Balfa Brothers - Play Traditional Cajun Music
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Balfa BrothersBrand: BALFA BROTHERS
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1994-03-22
Music Label: Swallow Records
Soundtracks:
- 'Tit Galop pour Mamou
- Je Suis Orphelin
- T'En as Eu, T'En Auras Plus
- Two Step de l'Anse à Paille
- La Danse de Mardi Gras
- Je Me Suis Marillié
- Enterre-Moi Pas
- Chère Joues Roses
- Chère Bassette
- J'Ai Passé Devant Ta Porte
- Les Flammes d'Enfer
- Madeleine
- La Valse du Bambocheur
- Lacassine Special
- My True Love
- La Valse de Grand Bois
- Family Waltz
- Newport Waltz
- Indian on a Stomp
- T'Es Petite et T'Es Mignonne
- Two Step a Hadley
- Valse de Balfa
- Parlez-Nous à Boire
- Les Blues du Cadien
Free Music Notes for Play Traditional Cajun Music
Free Music Review: Wonderful, Essential, Haunting and makes you want to move...
Hit: 5 Stars
I grew up in Mamou, Louisiana and went to grade school with Dewey's nephew, Tony. So, I think I might have some credentials in reviewing this album. Out of all the Cajun music I have in my collection, this CD gets played more than all the others combined. And that includes Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, headed by a guy closer to my age and from my hometown. Granted, the Balfa's were also from the Mamou area (closer to Basile). Steve Riley learned from Dewey Balfa, for one thing, and as good as he is, will never be able to capture that something special that was the Balfa Brothers.
I think, primarily, the Balfa Brothers captured the sound of an era that was in its twilight. Everything since will always be different (read: more modern) mainly because of the cultural changes and secondly because of the technological advances in music.
In the 60's and 70's, the revival of Folk music also awakened those of us growing up in culturally rich places such as Mamou. Cajun music became "cool" again against the backdrop of great music from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elton John and others of that time. People started flooding into places like Fred's Lounge to hear the music in public again instead of just at house parties.
It is the pureness, the simplicity (but certainly not simplistic - just ask the many very good musicians who have struggled to learn these riffs), the raw emotion and most of all the sheer beauty of the music that stands out. The twin fiddling, the truly distinctive vocals (with some nasal tone absolutely necessary for Cajun sound), the haunting waltzes and the "joy-in-your-heart" upbeat tempos all lead to a musical experience hard to explain or exceed.
You almost have to be from Acadiana to really understand what I mean, but I think if you find that you love Cajun music, you do understand. When I hear these songs now, I'm carried back to my youth. Not just for nostalgia, but because it is such strong and meaningful music. It has become part of the soundtrack of my life. Thank goodness for that!
For anyone looking for something even more raw and unpolished, but very good, I can wholeheartedly recommend a compilation called Folksongs of the Louisiana Acadians. Let me emphasize again, it is very unpolished, but if you love Folk and particularly Cajun music, it is very good. I also may be a little biased, since it includes a few songs with my grandfather, Isom J. Fontenot playing a very unique harmonica style, possibly never duplicated.
This might be old and cliche', but it's about the only Cajun French phrase I actually know... Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouller!
Play Traditional Cajun Music Poster
Two of Cajun's most famous albums return to the Ace catalogue all newly remastered and with four bonus titles. In the mid 1960s Cajun music was in danger of stagnating, having become heavily influenced by country, western swing and pop music. Dewey Balfa persuaded Floyd Soileau to record him and his brothers performing a more traditional form of the music from several decades earlier.Play Traditional Cajun Music came out in 1965, with a second volume following in 1974. In making these records the Balfas and Soileau preserved music that was in danger of being entirely forgotten.
This release also includes four non-LP single sides and has been freshly packaged with a new sleeve note by Cajun expert Ann Savoy, plus a new selection of photographs and lyrics in French with an English translation.
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