New Orleans Jazz Funeral Traditions Added to Preservation Hall Lessons
It is our joy and honor to announce that Preservation Hall Lessons now features all-new content on New Orleans jazz funeral traditions – available to students, teachers and music educators for free at lessons.preshallfoundation.org.
The jazz funeral is one of New Orleans' most sacred and unique traditions. When a loved one passes away, the community comes together to celebrate their life – through music, dance, and a procession through the streets – mournful at first, and as the body is laid to rest, joyful.
Culture bearers and musicians pose for a portrait at Preservation Hall during the creation of content on jazz funerals for Preservation Hall Lessons. From left to right: Anthony Bennett, Benny Jones, Charlie Gabriel, Kerry Hunter, Maynard Chatters, Mark Braud, Clive Wilson, Tom Fischer, Oswald Jones, Gerald French, Freddie Lonzo and Ronell Johnson.
Content within these lessons include first-hand accounts of New Orleans funeral traditions, from experts like Gregg Stafford. As one of the city’s foremost trumpeters, a PHF Master Practitioner, and leader of the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Mr. Stafford introduces students to the process of laying a body to rest in New Orleans – a step-by-step journey from the church or funeral home through the streets to the cemetery, where loved ones will “cut the body loose.”
Video instruction within these lessons also includes complete demonstrations of a jazz funeral procession, filmed in the courtyard of Preservation Hall, so students can experience the mournful hymns – also called a dirge – like “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” “In the Sweet By and By” and “Old Rugged Cross.” As the body is laid to rest, the band strikes up a more joyful tune, like “Sing On” and “Just a Little While to Stay.”
We send our immense gratitude to the dozens of musicians, culture bearers and educators who shared their time and expertise during the making of these lessons and videos – materials we hope will help this tradition thrive for generations to come.
You can access these free lesson plans, videos, student activities and more at lessons.preshallfoundation.org!
Click the links below to start exploring these resources.