As Maxson stated, “Jazz funerals offer a way of understanding the psychological and physical pain of bereavement in New Orleans and provide a model for the regeneration of the city and its people’s spirits.” The practice of jazz funerals is one that has lasted the test of time and remains a major part of New Orleans’ Black culture today.
What is a jazz funeral?
A jazz funeral is a funeral procession accompanied by a brass band, in the tradition of New Orleans, Louisiana . Drummers at the funeral of jazz musician Danny Barker in 1994.
What is a New Orleans funeral procession?
Known as " the birthplace of jazz ," New Orleans is a place where jazz permeates every aspect of culture. It plays an important role in every aspect of life, including how locals honor and celebrate the lives of the departed. Jazz - and jazz funeral processions - have been treasured New Orleans traditions since the late 19th Century.
What kind of music is played at a New Orleans funeral?
Typical funeral music includes somber hymns and songs and a New Orleans Jazz funeral begins with dirges but finishes with flourishes. Here are some of the most well known New Orleans jazz funeral songs.
What is the history of New Orleans Jazz?
This West African tradition found a home in New Orleans jazz culture. By the 20th century, funerals were a time to perform the latest form of music — jazz. Blending both European and African influences, this brass music is unlike none other in the world.
Why do people dance at funerals in New Orleans?
The music and dancing were both a cathartic release for mourners and a celebration of a life well lived.
What is a New Orleans jazz funeral?
New Orleans Jazz Funerals are public burial services for prominent community members; traditionally African American males. After the funeral service, a procession of musicians, funeral directors, family, and friends moves from the site of the funeral to the cemetery while marching to the beat of a brass band.
Can anyone have a jazz funeral in New Orleans?
Although the majority of jazz funerals are for musicians, anyone can request one. And, as long as you're respectful, passersby are encouraged to join in and help celebrate. Sidney Bechet, the renowned New Orleans jazzman, once said, "Music here is as much a part of death as it is of life."
What music is played at a New Orleans funeral?
Some typical pieces often played at jazz funerals are the slow, and somber song "Nearer My God to Thee" and such spirituals as "Just a Closer Walk With Thee". The later more upbeat tunes frequently include "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Oh, Didn't He Ramble".
What is the purpose of a jazz funeral?
Jazz funerals are used to celebrate the life of the lost community member in a fun spirted manner. The performance of Jazz Funerals is unique to New Orleans, specifically among the African American community. This tradition became popular in the late 1800s, early 1900s.
What do you wear to a jazz funeral?
What should you wear to a jazz funeral? Unlike traditional funeral attire, you might be surprised to learn that most people are encouraged to wear casual clothes for a jazz funeral. While the first line is more likely to dress up to pay respect to their loved ones, everyone else can wear street clothes.
Why do they wave white hankies in New Orleans?
The white handkerchiefs were often in the pockets of the gentleman in the old days, or the ladies personal handkerchief. Today any paper or cloth napkin has been used to wave in the air to allow you to join in and be part of the fun.
What do you wear to a funeral in New Orleans?
Grand deuil (black, formal mourning wear) is the expected attire for those closest to the deceased, usually immediate family…and perhaps a bold mistress. It's impressive because one expects New Orleans Jazz to play throughout the ceremony. It's how Hollywood shows it on television and in the movies.
What is the band called at a New Orleans funeral?
Young Fellaz Brass BandYoung Fellaz Brass Band performs at the funeral procession for “Josephine Johnny” Watson. Musicians are part of the “first line” of such a procession.
What is the most played song at a funeral?
“Ave Maria,” a traditional song recorded by many artists, remains very popular as does. Elton John's “Candle in the Wind”. “Time To Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman, and “My Way” by Frank Sinatra remains a staple at Phaneuf-hosted funerals.
How much does a New Orleans funeral cost?
Average Funeral Cost in the USA - Average Direct Cremation PricesNational Rank143CityNew OrleansHigh Price ($)3,410Low Price ($)1,175Average Price ($)2,136
What is the band called at a New Orleans funeral?
Young Fellaz Brass BandYoung Fellaz Brass Band performs at the funeral procession for “Josephine Johnny” Watson. Musicians are part of the “first line” of such a procession.
Why do they wave white hankies in New Orleans?
The white handkerchiefs were often in the pockets of the gentleman in the old days, or the ladies personal handkerchief. Today any paper or cloth napkin has been used to wave in the air to allow you to join in and be part of the fun.
Why do people have jazz funerals in New Orleans?
All of the traditions and culture associated with New Orleans jazz funerals are a way to help the deceased person find their way to heaven. It’s a way to celebrate the soul no longer being tied to earthly life.
What is the New Orleans Jazz funeral?
New Orleans Jazz funerals have a rich cultural tradition. It all comes down to the moment of death. In West African culture, mourners begin funerals by loudly and vocally expressing their sorrow. By the end, they were laughing and celebrating in a joyous affair. Rejoicing is done at specific moments to celebrate the spirit’s ascending to heaven.
What is the purpose of the funeral procession?
The procession itself is a way to bury prominent society members with the jazz music they loved. The procession goes from the funeral service to the burial site. As mentioned before, these processions begin as a somber affair. Guests express their grief and sadness. During this time of sorrow, the band plays slow Christian hymns.
What is jazz funeral?
Jazz funerals celebrate the beauty of life after death. They’re common for well-known community members, typically male musicians. Family, friends, jazz musicians, and more gather for these lively funerals. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about New Orleans Jazz funerals.
How much does a funeral cost?
From there, it’s custom to have a religious service of some kind as well as a formal burial. You could expect to spend anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 on the total cost of the funeral. The specifics will depend on your casket, funeral flowers, reception, and so on.
What happens when a body is laid to rest?
Once the body has been laid to rest, everything changes. The tone picks up, and the band plays up-tempo music. There is dancing and celebration since the body has now been “cut loose” from this earth. There will be a parade-like march through the streets in excitement, and everyone is welcome to join in.
Where to see the second line in New Orleans?
If seeing the second line in action is important to you, head to one of the large churches on the weekends. St. Mary’s Church and St. Louis Cathedral are known for their wedding processions, which have similar second lines.
What is jazz funeral?
Jazz funeral. A jazz funeral is a funeral procession accompanied by a brass band, in the tradition of New Orleans, Louisiana . Drummers at the funeral of jazz musician Danny Barker in 1994. They include Louis Cottrell, (great-grandson of New Orleans' innovative drumming pioneer, Louis Cottrell, Sr.
What are the influences of jazz funerals?
This was combined with African spiritual practices, specifically the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. Jazz funerals are also heavily influenced by early twentieth century Protestant and Catholic churches, black brass bands, and the idea of celebrating after death in order to please the spirits who protect the dead. Another group that has influenced jazz funerals is the Mardi Gras Indians.
What does it mean when a musician plays in a funeral?
When a respected fellow musician or prominent member of the community dies, some additional musicians may also play in the procession as a sign of their esteem for the deceased.
Who were the drummers at Danny Barker's funeral?
Drummers at the funeral of jazz musician Danny Barker in 1994. They include Louis Cottrell, (great-grandson of New Orleans' innovative drumming pioneer, Louis Cottrell, Sr. and grandson of New Orleans clarinetist Louis Cottrell, Jr.) of the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, far right; Louis "Bicycle Lewie" Lederman of the Down & Dirty Brass band, ...
What is jazz funeral?
In some cases, jazz funerals begin from a location that played an important role in the life of the deceased individual, such as a business owned by the deceased or a theatre where he or she performed, rather than a church or funeral home.
What is the music that the mourners play at the wake?
As mourners exit the wake, they are greeted by a brass band playing music typically associated with mourning ( referred to as dirges ). The band leads the way for the hearse or mule-drawn carriage carrying the coffin, starting a procession to the burial place.
What does the mood shift from in the funeral?
The mood shifts from somber to celebratory. Just as the body has been "cut loose," the mourners do the same, though music, marching, and dancing.
What is New Orleans known for?
New Orleans is a unique place, with a rich culture and heritage unlike those of any other city on earth. Known as " the birthplace of jazz ," New Orleans is a place where jazz permeates every aspect of culture.
Do funerals in New Orleans have jazz?
While the majority of funerals in New Orleans don't include a jazz procession, these unique celebrations of life are a key element of the city's culture. What better way to celebrate the lives of the many jazz legends and prominent citizens who lived their lives in - and made a lasting impact on - the Crescent City? If you have an opportunity to witness a New Orleans jazz funeral, consider yourself lucky to experience this unique approach to celebrating a life well-lived.
Who followed the funeral service?
The mourners who attended the service follow, walking behind the vehicle that carries the deceased.
Does New Orleans have a jazz procession?
Celebrating Life in The City of New Orleans. While the majority of funerals in New Orleans don't include a jazz procession, these unique celebrations of life are a key element of the city's culture. What better way to celebrate the lives of the many jazz legends and prominent citizens who lived their lives in - and made a lasting impact on - ...
What is jazz funeral?
The modern jazz funeral consists of two “lines,” the first line being primarily family members of the deceased, club officials and the band. The second line is a group of mourners/revelers that assembles behind the first line—usually marching solemnly to the grave, then dancing and celebrating on the route away from the grave.
Why was funeral procession popular in New Orleans?
As slavery was abolished, funeral processions with European-style brass bands became popular among prominent members of the black community in New Orleans. This popularity was aided, ironically, by insurance companies that refused to sell policies to freed slaves. This led to the formation of New Orleans’ famous “Social Aid ...
Why did the New Orleans funerals have brass bands?
As slavery was abolished, funeral processions with European-style brass bands became popular among prominent members of the black community in New Orleans. This popularity was aided, ironically, by insurance companies that refused to sell policies to freed slaves. This led to the formation of New Orleans’ famous “Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs,” which usually offered dues-paying members a brass band for their funerals, and also organized annual parades for the enjoyment of their communities.
Why is the second line of the funeral a tradition?
Though the second line has become an art form that is no longer associated strictly with funerals, it’s a unique tradition that came to be what it is because of its historical roots in ancient burial rituals and because of New Orleans’ history of slavery. And yes, also because of that sweet New Orleans jazz that seems to live and breathe in the architecture and the streets of NOLA.
What is the difference between a jazz funeral and a funeral in New Orleans?
The most crucial difference between a typical funeral and a New Orleans Jazz funeral is the music . Typical funeral music includes somber hymns and songs and a New Orleans Jazz funeral begins with dirges but finishes with flourishes.
What is the New Orleans Jazz Funeral Processional?
The New Orleans jazz funeral processional is undoubtedly one of the enthusiastic ways to commemorate the end of an individual’s life. One who is unfamiliar with the tradition may not understand why the mourners seem so jubilant when they return from the cemetery.
What makes a jazz funeral so unique?
First, jazz funerals often include two processions, one from the church to the burial site and one that leaves the cemetery after the body has been laid to rest.
Why do mourners wear umbrellas?
And the umbrellas that mourners often sport on the way back from the cemetery? They are used because it’s sweltering in New Orleans, and the mourners need a way to shield themselves from the sun.
What kind of music is used for funerals?
There are plenty of soft jazz versions of many funeral songs. The soft versions of these and other songs are commonly used in the slow, stately procession of the deceased on the way to the cemetery. Here are some to consider.
What song did Louis Armstrong sing at a funeral?
Louis Armstrong recorded a popular version of “Down By the Riverside.”. 9. “When the Saints Go Marching In ”. When most people think of New Orleans Jazz funerals, they think of the song “When the Saints Go Marching In.”. Like some of the other songs on this list, the song’s composer has been lost with time. 10.
Why do people celebrate loud noises?
It is also the result of the Christian belief of the afterlife. The family members are celebrating that their loved ones are free from pain and in heaven.
Overview
History
The 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. This reluctance to use the term faded significantly in the final 15 years or so of the 20th century among the younger generation of New Orleans brass band musicians mor…
In popular culture
The Cincinnati Kid (1965), which takes place in New Orleans, begins with a jazz funeral.
The HBO TV series Treme frequently featured jazz funerals as part of its depiction of the New Orleans musical landscape.
In the James Bond film Live and Let Die (1973), an early scene showed a secret agent being murdered under cover of a jazz funeral.
See also
• Month's Mind
• Historic Cemeteries of New Orleans
• Dancing Pallbearers
Further reading
• "Funerals with Music in New Orleans", Dr. Jack Stewart, Save Our Cemeteries, Incorporated, & J. Stewart, New Orleans, 2004
• Turner, Richard Brent. Jazz Religion, the Second Line, and Black New Orleans. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2009. Print.
External links
• The Jazz Funeral at New Orleans Online
• Let Me Do My Thang: Rebirth Brass Band – a documentary filmed and edited by Keith Reynaud, Jr.]
• Nick Spitzer, "Rebuilding the 'Land of Dreams:' Expressive Culture and New Orleans' Authentic Future" Southern Spaces 29 August 2006 http://southernspaces.org/2006/rebuilding-land-dreams-expressive-culture-and-new-orleans-authentic-future