So much of Cajun accordion music is based upon tradition, which raises the question: When does innovation overtake tradition?

We've recently seen such innovation as LG #9, a unique thing of beauty, The Choupique with the tight button spacing, Falcon's 3-key boxes, and various subtle departures from the norm in LG #10. All in a wooden box.

I will be the 1st to laud innovation and progress, but at some point these innovations will commit the Eagle and Sterling designs to a museum case. The popular boxes today carry forward the tradition of the old German instruments, but with fairly minor improvements improvements. There is even a demand to make the new devices sound more like the old ones.

Just as Zydeco represents a modern departure from the "old french music," the evolution of instruments will at some point present the dilemma of what is Cajun and what is not.

It's a tightrope walk, but there are two concepts - Traditional Cajun and "other". Just as musicians have to decide whether to play the "new" stuff, accordion builders will, at some point, have to decide how far they can go before they reach (or cross) that undefined line.

Modern music is great, and so are modern methods. Likewise, the nostalgic old tunes gave us the basis from which modern music evolved, and that's great, too. I love 'em both, but but each remains distinct.

But, please, if an Acadian ever shows up with metalflake, rounded corners, and digital innards, just shoot me!

Hey, Ned-ro....why does there have to be a "line"? I played with August Broussard, yesterday at Vermillionville, and he was playing an accordion which was of a make I am un-familiar with. I bet he has been playing that box for years and years...the point is this...put ANY 10 button diatonic accordion is his hands and I will bet the farm, that he will still maintain that authentic "Cajun" sound!! Innovation and advances in "Cajun" accordions will still produce, "Cajun" sounding music, when played by "Cajun" minded players...
CharlieB.

I'm just hoping that 20 years from now you can tell a t'fer from a triangle.

well first off Nedro, you draw the line in the sand in front of your toes.

That is to say that you (or anyone who tries to be), as an ambassador of the cajun culture must set your own standards. Acadian culture was able to survive because of one distinct ability. The ability to adapt.

They had to adapt in Nova Scotia, they had to adapt in exile, and they definitely had to adapt here in Louisiana. They still held on to the things that were important to them and they passed those things on.

Obviously alot of those things have changed e.g., speaking french to speaking english, industry and professional jobs instead of small scale subsistence farming, etc. We adapt, but we still hold dear those things that our grandparents passed down to us.

I think charlie hit the nail on the head. A cajun plays cajun music. Doesnt matter if its on a honer ariette or a L'anse gris # 10. the music comes from his life experience, his love and loss, his memory. I'll leave you with a quote and quit rambling (had to much coffee).

"It's not just the melody or the words that make old time music what it is. It's the memories that go with the music. A tune reminds you of friends you've known, places you been, and good times you've had. It paints a picture in your heart."

-Windy Whitford, fiddle player who played many a house dance in rural Wisconson before dance halls and cars were invinted.

IMHO...You don't draw the line...to do so is stagnation..and an early call to Heaven's waiting room. ! Respect the past, but for goodness sake..just extract your finger and get on with the future.
( I still shake my head at how many baby boomers and tree huggin' clapped out old folkies still live for the past and near forgotten memories..even if those memories are based on imaginary events rather than actual events . It's almost as if they like wallowing in it !). It's human nature I guess..and the ageing process...but it frustrates the #### outa me !
..and I'm a boomer.

...I did a gig last night with 8 other bands playing a Charity benefit. The innovation and sheer electricity of the music was amazing...the energy and talent these mostly younger ( 20 - 40 yo ) musos displayed was inspirational ( all of whom were really decent people who I'm sure respect the past but aren't stupid enough to bog themselves down in it.).
Leave the 'drawing the line' stuff to the volunteer entertainers in the Aged Care Nursing Homes and Retirement facilities..they do a great job but it's where they should be.
Hmmm..think I'll stop now..I can feel my blood pressure rising.

The builders in Quebec have been making inovations like this for years now. Check them out and see!

Pretty simple for me, build what someone asks for. Lines don't work in anything Cajun anymore than label do.

Bryan, Thats exactlly what they did in Quebec and they are building and selling. Keep up the good work. My Post Katrina # 2 will be in Quebec style.

I agree with others that there is no line.

I'll go farther and question the validity of the idea of "tradition". If tradition was the most important thing, we would not even have the Cajun accordion at all. That was a radical innovation that was added at the beginning of the 20th century. It pretty well wiped out what had been "traditional" up until that time; it completely changed the musical landscape. I don't think there was a lot of hand-wringing going on about "Oh no! We're losing our tradition!" Nope, they embraced the accordion and made it their own.

To the extent that there even exists anything that could be called "tradition", where did that designation come from? It certainly did not come from the innovators themselves. They didn't sit down and say to themselves, "Yeah, I'm gonna take this accordion and create Traditional Cajun Music!". Nope, the musicians were probably motivated by the same thing that motivate musicians generally: Money, Pretty Girls, Beer, etc. The designation of "traditional" this or that comes after the fact, from ethno-musicologists and so on - but not from the people actually involved in creating the music in the first place.

Right on, David..well said .

..and perhaps, just perhaps, some traditionalists are making good money out of traditionalism and don't want to, and perhaps don't know how to , innovate. Lack of innovation and the drawing of a line may , at the end of the day, be motivated by an accountant or manager's advice...risk management, I think they call it.

"I don't think there was a lot of hand-wringing going on about "Oh no! We're losing our tradition!" Nope, they embraced the accordion and made it their own."

Actually, the old time fiddlers hated the accordion, limited their "traditional" songs (I always apply labels with a chuckle). The dancers wanted to keep it. Now look where we're at today.

Of course, you are correct about the fiddle players not liking it (Dennis McGee talked about this some, as I recall). But who cares about them? (just kidding)

I left that bit out to simplify the discussion a little. The point remains valid.

It's hard to have traditions in melting gumbo pots.

What has become apparent from this discussion is that "tradition" is dynamic - window on the timeline, lagging just a shade behind the present.

The "gumbo" observation is the element that adds the spice.

Maybe the line is more in the water than the sand.