Varise Conner (October 21, 1906 – June 19, 1994)
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 81. was a
Cajun
The Cajuns (; French: ''les Cadjins'' or ''les Cadiens'' ), also known as Louisiana ''Acadians'' (French: ''les Acadiens''), are a Louisiana French ethnicity mainly found in the US state of Louisiana and surrounding Gulf Coast states.
Whi ...
fiddler
A fiddle is a bowed string musical instrument, most often a violin or a bass. It is a colloquial term for the violin, used by players in all genres, including classical music. Although in many cases violins and fiddles are essentially syno ...
born in
Lake Arthur, Louisiana
Lake Arthur is a town in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,738 at the 2010 census, down from 3,007 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jennings Micropolitan Statistical Area. The current mayor is Sampso ...
.
[ Brasseaux, p. 6.] His works and personality has inspired many prominent Cajun musicians.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 85.
History
He was the son of Arsen and Emma Granger Conner.
[ Laudun & Mouton, p. 1.] He was a third generation fiddler: his grandfather, Octave Conner, was also a fiddler.
His ancestry can be traced to Ireland, when William Conner immigrated to Louisiana in the mid 18th century and to the French Acadians who arrived in Louisiana in the 1750s from what is now Nova Scotia.
He started to play the fiddle at the age of 9. His father bought him a copy of a 1713
Stradivarius
A Stradivarius is one of the string instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, and guitars, crafted by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari (Latin: Antonius Stradivarius), in Cremona, Italy, during the late 17th ...
violin. He then started to play with his brothers Murphy and Valsin.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 82. Soon after forming a family string band known as The Conner Boys, they were playing local dance halls. Conner is known for the Lake Arthur Stomp, which was originally called the Lake Arthur Two-Step.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 83. It was renamed, because so many people would stomp their feet.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 83. In 1935, Conner quit playing in the dance halls for a share in the gate proceeds. Because of the Depression, few could pay to go into the dance halls and he wouldn't play for free.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 84. At the insistence of his daughter, Ethyl, who purchased a new bow for him, Conner resumed playing fiddle in 1956.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 84. Soon, he was playing at local festivals and concerts although he most often played at his home or at the homes of friends and fellow musicians.
Legacy
Conner has inspired artists such as
Michael Doucet
Michael Louis Doucet (born February 14, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and musician best known as the founder of the Cajun band BeauSoleil.
Early life
Doucet was born in Scott, Louisiana, to a Cajun family. Family parties in the 1950s ...
and Ken Smith.
Yule
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that was incorporated into Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. In present times adherents of some new religious movements (such as Modern ...
, p. 85. He was noted for his smooth and light tone on the violin.
Dewey Balfa
Dewey Balfa (March 20, 1927 – June 17, 1992) was an American Cajun fiddler and singer who contributed significantly to the popularity of Cajun music. Balfa was born near Mamou, Louisiana. He is perhaps best known for his 1964 performance at the ...
admired his smooth bowing and his ability to play the higher register.
[ Greely, p. 20] Conner has been featured at the Tribute to Cajun Music Festival in Lafayette. Also, a series of recordings from
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette, University of Louisiana, ULL, or UL) is a Public university, public research university in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States. It has the largest enrollment within the nine-campus Universi ...
has been released on Louisiana Crossroad Records.
See also
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List of Notable People Related to Cajun Music
This is a list of notable Cajun musicians, Cajun music instrument makers, Cajun music folklorists, Cajun music historians, and Cajun music activists.
List of Cajun musicians
This is a list of musicians who perform or performed Cajun music. T ...
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Conner, Varise
1906 births
1994 deaths
People from Lake Arthur, Louisiana
Cajun fiddlers
Musicians from Louisiana
20th-century American violinists