Center for Louisiana Studies Archival Catalog
This searchable database provides information on images, documents, and audio and video recordings, made between 1934 and the present.
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
00:00 - J'ai étais au bal first part with "pull/push" method;
15:28 - Full Part 1 of J'ai étais au bal slowed down;
16:45 - 1st part of J'ai étais au bal normal speed;
17:40 - 2nd part of J'ai étais au bal slow then full speed
27:20 - 2nd part at full speed
28:00 - Both parts at full speed of J'ai étais au bal
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
00:10 - 1st part of Jolie Blonde using "pull/push" method slowed down;
08:30 - bridge of Jolie Blonde slowed down;
09:50 - Unknown title - Fast fiddle tune;
12:40 - Second half of the Jolie Blonde bridge;
15:00 - Both parts of Jolie Blonde normal speed;
16:10 - Standard A440 tuning;
17:30 - Unisons, Octaves, Chords
25:00 - Low fiddle tunings
26:10 - Perrodin two step slowed down
29:40 - Intro to shuffle bowing
30:25 - Perrodin two step full speed
31:25 - Doubling B flat chords
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
Redigitize - Cell phone interference at around 8 minutes
00:38 - Grandpa's waltz;
2:30 - Octave of A chord;
03:35 - La valse des grands bois slowed down;
06:35 - Indian on a Stump tuning (cross tuning);
09:30 - Octaves and unisons used in Indian on a Stump:
11:30 - Bridge of Indian on a Stump - shuffle bowing;
14:10 - Indian on a Stump - full song - slow speed;
15:15 - Chords for seconding in Cajun music;
20:00 - Straight Bassing (seconding) for Cajun fiddle;
20:45 - Bassing on the Perrodin two step;
22:22 - Shuffling the bow while seconding;
23:10 - Shuffle seconding on Perrodin two step;
23:40 - Several methods of seconding on Jolie Blonde
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
Tape degraded at the beginning, cleans up after first minute or so.
00:05 - Fiddle and guitar version of Jolie Blonde;
06:15 - Fiddle and guitar version of Perrodin two step;
08:30 - Fiddle and guitar version of Grandpa's Waltz;
11:45 - Fiddle and guitar version of La valse des grands bois;
13:00 - Fiddle and guitar version of Les barres de la prison;
15:12 - Fiddle and guitar version of the Mardi Gras Song;
18:00 - Demonstration of sliding and bending notes for Port Arthur Blues;
21:45 - Rolling notes;
22:20 - Chère bébé Créole;
26:18 - Demonstrating trills with Danse Carré
Instructional Cajun Fiddle with Dewey Balfa - Master Tapes for Smithsonian Folkways Instructional Cajun Fiddle Release
00:50 - "Old Lonesome Sound" La valse des bambocheurs played at a slow speed;
02:10 - La valse des bambocheurs - regular speed with guitar accompaniment;
03:15 - Indian on a Stump - regular speed;
05:50 - Discussion about Instruments used in Cajun music;
12:30 - "uptown" style fiddling in Cajun music - Doug Kershaw, Rufus Thibodeaux;
14:45 - Dewey's style when playing with a full, amplified band;
22:20 - High pitched singing style in Cajun music;
24:40 - Cajun yell;
26:22 - J'ai étais au bal - slow speed seconding;
30:00 - Regular and double time waltz examples;
32:55 - Types of dances - fais do-do, dancehalls, "the pen,"
39:40 - Explaining the lyrics of the Mardi Gras Song;
47:00 - Mardi Gras runs - rules, customs