Cajun and Zydeco Music: Flavors of Southwest Louisiana
Lesson Hub 1
Gumbo: Intro to Cajun and Zydeco Music
What are Cajun music and zydeco and where do they come from?
Louisiana Serenade, by Romare Bearden. Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Gumbo: Intro to Cajun and Zydeco Music
20+ MIN
30+ MIN
20+ MIN
What's in a Gumbo? People and Place
Path 1
20+ minutes
Gumbo, by Mark Miller, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Louisiana
Discussion Question:
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Louisiana?
Louisiana in United States, by TUBS, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
What's in a Gumbo?
Additional discussion questions:
Has anyone ever eaten GUMBO?
What is gumbo, and what typically goes in it?
What's in a Gumbo?
Gumbo is a type of soup: A rich and spicy combination of flavors (peppers, onion, celery, chicken, sausage and/or shellfish, okra, and rice, all held together by a dark and thick stock called a "roux”).
Cutting Squash (Leah Chase), painting by Gustave Blache III. National Portrait Gallery.
Cajun and Zydeco: A Musical Gumbo
The music of Louisiana and their official state cuisine have a lot in common.
Just like gumbo, the musical sounds of Louisiana are a rich combination of influences and cultural flavors.
Today, we're going to start learning about two of these musical styles:
Cajun and zydeco
Text
Listen to a short excerpt from each recording:
Cajun Example
Zydeco Example
Let's Take a Taste!
Generally Speaking .....
Cajun music's sound is defined by the accordion and the fiddle, usually with supporting instruments.
Zydeco music's sound is defined by the accordion and scrubboard (rubboard/frottoir), usually with supporting instruments.
Cajun Musical Instruments, by FirefllyDesignn. Etsy.
Take a look at this map of Louisiana...
Can you locate New Orleans?
Where is the Mississippi River?
Generally Speaking .....
Geographic Connections ...
Louisiana Location Map, by Alexrk2. CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Although New Orleans has always been a hub for musical innovation and development (especially jazz and blues), the birthplace of both Cajun and zydeco music is in the southwestern section of Louisiana known as “Acadiana.”
Generally Speaking .....
Acadiana
Louisiana Regions Map, by Interiot. Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Generally Speaking .....
Geographic Connections ...
Here you can see New Orleans, the Mississippi River, and Acadiana in relation to one another.
Acadiana
New Orleans
Mississippi River
ACADIANA is home to the United States’ largest population of Cajuns and rural Creoles in the country.
Generally Speaking .....
Who Lives in Acadiana?
Flag of Acadiana, by Lexicon. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Cajuns are descendants of people who once lived in Acadia (parts of what are now New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia in Canada).
Generally Speaking .....
Who Are the Cajuns?
Acadia Map 1754, by Klaus Meuller (Mikmaq). CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Who Are the Creoles?
- The term Creole usually refers to some sort of combination of Caribbean, West African, Native American, Spanish, French, and Portuguese heritage.
- Creole heritage, which is associated with zydeco music, is much more complicated to trace.
- Creoles vary widely in terms of ethnic background.
- However, people of any race or ethnicity can (and do) identify as “Creole.”
What do these “parish” names signal to you? What do they sound like?
Generally Speaking .....
What are "Parishes"?
Parishes of Acadiana Map, by Interiot. CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Instead of being divided into "counties" (like many U.S. states), Louisiana is divided into "parishes.”
Acadiana itself is made up of 22 parishes, with names such as “Lafayette,” “Iberville,” “Lafourche,” and “Point Coupee."
Today, French is still spoken in Acadiana, and most Cajun music is still sung in French.
Generally Speaking .....
The Names Sound French!
French was the native language for ancestors of both Cajuns and Creoles, and Louisiana was a French territory at the time these communities formed.
In Southwest Louisiana, food, dance, and music are closely linked, creating a culture of "laissez les bon temps roulez” (Let the good times roll)!
Zydeco songs are sometimes still sung in French, although many songs are now sung in English.
Although Cajun and zydeco music have different histories, they share some origins and have influenced each other endlessly.
When people with different ancestries mix up similar instruments, lyrical themes, language, and rhythms in one pot, you get a true musical gumbo!
Generally Speaking .....
Cajun and Zydeco: A True Musical "Gumbo"
Folk masters: Great performances recorded live at the Barns of Wolf Trap, cover art by Francis X. Pavy. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Learning Checkpoint
- Where is the birthplace of Cajun music and zydeco music?
- Who makes Cajun and zydeco music?
End of Path 1: Where will you go next?
Put It in the Pot: The Sights and Sounds of Cajun and Zydeco
Path 2
30+ minutes
Cajun Musical Instruments, by FireflyDesignn. Etsy.
Watch this video clip ....
J'ai Ete au Bal, film by Les Blank, Chris Strachwitz, and Maureen Gosling. Les Blank Films.
... which provides another "taste" of both Cajun and zydeco music.
Notice which instruments you see and hear.
Discussion:
What instruments did you notice?
Fiddle
Michael Doucet, excerpt from J'ai Ete au Bal.
Accordion
Clifton Chenier, excerpt from J'ai Ete au Bal.
Guitar
D. L. Menard, excerpt from J'ai Ete au Bal.
Attentive Listening: Example 1
(Write down your response on your attentive listening worksheet).
Listen to this audio example:
Is this Cajun or zydeco? Why?
What instruments do you hear?
Generally Speaking .....
Cajun music's sound is defined by the accordion and the fiddle, usually with supporting instruments.
Zydeco music's sound is defined by the accordion and scrubboard (rubboard/frottoir), usually with supporting instruments.
Cajun Musical Instruments, by FirefllyDesignn. Etsy.
Attentive Listening: Example 1
Listen to this excerpt several more times.
Each time, think about (and write down your thoughts about) a new guiding question:
- What do you notice about the beat/rhythm?
- What language do you hear?
- What is the primary purpose of this music (social/cultural context)?
Attentive Listening: Example 2
Next, listen to a new audio example:
Is this Cajun or zydeco? Why?
What instruments do you hear?
(Write down your response on your attentive listening worksheet).
Attentive Listening: Example 2
Listen to this excerpt several more times.
Each time, think about (and write down your thoughts about) a new guiding question:
- What do you notice about the beat/rhythm?
- What language do you hear?
- What is the primary purpose of this music (social/cultural context)?
These are two versions of the same song!
“Zydeco Sont Pas Salé”
Example 1: Zydeco
- Recorded by Clifton Chenier, who was known to many as the "King of Zydeco” (1964)
Example 2: Cajun
- Covered by Austin Pitre, a Cajun musician (1971)
Generally Speaking .....
You might have noticed ...
Zydeco Sont Pas Salé: King of the Real Creole French Zydeco, cover art by Elizabeth Weil. Arhoolie Records.
Opelousas Waltz, cover art by Wayne Pope. Arhoolie Records.
Use the provided Venn diagram template to explore some similarities and differences between Cajun and zydeco music.
- Students can complete this activity individually, in small groups, or as a full class.
- After students finish their Venn diagrams, they can discuss the similarities and differences between these two musical examples.
- Click to the next slides for a discussion of similarities and differences between Cajun and zydeco styles.
Generally Speaking .....
Optional Activity: Compare and Contrast
"Zydeco Sont Pas Salé," by Clifton Chenier
"Zydeco Sont Pas Salé," by Austin Pitre
-
Some instrumentation (especially the importance of the accordion)
Generally Speaking .....
Some Similarities
Accordion, made by Boudini & Sons. National Museum of American History
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Time structure (2/4)
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French language
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Social/cultural context (both intended for dance)
- Some instrumentation (e.g., Cajun music usually has a fiddle while zydeco often does not; zydeco often incorporates a scrubboard)
- Rhythm (e.g., zydeco rhythms are often more syncopated/swung, and percussive sounds and improvisational techniques are more common)
Generally Speaking .....
Some Differences
Rubboard, by FireflyDesignn. Etsy.
Clifton & Cleveland Chenier, photo by Chris Strachwitz. Arhoolie Records.
Learning Checkpoint
- What are some similarities and differences between Cajun and zydeco music?
End of Path 2: Where will you go next?
Stir It All Up: Make Your Own Musical Gumbo!
Path 3
20+ minutes
Triangle with Beater, unknown maker. National Museum of American History.
Make Your Own Musical Gumbo
Listen to a short excerpt from a song called “Cajun Two-Step,” by Cajun musician Nathan Abshire.
As you listen, tap your toe along with the steady beat.
Attentive Listening: Time
Listen again . . .
What is the time structure of this song?
Attentive Listening: Instruments
Listen again . . .
What instruments do you hear?
The triangle is a common instrument in Cajun music.
Listen again . . .
Can you pat along with the triangle rhythm?
Engaged Listening: Rhythm
Engaged Listening: Rhythm
Listen again. . .
Can you tap your toe with the steady beat while patting along with the triangle rhythm?
Attentive Listening: Form
Music takes recognizable form using two principles: repetition and contrast.
Listen again . . .
Do you hear any sections that are repeated?
Do you hear any contrast?
This song has two contrasting sections ...
We can call them Part A and Part B
Listen again . . .
Raise one hand when you hear Part A and raise two hands when you hear Part B.
Cajun (and zydeco) music is meant for dance!
Next, you will create your own simple dance that matches the form of this song (AB):
- Split into several small groups (4-5 students per group).
- Create one movement/dance step for the “A” section and another movement/dance step for the “B” section.
- Practice with your group members.
- Perform your dance for the rest of your class!
Learning Checkpoint
- What is the social context in which Cajun and zydeco music is often played?
- What are some common musical characteristics in Cajun and zydeco music (especially time structure and form)?
End of Path 3 and Lesson Hub 1: Where will you go next?
Lesson Hub 1 Media Credits
Audio courtesy of
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Video courtesy of
Les Blanc Films
Images courtesy of
The Arhoolie Foundation
Firefly Design
National Museum of American History
National Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
The University of Texas at Austin Libraries
© 2022 Smithsonian Institution. Personal, educational, and non-commercial uses allowed; commercial rights reserved. See Smithsonian terms of use for more information.
This Lesson was funded in part by the Grammy Museum Grant and the Smithsonian Youth Access Grants Program, with support from the Society for Ethnomusicology and the National Association for Music Education.
For full bibliography and media credits, see Lesson 1 landing page.