Product Description

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAJUN MUSIC! - Words and Music to 247 Original and Traditional songs. A treasury of Cajun Music collected, transcribed, and annotated by Raymond E. Francois. "Ye Yaille Chere" is a comprehensive collection of music from southwest Louisiana from 1900 and earlier to nearly 1970. This book is a valuable reference for anyone interested in Cajun music and the Cajun culture. Tunes, turns, chord changes, and words are documented in manuscript for more than 240 selections, ranging from old songs which have nearly been forgotten to the classic songs of Cajun repertoire. Variations of many songs are included, and songs are cross-referenced to original and other recordings and to related songs. Reminiscences by Cajun musicians and extensive notes provide a musical and cultural setting for the selections.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #408026 in Books
• Published on: 1990-04-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 520 pages

From the Publisher
A quote from the legendary Cajun musician and songwriter, Dewey Balfa says it all: "It's a well-planted seed when you leave your knowledge to some young people. If we don't do it, this music will die and there is no reason for it to die, because it's so beautiful."

This book has been re-issued because of the beliefs we share with Mr. Balfa. This book will be appreciated and treasured by only the chosen, where the spirit of the music dwells. Enjoy.

From the Author
This is the "bible" of Acadian "Cajun" music!

From the Inside Flap
I guess the idea of this book started when I began to notice that the younger musicians were having trouble playing the music I had grown up with. Very few of them speak French, so it's not surprising that they have trouble with the lyrics. It bothers me even more that they don't know when to change chords, since I feel this changes the whole structure of the music. Maybe this is natural evolution, but I don't want the music which I have heard and played all my life to be forgotten. I began by listening to old recordings and writing down the words to songs. I also visited and interviewed some of the older musicians. I realized that what I really needed was some way to get the music transcribed into musical manuscript. I didn't think I could do this myself. Cajun music is learned and played entirely by ear, and my only exposure to musical notation had been a one-semester course in college - where I learned, for the first time, the correct way to hold a violin; before that I'd taken too much weight on my left wrist, which partly cuts off the blood circulation and is very tiring after a few hours.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful translation of the Cajun songs from French
For someone who doesn't understand French, it is hard to really know the meaning of the Cajun folk songs. Mr. Francois does an excellent job of translating. In addition, he gives a small history of the songs as well as actual written music.

This is the "bible" of Acadian "Cajun" music!
This is the "bible" of Acadian "Cajun" music! Raymond E. François

Cajun music roots resource
I'm thrilled to have all of these great traditional Cajun songs - melodies *and* French lyrics *and* English translations - at my fingertips. The description of general characteristics that make this music truly Cajun is a real boon for someone who's trying to get a handle on how to play this genre with any instrument.