Columbus Gets a Taste of Cajun
by Erin Phelan
The gulf coast has certainly seen its fair share of tragedy over the past few years. From the devastating hurricanes in 2005 to the immense destruction of the recent oil spills, the people of the coastal regions continue to face a tough road of clean up and rebuilding. And they do it with a spirit and strength that I can only begin to wish I had. Where do these instincts come from? Strong roots in family and community? Sure. But I also believe that they derive a lot of their courage and perseverance from their history and culture.
Cajun. A word that evokes images of Mardi Gras celebrations, jambalaya and of course, the lively, at times uplifting and at times sorrowful music that has been at the root of Louisiana culture since the Acadians were exiled from eastern Canada in 1750.
Every culture has its musical champions; those who believe in the importance of preserving their distinct musical language. Cajun music has fiddle player Michael Doucet and BeauSoleil. Doucet’s story is fascinating. Growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, Doucet began to notice that as the older generation died, so did the culture that they carried with them. After college, Doucet toured France with his then group, the Bayou Drifters – a trip that ended up lasting six months. Doucet admits, “When I came back, my duty was to bring this music back to the younger generation because it was so vastly disappearing.”
Doucet started BeauSoleil in 1975. Eleven Grammy nominations and three awards later, the band still does what it does best – infuse traditional Cajun melodies with contemporary elements which ultimately creates a timeless homage to a very special piece of Southern culture.
Preserving culture is also important to CityMusic – a local non-profit arts organization that has presented both a classical Chamber Music and World Music series in Columbus for the past 27 years. For us, it goes beyond the idea of the traditional arts notion of high culture. We connect people to their heritage and open the doors of the world to the community. Our concerts are meant to be interactive and relaxed. Ensembles are encouraged to talk about their music, their inspiration and their worlds.
Cajun. A word that evokes images of Mardi Gras celebrations, jambalaya, and of course, the lively, at times uplifting and at times sorrowful music that has been at the root of this culture for centuries.
The CityMusic 2010-2011 World Music Series kicks off on Wednesday, Sep 15 with a performance by BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet. The concert will take place at the Lincoln Theatre and will begin at 8p. General admission tickets are $26 (adults), $21 (students) and $11 (seniors) and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, the CAPA box office, or by calling 614.223.3093. For more information about all things CityMusic visit www.citymusiccolumbus.org. Erin Phelan is Executive Director of CityMusic a member organization of the Columbus Arts Marketing Association. For more information, visit www.camaonline.org.
