Zydeco Zephyr

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Contrabass, Piano — Zydeco Zephyr combines elements of zydeco and bluegrass. Zydeco is a combination of many styles including Cajun, blues, and rock, and is known for its use of accordion, fiddle, and washboard. The first section of Zydeco Zephyr is influenced by doo-wop, a style zydeco musician Clifton Chenier used in his songs. The cellos introduce the second section with a “train” groove in m. 27. A solo section offers students the opportunity to improvise using a D mixolydian mode (D, E, F≥, G, A, B, C, D), and a sample solo is provided. This piece uses straighteighths (no swing!) and should be performed with a great deal of energy. Who knows, you may just make people in the audience get up and dance!Suggested listening: Clifton Chenier, King of the Bayous on Arhoolie Records. Matt Turner's impressive list of award-winning compositions will just keep growing as he adds pieces like this to his repertoire! Zydeco Zephyr starts out with some boogie-woogie and then moves to a fiddling style in the second half. Not only can you hear the train within the music, but this work also includes an opportunity for a soloist to improvise. An example solo is provided, but this is a great way to get your kids to express themselves musically.

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