I drove all the way down from Indianapolis to see my first Ste. Genevieve La Guignolee on New Year's Eve 2005. I'd heard about it years earlier on the PBS River of Song documentary and finally decided to go see it for myself. It was well worth the drive, one of those beautiful, lively cultural experiences that I know I'll never forget.
i just met two fiddlers that will be performing this year at the hotel in ste. gen. they told me a little about it and wanted to learn more, and here i am!
As french people, it's always touchy to ear some people so far away from France who speak our language, especially this old french from brittany, normandy and poitou! Thanks to you! don't give up!
My family is from Old Mines and there was an "Old Mines" version of this recording done by Frank Eschen. On one side of the record, Frank narrates a story of how La Guignolee is celebrated in Old Mines, together with a short history of the community. On the other side, is the song of La Guignolee sung by Old Mines locals, with Ralph Coleman playing the violin and Steve Thebeau acting as the soloist.
It certainly did exist in the west of France. My mother, who was French herself, told me all about the house-to-house visit by hard-up folk, usually kids, who would sing a begging song on New Year's Eve. This would have been in the 1920s and 30s. ("Jh'avons pas d'argent, bounnes gens...")
Yes, he was fluent. He was a french interpreter in WWI. You'll notice, however, that the French in this song is rough at best. That is due to the local German influence over the years. He stuck with the local pronunciation over the proper french for this tradition. Thanks!
If there's anyone who wants the lyrics for this version there is a book about the french folk music of old Vincennes in Indiana, (they spoke paw paw too but called it a different name) that has the sheet music and the lyrics. Si y'a que'qein qui veux les paroles dzu c't'e chanson y'a ein livre qui parle sur la musique de Old Vincennes en indziana (eux-aut'es parlaient l'Français assimine aussite dans l'passé.) For anyone interested, that was written in paw paw french as carrière wrote it.
C'est une trés belle chanson :) j'aimerais tant avoir plus d'information sur ces Creéole de l'Illinois :) Par exemple d'autre chansons traditionnelles :)
Merci :) mais dis moi t es un américain du coup ou bien tu vis en France ? Parce que si tu as de plus ample information sur les Créoles de l'Illinois ça intéresserais :)
Je suis un Américain. Ma famille a déménagé au canada de Normandie dans le 1600's. Puis déménagé à St. louis et Ste. Genevieve, mo dans les années 1700. Je vais essayer de trouver plus d'informations pour vous. Je sais qu'il ya beaucoup de choses.
I found these lyrics online but I think they're a little different from what's being sung. Paroles de la chanson La Guignolée: Bonjour le maître et la maîtresse Et tout le monde de la maison (Bis) Pour le dernier jour de l'année La Guignolée vous nous devez (Bis) Si vous voulez rien nous donner, dites-nous lée On emmènera seulement la fille ainée. (Bis) On lui fera faire bonne chère, On lui fera chauffer les pieds. (Bis) Pn vous demande seulement une chignée, De vingt à trente pieds de long, si vous voulez-e (Bis) La Guignolée, la Guignolée, Mettez du lard dedans nos poches. (Bis)
Sohrab Yassan I'll have to try to locate the lyrics, but I can see that they're slightly different. "Bon soir la maitre et la maitresse, et tout le monde du logis"
I drove all the way down from Indianapolis to see my first Ste. Genevieve La Guignolee on New Year's Eve 2005. I'd heard about it years earlier on the PBS River of Song documentary and finally decided to go see it for myself. It was well worth the drive, one of those beautiful, lively cultural experiences that I know I'll never forget.
i just met two fiddlers that will be performing this year at the hotel in ste. gen.
they told me a little about it and wanted to learn more, and here i am!
As french people, it's always touchy to ear some people so far away from France who speak our language, especially this old french from brittany, normandy and poitou!
Thanks to you! don't give up!
Merci!
I think you mean that it's touching. Touchy means else something like " susceptible ou chatouilleux ou meme peut-etre quelque chose de délicat.
My family is from Old Mines and there was an "Old Mines" version of this recording done by Frank Eschen. On one side of the record, Frank narrates a story of how La Guignolee is celebrated in Old Mines, together with a short history of the community. On the other side, is the song of La Guignolee sung by Old Mines locals, with Ralph Coleman playing the violin and Steve Thebeau acting as the soloist.
Bravo. Cette video est un veritable tresor historique.
Je suis d'accord. Merci!
I remember mom having a picture of Dad, Uncle Manny and Uncle Frank Beauchamp being with the La Guignolee!
Love this post.
I have one with dad in it
Coool! !!!!!
It certainly did exist in the west of France. My mother, who was French herself, told me all about the house-to-house visit by hard-up folk, usually kids, who would sing a begging song on New Year's Eve. This would have been in the 1920s and 30s. ("Jh'avons pas d'argent, bounnes gens...")
Bonjour Roland, puis-je vous demander dans quelle région précisément ?
Yes, he was fluent. He was a french interpreter in WWI. You'll notice, however, that the French in this song is rough at best. That is due to the local German influence over the years. He stuck with the local pronunciation over the proper french for this tradition. Thanks!
If there's anyone who wants the lyrics for this version there is a book about the french folk music of old Vincennes in Indiana, (they spoke paw paw too but called it a different name) that has the sheet music and the lyrics.
Si y'a que'qein qui veux les paroles dzu c't'e chanson y'a ein livre qui parle sur la musique de Old Vincennes en indziana (eux-aut'es parlaient l'Français assimine aussite dans l'passé.)
For anyone interested, that was written in paw paw french as carrière wrote it.
Hello :)
I'm a french and i'm very interesting to have the lyrics of this song and other if possible :)
Contact me the quickiest you could :)
C'est une trés belle chanson :) j'aimerais tant avoir plus d'information sur ces Creéole de l'Illinois :) Par exemple d'autre chansons traditionnelles :)
Merci, Cyriel! C'est la seule chanson traditionnelle que je connaisse, mais je suis sûr qu'il y en a d'autres. Je vais faire de la recherche
Merci :) mais dis moi t es un américain du coup ou bien tu vis en France ? Parce que si tu as de plus ample information sur les Créoles de l'Illinois ça intéresserais :)
Je suis un Américain. Ma famille a déménagé au canada de Normandie dans le 1600's. Puis déménagé à St. louis et Ste. Genevieve, mo dans les années 1700. Je vais essayer de trouver plus d'informations pour vous. Je sais qu'il ya beaucoup de choses.
Un livre: www.goodreads.com/book/show/2782147-the-story-of-old-ste-genevieve
L'histoire de ta famille est vraiment intéressante :)
on peut dire que tu es le gardien d'une culture :)
Moi aussi mes ancêtres ont émigré
Fascinating, it reminds me of cajun mardi gras. Did your grandfather speak french?
Yes, he was fluent (was a French interpreter in WW1)
Hank Williams, 29 years young.
if we are thinking of the same person, i miss him too.
he was a great friend.
I found these lyrics online but I think they're a little different from what's being sung.
Paroles de la chanson La Guignolée:
Bonjour le maître et la maîtresse
Et tout le monde de la maison (Bis)
Pour le dernier jour de l'année
La Guignolée vous nous devez (Bis)
Si vous voulez rien nous donner, dites-nous lée
On emmènera seulement la fille ainée. (Bis)
On lui fera faire bonne chère,
On lui fera chauffer les pieds. (Bis)
Pn vous demande seulement une chignée,
De vingt à trente pieds de long, si vous voulez-e (Bis)
La Guignolée, la Guignolée,
Mettez du lard dedans nos poches. (Bis)
Sohrab Yassan I'll have to try to locate the lyrics, but I can see that they're slightly different. "Bon soir la maitre et la maitresse, et tout le monde du logis"