Zydeco Music Term Paper by Melleena

Zydeco Music
This paper describes zydeco music and dancing, popularized by Creole French speaking people of African decent living on the prairies of south-central and southwest Louisiana.
# 101515 | 2,860 words | 6 sources | MLA | 2001 | US
Published on Feb 27, 2008 in Dance (History) , Music Studies (History) , African-American Studies (General)


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Description:

This paper explains that zydeco music, a form of dance music, is characterized by a syncopation or a shift of accent in a passage or composition that occurs when a normally weak beat is stressed. The author points out that the accordion and keyrub board, (also know as the washboard, scrub board or a froittoir) are essential parts of the zydeco sound, but there are no fiddles as in Cajun music. The paper relates that traditional zydeco dancing was done subtly, smoothly and upright by couples in a closed position; however, zydeco dancing appears to be evolving from a couples dance to individual free-style. The author relates that Clifton Chenier, who brought the zydeco genre to international attention, reigned as the "King of Zydeco" with a career lasting 30 years, and earned a Grammy award in 1984.

From the Paper:

"The changes that have taken place in zydeco music can be tracked by the type of accordion that is used. There were four different models of accordions that have been widely used in the zydeco musical genre, each type varying in the number of rows, and consequently the number of keys. The accordions were sturdy and could be easily heard in big crowds of people. Today, there are diatomic models as well as chromatic models. The diatomic models only play the full-step intervals found in major scales, while the chromatic "piano" accordions encompass half-step intervals..."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Contemporary Cajun, Creole, & Zydeco Musicians, "A Brief History of Cajun, Creole, & Zydeco Music," URL: http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/history.htm. November 27, 2001.
  • Daily Advertiser (1998), "Cajun Music Has Gone Through Many Changes," URL: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:ra9nFRPPWEg:www.lft.k12.la.us/chs/la_studies/ParishSeries/FrenchMusic/CajunMusicChanged.htm+acadians+music&hl=en. November 28, 2001.
  • Nyhan, Pat. Let The Good Times Roll!. Portland, Maine: Upbeat Books, 1997.
  • Sandmel, Ben. Zydeco!. Jackson, Mississippi: University Press, 1999.
  • Tisserand, Michael. The Kingdom of Zydeco. New York: Arcade Publishing, 1998.

Cite this Term Paper:

APA Format

Zydeco Music (2008, February 27) Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/zydeco-music-101515/

MLA Format

"Zydeco Music" 27 February 2008. Web. 28 May. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/zydeco-music-101515/>

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