Mtngoat - Posted - 12/31/2021:  06:29:58

TOTW  12-31-21 - Jai Passe Devant ta Porte

I’ve chosen Jai Passe Devant ta Porte for this installment of TOTW.   The Traditional Tune Archive notes the tune is a “very popular old Cajun song expressing grief at the unexpected death of a loved one.  It is a much loved waltz that is an essential part of many Cajun musicians' repertoires.  Raymond Francois (1990) relates that his father remembered the song being played at the time the Titanic sank, though the tune predated that disaster.”  The tune is also known as Mon Coeur T'appelle and has been recorded under both titles.

This is another tune that I learned at the request of a dance caller who would sing the lyrics during the performance.  Playing in a working band has expanded my repertoire beyond Old Time and has been a rewarding experience.

I’ve linked some performances below.

A 1934 Alan Lomax field recording is here:   lomax1934.com/jai-passeacute-d...orte.html

Here’s the powerful classic recording by Joseph Falcone and Cleoma Breaux.    I like the booming guitar:

youtube.com/watch?v=84Re7ES11ko

D. L. Menard:  youtube.com/watch?v=zSSQnA6JZEo

The Balfa Brotheres:  youtube.com/watch?v=DtchvhughFw

Here’s a recent rendition by the South Carolina Broadcasters:  youtube.com/watch?v=8yr3oVQTrSc

Here’s an accordion version.  Thanks to this video I now know how an accordion works:  youtube.com/watch?v=BSMo-D_Iphg

Here’s a fiddle version:  youtube.com/watch?v=-TsyaZF2-Ao

Here’s a write up from the Banjo Newsletter:  banjonews.com/2011-04/cajun_banjo.html

I could not find a clawhammer tab for the tune but here’s standard musical notation with lyrics.

theredcedar.files.wordpress.co...yrics.gif

Viewers are encouraged to post observations, opinions, performances, and tabs contributing to this thread.

Edited by - Mtngoat on 12/31/2021 06:32:20

jduke - Posted - 12/31/2021:  06:54:56

Mtngoat, Thank you, this is a neat tune that I look forward to working up clawhammer style or maybe on tenor guitar.

But mostly, what I want to say is thanks to all who submit tunes each week and to JanetB and her predecessors who have kept TOTW going and archived. I did post a TOTW years ago but my list is limited to the more common jam tunes, which are already covered. Thank you all for keeping this going.

Jeff

JanetB - Posted - 12/31/2021:  11:30:40

We're grateful to you, Mtngoat, for consistently introducing us to good old-time and traditional tunes. Jai Passe Devant ta Porte wasn't too difficult to learn. I made one change in the tab when my left hand made squeaky noises in measure 13. In waltz time it was easy to change to the use of thumb on a downbeat instead of using the first string, fifth fret.



Cajun music seems to me to be in the wider genre of Americana music. It adds to the overall flavor of our old-time genre, too, and is very similar.



Happy New Year! Thanks, Jeff, for the pat on the back. May we have more volunteers step up to present Tunes of the Week!

Edited by - JanetB on 12/31/2021 11:41:36

Jai Passe Devant ta Porte (TOTW)

Jai Passe Devant ta Porte (CH) tab

Mtngoat - Posted - 01/02/2022:  07:31:03

Jeff, Yes the Old Time community owes a big debt to Janet and the previous TOTW week coordinators. Those 700 archived write-ups are a tremendous resource for everyone not just banjoists.

It would be great to hear your tenor guitar version if you get a chance to post it.

Janet, Back before Covid I used to give workshops at festivals. One was An Introduction to Clawhammer Waltzes for beginning and intermediate players wishing to explore 3/4 time. I used simple arrangements of Peeler Creek Waltz and The Blackest Crow to demonstrate basic techniques and ingrain the rhythm in my student's heads. If things ever return to normal I might add Jai Passe Devant ta Porte to the mix.

Thanks for your contribution.