Monday, April 4, 2011

Jazz Funerals: The Mourning of Death, the Celebration of Life

The tradition of Jazz Funerals, as we know them today, has been around since the early 19th century. However, the concept and culture of playing the type of music that later on influenced Jazz in America at burials has been around for the past four centuries. The tradition started out amongst the Dahomeans of Benin and the Yoruba of Nigeria, beginning first as a primitive form of burial insurance where societies of tribesmen would would promise their members that they would have a proper burial once they died. In order to assure this, members would invest their resources, hence the early form of insurance. Then, when African slaves were taken to America, these societies became early social clubs and fraternities that dedicated their memberships to providing these burials.


Music was eventually incorporated into the tradition based upon the African ideal of celebrating all life events that were significant and meaningful through music, which includes the final event of death. Around the 18th century, brass bands were becoming more and more popular, so as a result they would frequently be asked to be apart of funeral processions in New Orleans. During this time, most people who took part in these funerals preferred the term "funerals with jazz" instead of "Jazz Funeral", because they felt as if the latter title implied that the focus of the tradition was on the music, not the deceased. Yet, as brass funk started to become more popular, participants in the tradition began to warm up to the title of Jazz Funeral. However, many people during the mid-20th century still frowned on the use of this type of secular music during funerals, especially the Catholic church. The church felt as if this type of music disrespected the practice, so for a large amount of time the only people who typically performed these funerals were black protestants in New Orleans. During the 60s, this started to change along with the rest of the country due to civil rights and other prominent movements.


Jazz Funerals are usually held for prominent local musicians, important figures in the New Orleans community, Krewe members, or people connected to the New Orleans music industry. They begin as a procession from the home or funeral home of the deceased in which friends, family, and a brass band march to the burial site. On the way to the site, they usually play hymns and solemn music. Once the person is buried, however, the mourners say their goodbyes and the band begins to play more upbeat music (When the Saints Go Marching In is a very popular choice) as they second line around the area. As they do this, onlookers will usually join in on the second line to be included in the celebration of the deceased's life.


As Sidney Bechet, the famous New Orleans Jazz artist, once put it, "Music [in New Orleans] is as much a part of death as it is of life."

9 comments:

  1. Death is usually seen as a great devastation, however people I know have referred to death has a celebration. if your anything like me, you would question that statement. Not once have I seen someone jump up and down for joy when a loved one is lost. However, we are celebrating the end of that person's journey on earth and the journey they will now have in heaven. I always found that the best funeral celebration was a jazz funeral. Jazz funerals get everyone involved and makes people feel as though there loved one has made it home.

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  2. In Haiti, a funeral there is much like over here, well without all the music. The people walk in the street mourning the death, and occasionally they have music, but not all the time. I think the way New Orleans does funerals is very uplifting, they see death as more than just a tragedy.

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  3. My mom was born and raised in Ireland and the Jazz Funerals kind of remind me of the way the Irish mourn and celebrate death. When I was 11 my granny died and we went to Ireland for the funeral and then afterwards, there was a big party. I was so confused because I thought we were supposed to be sad. But then when everyone started getting up to talk about my granny and what an amazing person she was, I realized it was more about what an amazing, long life she had lived, rather than the fact that her life was over. The Jazz Funerals have the same sort of appreciation for life as Irish funerals do.

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  4. I was never aware of Jazz funerals until I moved to New Orleans. It sort of reminds me of the funerals we do in my church which are more of a celebration rather than mourning. I would love to be able to view a Jazz funeral in my lifetime. I just think this aspect of New Orleans culture just shows how unique and different New Orleans is.

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  5. I agree with Chelah in that Jazz Funerals allow us to see death as more than the loss of a loved one. I've always believed that death is not the end of someone's life but the beginning of a new life in Heaven. So a Jazz Funeral, to me, would be the most appropriate way to not only celebrate someone's life on Earth but signify their arrival in Heaven.

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  6. Even though I have lived in New Orleans my entire life, I have yet to attend a jazz funeral. It is something that I have always wanted to see. It is so reflective of New Orleans in attitude towards unfortunate situations. New Orleanians tend to always find the positive in even the most negative situations.

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  7. I was going to say the same thing about Irish funerals that Clareen said. I too think it's positive to both mourn the person's loss and celebrate their life at the same time. I hope I can someday witness a jazz funeral because It is quintessential New Orleans.

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  8. I've never been to a jazz funeral. I would say part of the tradition comes out of us not wanting people to be sad over us. Kind of like "So what if I'm dead, don't let that ruin things for you. Listen to some jazz and lighten up!"

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  9. I've attended many jazz funerals. I love how they are so crowded and have a lot of music. I also love the fact that there is not that many people crying and more people smiling and remembering the good times that they had with that person.

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