Jazz funeral is a common name for a funeral tradition with music which developed in New Orleans, Louisiana. Drummers at the funeral of jazz legend Danny BarkerThe term "jazz funeral" was long in use by observers from elsewhere, but was generally disdained as inappropriate by most New Orleans musicians and practitioners of the tradition. The preferred description was "funeral with music"; while jazz was part of the music played, it was not the primary focus of the ceremony. The tradition arises from African spiritual practices, French and Spanish martial musical traditions, and uniquely African-American cultural influences. The tradition was widespread among New Orleanians across ethnic boundaries at the start of the 20th century. As the common brass band music became wilder in the years before World War I, some "white" New Orleanians considered the hot music disrespectful, and such musical funerals became rare among the city's caucasians.
Jazz Funerals in New Orleans
By Jeffrey Meier
In the past few years, Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular has been in the media due to issues related to Hurricane Katrina. Many people have been displaced from their homes for years and are still trying to recover emotionally and physically from the traumatic natural disaster that took the lives of over one thousand people and left many more jobless and homeless. However, before the events of the fateful hurricane took place, there stood a city that exuded music, culture and life. New Orleans residents had diverse cultural backgrounds from places including the Cuba, Sicily France, and West Africa. And the diversity showed in the way they celebrated life - and death - on a regular basis. In the New Orleans African American community in particular, it was very common for the celebration of death to be as uplifting as the celebration of life. So in this article I will explore the phenomena known as jazz funerals in New Orleans.
Photo: lesliehawes.com
New Orleans' Cultural Backgrounds and Traditions
Often compared to Europe more so than any other city in the United States, New Orleans definitely beats to its own drum - literally - and engulfs anyone who visits immediately with its intoxicating charm and southern hospitality. This community in southern Louisiana is very famous for its cultural diversity. In one area, you may find a group of Italians and a few Greeks, and in another area, you might find a few African-Americans and French Creoles. The reason for this diversity is due to its interesting history.
This city is the place that free and enslaved Africans, as well as Native American Indian and European settlers blended together, which resulted in what we know as a French Creole culture where the people are primarily considered to be black because of their physical traits, but often have very fair skin. The original members of each culture still remain also, in addition to Sicilian, Italian, Croatian, Irish, Jewish and Spanish cultures, to make a very diverse melting pot.
With the emergence of unique cultural backgrounds came a diverse array of cultural traditions to follow. Some traditions were derived from the tribal rituals of West Africa, from where the slaves were taken, as well as that of American Indians. Essentially, the city adopted a variety of cultural rights, many of which still exist today.
New Orleans Jazz Funerals
One of the cultural rites that the city has adopted is the jazz funeral of African American culture. Originating from West African tradition, jazz funerals have been a part of New Orleans for as long as it has been a city. The West African slaves who were brought to the city centuries ago brought the tradition with them as they had practiced the same ritual of celebrating life and death through music, dancing and decorations in their tribes. The Dahomeans of Benin and Yoruba of Nigeria both believed in providing a proper funerals for loved ones, which included music during the procession. Their now American ancestors continued the tradition by incorporating what was contemporary music at the time - brass bands. This tradition of brass bands is still popular and is, for most, the preferred way to lead a procession.
The proceedings for traditional jazz funerals are as follows. First, a band meets at the church or the funeral parlor where the actual services are conducted. Once the family has a chance to say their goodbyes the way many people around the country can identify with, they then close the casket and call the pall bearers to lift the body. For many who have attended funerals, they know that this is the time that the casket is taken to the hearse to then drive the deceased to the funeral home for the burial and final goodbyes. However, in the tradition of jazz funerals, when the services end, the jazz band leads the procession out of the building and slowly walks through the neighborhood and to the gravesite playing solemn musical selections from Christian hymns. Also, it is not uncommon to see a black wreath hanging from the door of the home of the deceased.
Once the band reaches the gravesite, the family participates in the burial process and then the band leads the procession from the gravesite silently. When everyone reaches a distance from the gravesite that respects the deceased, the lead trumpeter plays a riff to let the drummers know to begin drumming. Then the band begins to play again, this time in exuberance to celebrate the successful home-going of the deceased. At this time, the family and friends of the deceased begin to pull out their decorated umbrellas and dance in the streets as they return to home. As they move through the streets dancing to the music, many people hear the sounds and know a celebration is coming. As the procession reaches their area they often come out and help the family celebrate the home-going of their loved one.
Post-Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina ravished so much of New Orleans, it became difficult for many funeral homes to stay in business. In addition to losing many of its building structures to the storm, New Orleans also lost much of its African American community. Many of the people who lived in the area were forced to relocate to another city, or even state, which means many of the businesses suffered - including the funeral homes. Currently, the businesses are trying to rebuild, but with subcontractors coming in to take over funerals after the storms, it became difficult for the funeral home owners to bounce back.
By losing its jazz funerals, New Orleans loses much more than business, it loses culture. The absence of music playing and parades moving through the neighborhoods leaves a void in the once vibrant community that not only knew how to celebrate life, but also death. Many businesses are trying to regain their spot in the city that they and their ancestors helped build and flourish. And overtime, many hope that there will be a strong resurgence of jazz funerals to maintain and strengthen an authentically culture-rich community.
Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com/ blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.
Jazz Funerals in New Orleans
By Jeffrey Meier
In the past few years, Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular has been in the media due to issues related to Hurricane Katrina. Many people have been displaced from their homes for years and are still trying to recover emotionally and physically from the traumatic natural disaster that took the lives of over one thousand people and left many more jobless and homeless. However, before the events of the fateful hurricane took place, there stood a city that exuded music, culture and life. New Orleans residents had diverse cultural backgrounds from places including the Cuba, Sicily France, and West Africa. And the diversity showed in the way they celebrated life - and death - on a regular basis. In the New Orleans African American community in particular, it was very common for the celebration of death to be as uplifting as the celebration of life. So in this article I will explore the phenomena known as jazz funerals in New Orleans.
Photo: lesliehawes.com
New Orleans' Cultural Backgrounds and Traditions
Often compared to Europe more so than any other city in the United States, New Orleans definitely beats to its own drum - literally - and engulfs anyone who visits immediately with its intoxicating charm and southern hospitality. This community in southern Louisiana is very famous for its cultural diversity. In one area, you may find a group of Italians and a few Greeks, and in another area, you might find a few African-Americans and French Creoles. The reason for this diversity is due to its interesting history.
This city is the place that free and enslaved Africans, as well as Native American Indian and European settlers blended together, which resulted in what we know as a French Creole culture where the people are primarily considered to be black because of their physical traits, but often have very fair skin. The original members of each culture still remain also, in addition to Sicilian, Italian, Croatian, Irish, Jewish and Spanish cultures, to make a very diverse melting pot.
With the emergence of unique cultural backgrounds came a diverse array of cultural traditions to follow. Some traditions were derived from the tribal rituals of West Africa, from where the slaves were taken, as well as that of American Indians. Essentially, the city adopted a variety of cultural rights, many of which still exist today.
New Orleans Jazz Funerals
One of the cultural rites that the city has adopted is the jazz funeral of African American culture. Originating from West African tradition, jazz funerals have been a part of New Orleans for as long as it has been a city. The West African slaves who were brought to the city centuries ago brought the tradition with them as they had practiced the same ritual of celebrating life and death through music, dancing and decorations in their tribes. The Dahomeans of Benin and Yoruba of Nigeria both believed in providing a proper funerals for loved ones, which included music during the procession. Their now American ancestors continued the tradition by incorporating what was contemporary music at the time - brass bands. This tradition of brass bands is still popular and is, for most, the preferred way to lead a procession.
The proceedings for traditional jazz funerals are as follows. First, a band meets at the church or the funeral parlor where the actual services are conducted. Once the family has a chance to say their goodbyes the way many people around the country can identify with, they then close the casket and call the pall bearers to lift the body. For many who have attended funerals, they know that this is the time that the casket is taken to the hearse to then drive the deceased to the funeral home for the burial and final goodbyes. However, in the tradition of jazz funerals, when the services end, the jazz band leads the procession out of the building and slowly walks through the neighborhood and to the gravesite playing solemn musical selections from Christian hymns. Also, it is not uncommon to see a black wreath hanging from the door of the home of the deceased.
Once the band reaches the gravesite, the family participates in the burial process and then the band leads the procession from the gravesite silently. When everyone reaches a distance from the gravesite that respects the deceased, the lead trumpeter plays a riff to let the drummers know to begin drumming. Then the band begins to play again, this time in exuberance to celebrate the successful home-going of the deceased. At this time, the family and friends of the deceased begin to pull out their decorated umbrellas and dance in the streets as they return to home. As they move through the streets dancing to the music, many people hear the sounds and know a celebration is coming. As the procession reaches their area they often come out and help the family celebrate the home-going of their loved one.
Post-Hurricane Katrina
After Hurricane Katrina ravished so much of New Orleans, it became difficult for many funeral homes to stay in business. In addition to losing many of its building structures to the storm, New Orleans also lost much of its African American community. Many of the people who lived in the area were forced to relocate to another city, or even state, which means many of the businesses suffered - including the funeral homes. Currently, the businesses are trying to rebuild, but with subcontractors coming in to take over funerals after the storms, it became difficult for the funeral home owners to bounce back.
By losing its jazz funerals, New Orleans loses much more than business, it loses culture. The absence of music playing and parades moving through the neighborhoods leaves a void in the once vibrant community that not only knew how to celebrate life, but also death. Many businesses are trying to regain their spot in the city that they and their ancestors helped build and flourish. And overtime, many hope that there will be a strong resurgence of jazz funerals to maintain and strengthen an authentically culture-rich community.
Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com/ blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.
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