MARCHING ON

Exoticism in Our Back Yard

A little bit south of Shreveport Louisiana and a little bit east of Beaumont Texas, an area of this country that is one of the most mysterious and exotic places to explore exists and that is the home of the Cajuns in southern Louisiana.  When one thinks of “Cajun Country”, you naturally start to think about New Orleans.  And to be sure, that great city, despite the devastating damage done by the hurricane last year, is home to some of the richest Cajun culture of the area.

But New Orleans is not the only location you can become lost in the charms of this fascinating subset of American culture.  The Cajun world is indeed a culture all its own.  As you listen to the way the natives of this world talk, you will start to realize that somehow right here within the borders of the good old USA, a virtual other world has grown up and thrived for these many decades and centuries.

The history of the arrival of the Cajuns to southern Louisiana is a great American story that is seldom told or understood.  But it all started in far away Canada when an influx of the French culture encountered discrimination and hostility in that northern part of the world.  When the Canadian “hosts” proved to be most ungracious, these French immigrants were “deported” and their ships finally came to rest in the wild regions of southern Louisiana long before this area was civilized and organized into a state.  Over the decades the combination of French, Creole, Spanish, and Indian and African culture resulted in this rich amalgam that we now know as “Cajun”.

The Cajun people will seem strange and peculiar to those of us used to what is normal to American standards.  But let yourself be swept away to this exotic world right here in America and you too will find yourself slowly adapting to the Cajun lifestyle and point of view.  You will find that the Cajun and Creole cultures are profoundly friendly and there is no day that is not a good day for a party in Cajun Country.  In fact, Cajuns celebrate everything that is worth celebrating including funerals as they send off their dearly departed with a rousing jazz band and relatives laughing and making joy to the tune of When the Saints Go Marching In.

No review of the great things of the Cajun culture is complete without a mention of the great food.  Get your tummy ready for some of the most exotic and stimulating foods you are ever likely to enjoy as you settle in to a local diner in the heart of southern Louisiana.  The Gumbo and other uniquely Cajun dishes will sizzle the mouth and set your tummy to tingling as well.  But don’t panic when it seems your digestive system is on fire.  When those potent spices take hold in your blood, you will enjoy the best night of sleep that you can remember.

You should come out of your sightseeing trip to Cajun country with a new sound in your ears as well because the Cajun beats are unlike anything you have ever heard before.  It isn’t country, it isn’t blues, it isn’t completely jazz and it isn’t bluegrass.  It is all of those things and so much more.  So if you are pushing back from the table after a big helping of fried crawdad and alligator tail, if the locals ask you if you want to stay for the party, tell them yes so you can become immersed in the great Cajun music that can only be had here in Cajun country.

One of the great things about sightseeing in America is that every area of the country has its own unique flavor and culture for all of us to enjoy.  And Louisiana certainly has one of the richest and most diverse cultures that has grown up in the swamps around Baton Rouge and New Orleans.  Giving yourself to the chance to experience these rich cultures is just as broadening as travel to Europe, Asia or Africa.  And it’s a whole lot closer.

About the Author

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Hawkeye Marching Band Pregame during Ohio State game

Sacramento State Marching Band $95.59 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Sacramento State Marching Band, known as the The Spirit of Sacramento, and sometimes informally known as the Sac State Band, Sac Band or SSMB, is the official marching band at California State University, Sacramento. The Band was formed in 1958 as the Sacramento State Marching Musicians. To this day the band performs at all home football games and various away games during the football season. The Band also functions as the defacto student cheering section at athletic events. The Band also is present every year during The Causeway Classic against archrival UC Davis. The band motto: Without Us, Its Just A Game , was adopted in 1996. In 2008, Dr. Clay Redfield, 84, became the newest director of the band. He is the first alumnus to ever lead the band. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 142 Publication Date: 2010/08/10 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.33 inches

Marching Band $70.1 Marching band. Rehearsal, Bands of America, Brass band, Color guard (flag spinning), Drum and bugle corps (classic), Drum and bugle corps (modern), Drum major, Marching percussion, Military band, Scramble band, United States Scholastic Band Association,Ottoman military band. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 100 Publication Date: 2010/08/02 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.23 inches

Waconia Marching Band $76.47 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Waconia Marching Band, based out of Waconia, Minnesota, is a class AAAA youth Marching band that competes at the high school level. It represents Minnesota school district 110.The Waconia marching band was founded in 1972. Their first official performance was in 1973. Now in its 37th year of Marching, the Waconia marching band is regarded as one of the best marching bands in Minnesota.In 1982, the Waconia Marching Band was the first marching band to play inside the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It turns out NFL teams can only invite a high school band to do a half time show once, though the Minnesota Vikings invited Waconia back four times. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 116 Publication Date: 2010/06/29 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.27 inches

University of California Marching Band $87.62 Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The University of California Marching Band, usually shortened to Cal Band, is the marching band for the University of California, Berkeley. While the Cal Band is studentrun, it is administered under the auspices of the university and represents Cal at sporting events and social gatherings. The name of the band is The University of California Band by the constitution, but is typically called The University of California Marching Band or The Cal Band. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 120 Publication Date: 2011/04/01 Language: English Dimensions: 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.28 inches

The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band $92.4 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band, known as The Pride, is the student marching band for the University of Oklahoma Sooners. The Pride was founded in 1901 as a pep band to play at Sooner football games. In the early years, the band was composed mostly of Norman residents and was disbanded every year after football season. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 130 Publication Date: 2010/09/13 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.31 inches

Yale Precision Marching Band $81.25 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Yale Precision Marching Band (affectionately known as the YPMB) is the official marching band of Yale University. It is a scatter band (what some peers might call a scramble band ), as distinct from university marching bands that emphasize precise movements and geometric field formations. Band members refer to themselves as The Members of, which is derived from their introduction at Yale events. The repertoire of the YPMB is constantly evolving, driven by student arrangers and pop music trends. Besides standard types of band instruments, the YPMB includes violins, bagpipes, accordions, keyboards and air guitars, and was the first scatter band to incorporate electric guitars. The YPMBs Squids section creates large cardboard props for halftime shows. The Squids evolved from the Appoges (pronounced p od z, after appoggiatura, a grace note) of the 1980s and 1990s, who handled props but also carried their own instruments (frisbees, stuffed giraffes, lounge chairs). Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 114 Publication Date: 2010/07/31 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.27 inches

Virtual Economy $87.62 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles A virtual economy (or sometimes synthetic economy) is an emergent economy existing in a virtual persistent world, usually exchanging virtual goods in the context of an Internet game. People enter these virtual economies for recreation and entertainment rather than necessity, which means that virtual economies lack the aspects of a real economy that are not considered to be fun (for instance, players in a virtual economy often do not need to buy food in order to survive, and usually do not have any biological needs at all). Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 136 Publication Date: 2010/06/23 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.31 inches

Alfred Publishing 0026524 Marching Fundamentals $38.12 Geared for incoming freshmen this DVD explains and demonstrates marching basics and familiarizes the student with all standard marching commands and positions. Can be used as a selfstudy aid.Contributors: By Greg MartinInstrument: Marching BandFormat: DVDCategory: Marching Band DVD

University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band $93.99 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, or Pitt Band, is the college marching band at the University of Pittsburgh. The band includes over 200 instrumentalists, a majorette squad known as the Golden Girls, a color guard, and the University of Pittsburgh drumline. The band was founded in 1911 and has won numerous awards over the years. All members of the band must pass an audition in order to join. The band is currently housed in Trees Hall, however Pitt is in the process of building a new marching band facility. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 132 Publication Date: 2010/12/09 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.31 inches

The Ohio State University Marching Band $70.1 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Ohio State University Marching Band (often called The Best Damn Band in the Land or TBDBITL) is one of the few allbrass and percussion bands in the country, the largest of its type in the world. Military training was an important part of the early curriculum at Ohio State, and a band was formed to provide music for the cadets to drill to. The first appearance of the OSU marching band was in 1896. Gustav Bruder, a professional musician with military band experience, was hired to lead the band. Under Bruder, the band grew in size and began playing and marching for all military and athletic events. The OSUMB grew over the years, from 100 members in 1920 to 225 members today. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 80 Publication Date: 2010/08/14 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.19 inches

Cornell Big Red Marching Band $60.54 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The Cornell Big Red Marching Band is the only traditional marching band (as opposed to a scatter band) in the Ivy League. It performs at all home, and most away, Cornell Football Games. In addition, the band has performed at half time for numerous National Football League and Canadian Football League games, and began a tradition of an annual Spring Concert in 2006. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 64 Publication Date: 2010/12/22 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.15 inches

University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band $82.85 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles The University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (UMMB) is the marching band for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The band currently has about 352 members and was directed by George N. Parks from 1977 until his sudden death in September 2010. Assistant Thomas Hannum has been named interim director, assisted by Michael Klesch and Frederick Omega Pye. The Minuteman Band plays halftime and postgame shows at all home football games and frequently travels to away games. The band has also performed at Bands of America in 1993, 2001, 2004 and 2007. In 1998, the Minuteman Marching Band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy, the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a collegiate marching band. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 108 Publication Date: 2010/12/07 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.26 inches

Virtual Crime $66.91 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Virtual crime or ingame crime refers to a virtual criminal act that takes place in a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG), usually an MMORPG. The huge time and effort invested into such games can lead online crime to spill over into real world crime, and even blur the distinctions between the two. Some countries have introduced special police investigation units to cover such virtual crimes. South Korea is one such country and looked into 22,000 cases in the first six months of 2003. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Timpledon, Miriam T./ Marseken, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 88 Publication Date: 2010/06/23 Language: English Dimensions: 5.98 x 9.01 x 0.21 inches

Rhythm Band Instruments RB911 Marching Drum $33.08 The Rhythm Band marching drum delivers percussive sound that children will find enchanting. Rhythm Band includes rubber safety springs a pair of drum sticks and a head of durable Melinex plastic with the kidsized drum.

University of Montana Grizzly Marching Band $78.07 Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The University of Montana Grizzly Marching Band is a select, fun and closeknit group of hardworking, dedicated students. The band is open to everyone on the UM campus regardless of year or major. In fact, it has members of the band from virtually every major and discipline on campus and from almost every corner of the United States and around the world. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 84 Publication Date: 2011/05/19 Language: English Dimensions: 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.20 inches