

First, I thought it might just be a variation, but then saw this fabulous little fiddler - playing both, "Empty Bottle Stomp/Crapaud"!  AND, Madeleine plays slow enough in the video to make it easy to learn!  (Thank you, Madeleine!)

 

Hard for me to tell if they still aren't a variation of each other.  Mitch Reed is great for showing variations for Cajun & Creole tunes and usually says by which musician.  You can hear how different some can be, played by different fiddlers, in his video "Stories about The Lake Arthur Stomp"

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fb/ca/36/fbca366dc65d937b8a07dccb47f8039c.jpg

 

Hope this helps, are you going to learn to play it? 

...Mardi Gras is just around the corner! 

- Emily

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Mark
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January 24, 2023 - 3:19 am
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BruceS

Welcome to the forum 

Mark

Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.

Albert Sammons

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ELCBK
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January 24, 2023 - 9:13 pm
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Happy to revisit this thread - some wonderful tunes! 

...finally took time to play a few tunes from this thread today, like David Greely's "Femme la dit" - bluzy, interesting bowing & a low A power chord. 

Also been playing the Beausoleil version of "Je M'Endors" - it has such a dreamy quality!  First version I ever heard was by Cecile Corbel (Je M'endors) - fell in love with the bagpipes in it!

I had covid right before Mardi Gras last year, so practiced Molly Mason's version of "La Chanson de Mardi Gras", but wasn't up to recording - just now getting around to playing it again. 

Oh yes, David Greely's "Kräfta" - time to enjoy playing it again, too.

 

Anyone try tunes in this thread, besides ones played in the Mardi Gras Party

 

https://cdn.wallpapersafari.com/86/73/t2WvO6.jpg

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ELCBK
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April 18, 2023 - 3:35 am
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I participated in a great Cajun workshop and a Jam with Mitch Reed instructing at Fiddle Hell this past weekend! 

Didn't know if I'd be able to follow along in the Jam, but the waltzes went pretty well! 

Then, the Creole One-Step got me! 

I wasn't familiar with this type of syncopated rhythm, so fell back to the chords (think there was only 2), tried to get into the groove with the bowing & never quite made it! (lol)  ...extremely challenging for me. 

Mitch Reed's YT Channel has so much great help & you can contact him for lessons! 

Here's a little bit about the "Cajun & Creole One-Steps"

 

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