Le Soleil de Santa Rosa

Le Soleil de Santa Rosa, the second traditional French ensemble to hit the California folk music scene (ca. 1980), was a good-time-music folk band with a pronounced South-Central French accent. We listened to old recordings of Martin Cayla's Auvergnat "orchestra" and to other groups such as Perlinpinpin Fòlc, and were inspired to grab cabrette (typical bellows-blown bagpipe of the Auvergne region), diatonic button accordion, vielle à roue (hurdy-gurdy), concertina, and guitarra and form a group of our own.

Cassette Track Sound Sample - Lo Cruzado (830k mp3)

While you're waiting for the sound file to download, you can take a look at the tape box insert and read a description of our second tape, "Bal Folk en Californie."

Note: Our hurdy-gurdy frog logo was done by Jeff Reynolds

Tape Box Insert

This is Le Soleil's second recording featuring traditional dance music from various regions of France. The regions covered include the old provences of Berry, Auvergne, Gascogne and Alsace. Some of the tunes are listed by title, and some by the names of the special dances that are associated with them. We consulted folk dance teacher Marilyn Smith in selecting tunes that would fit the regional idiom of the French dances that she taught. The tunes are played at the proper tempos and are of sufficient length to complete each dance. Although this is primarily a dance tape, the casual listener will enjoy it also. Some of the tunes featured on this tape are recorded here for the very first time.

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