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Handmade Cajun Accordion, Pt. 1: Reed-Mounts Deep in the Louisiana prairie, accordion maker Marc Savoy begins the journey in the construction of a Cajun accordion. From "Handmade Music" episode DHMM-308

(Continued from page 4)

The Sound of a Culture

The origins of the Cajun accordion actually go back to the 1850s when German immigrants introduced it to southern Louisiana. The instrument caught on and has remained a signature part of the sound in the music of the region.

This accordion, a Sterling, was built in Germany. . .

but this type of instrument has been played in Louisiana since the early 1900s.

	For Marc Savoy, hearing the sound an accordion as a young boy was a personal epiphany.

"I first heard the [music of] the accordion coming across the rice field," says Marc Savoy, "I asked my father what that was, and he said it was the accordion. One day I finally got to see an accordion, and the minute I saw this thing, I fell in love with it, you know. I fell in love with the sound of it. It did something to me. I can't really describe it; it's almost like a spiritual happening. It had a soothing effect upon me that I thought was real pleasing. All I wanted to do was hear more of that accordion."

Handmade Cajun accordions, featuring some variations in construction from their European counterparts, were being created by instrument makers in Louisiana by the 1950s.

Marc Savoy eventually became one of those makers and, in fact, was instrumental in the evolution the Cajun accordion, being the first to introduce fine Italian-made reeds rather than the cheap, inferior ones that had been used up to that time. To this day, Marc still uses those same type of reeds in all of the accordions he builds.

But historically not all musicians, even in Cajun country, have shared Savoy's love for the instrument. And that's putting it politely. "I can very well remember the old people like my grandpa, who played fiddle," says Savoy, "They hated the accordion. I think the main reason they disliked it so much was because the volume was so intense, so much greater than the fiddle. Also [because of] the accordion's diatonic scale. . .For those reasons, some of the old-timers just despised the accordion."

Purists and old-timers notwithstanding, the instrument ultimately became an integral and recognizable part of the Cajun sound.

"What was great about it was the fact that it was such a noisy instrument," Savoy continues, "The Cajuns have never been a very quiet people. I remember when I was a kid, my father would put on house dances. . .and there was the biggest racket in there. Man! People would stomp their feet, and holler and scream and laugh, and they were very boisterous, you know? I guess with that, the accordion had this amazing volume that could overcome all of this noise. Plus it had a bass accompanying side and chord side--so one man, by himself, with an accordion could make a lot more music than just a couple of fiddles, or even three fiddles."

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The Savoy Family Band

The Family That Plays Together

In a jam session, playing the Cajun tune "Hey, Mom!", the Savoy Family Band--featuring Marc, Ann, Joel and Wilson Savoy-- offer a reminder of why the effort to build accordions is worth so much of Marc Savoy's time. It's the music.

And around Eunice, Louisiana, Cajun and Zydeco is the music you're likely to hear. The accordion remains a vital sound in the musical traditions of this culturally rich region of the country.

In the next installment of this series, Marc Savoy continues building his handmade accordion, constructing the keyboard and its various elements.

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RESOURCES :

Savoy Music Center
Highway 190 E
Eunice, LA 70535
www.savoymusiccenter.com

KBON, FM 101.1
Eunice, LA 70535
www.kbon.com

GUESTS :

Marc Savoy, proprietor
Savoy Music Center
Highway 190 E
Eunice, LA 70535
www.savoymusiccenter.com