Second Line Jazz

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#996699" TEXT="#080000" background="0a5b85a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Eureka Gras Mardi Gras Extravaganza</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eureka Gras Mardi Gras Extravaganza"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="kings_day_kickoff.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Kings Day KickOff">King's Day KickOff</A>   |   <A HREF="mardi_gras_info.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mardi Gras Info">Mardi Gras Info</A>   |   <B>Second Line Jazz</B>   |   <A HREF="masquerade_ball.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Masquerade Ball">Masquerade Ball</A>   |   <A HREF="paradecontests.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parade/Contests">Parade/Contests</A>   |   <A HREF="2ndline_krawl.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2ndLine Krawl">2ndLine Krawl</A>   |   <A HREF="news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News">News</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#996699" TEXT="#080000" background="0a607053.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="0fbb58d0.jpg" border=0 width="181" height="141" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="0fc8a180.jpg" border=0 width="138" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Second Line Jazz</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Mardi Gras and the Second Line</B></div> <div> <B>New Orleans is a parading kind of town.</B></div> <div> <B>Think of an occasion, and it will be celebrated with a parade.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Irish Funerals</B></div> <div>      At Irish Wakes for the deceased, all family members, neighbors and friends would gather at the house.  The body was customarily laid out in a wooden coffin for viewing in the family parlor or living room.  It was natural to have lots of food and plenty of drink for all who attended.  There were many toasts offered to remember the departed person's life.  It was not a time for tears, but more of a celebration than a normal funeral.  The traditional Irish celebrated one's life and ensured that the deceased soul had a good send off.  It is understood that a proper Irish Wake is worth the time and effort.  It would be difficult to imagine a “passing” being complete without one!</div> <div>      In fleeing from the Potato Famine in Ireland, the Irish immigrants brought their customs and their descendants have carried on the traditions for all the neighbors to enjoy.</div> <div>      Not just for the dead, but also for the living, during the mid-1800s, emigrating families were also given a “wake-like” party by their family and friends.</div> <div>      However, the arriving Irish were not welcomed by Americans.  In the 1800's, Irish immigrants were heavily  discriminated upon.  Shops and factories displayed signs reading <B>"NINA" </B>—  No Irish Need Apply.  </div> <div>      The only jobs available were those that no one else wanted — jobs that were dirty, dangerous, or both — such as at that time, coal mining, firefighters, and police officers.  Coal mining cave-ins were always happening and it was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed while extinguishing a fire. </div> <div>      The Irish firefighters' funerals were typical of all Irish funerals — with bag-pipes being played for fallen comrades — thus, the tradition of the pipes took hold in Fire Departments throughout America.  Major cities began to sponsor  pipe bands representing both fire and police often wearing traditional Celtic kilts and tunics, whether Scottish clan tartans or Irish single color kilts.</div> <div>      Today, bag pipes have come to be a distinguishing feature for a fallen hero's funeral.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Jazz Funerals</B></div> <div>      Negro Funerals during the slavery period  were usually somber, depending upon the religious teachings supported by white masters.  However, singing and music were always a part of African American culture and after the slaves were freed, many were able to gain access to musical instruments and formed bands for local entertainment.  </div> <div>      — And music was always an important aspect of public events in traditional New Orleans culture.  Processions with music included the periodic parades of Benevolent Societies, Social Clubs, Carnival Krewes, and of course the Irish Funerals that gave life to the later “Negro Jazz Funerals”.</div> <div>      After the Civil War, it was easier to get musical instruments, so African Americans were able to form countless brass marching bands.  Throughout the city there were fraternal groups and burial societies who often competed with each other to see which group could send-off a deceased member in the greatest style.  When the service was over, and the procession moved from church to cemetery, the band played sad hymns and dirges.  However, on the way back, the music became more joyful with high-spirited tunes such as "Didn't He Ramble," and the second liners danced with wild abandon.  The second line, usually sporting umbrellas and handkerchiefs, became traditional at these jazz funerals. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Second Lining</B></div> <div>      During early funeral marches, the "first line" consisted of family, friends, and church people,  or members of the Social club.  The "second line" referred to those people who were attracted to the music. </div> <div>      To follow such processions because one enjoyed the music came to be known as to "second line" or to be "second lining".  As music is traditionally participatory, not something one just listens to without moving, spectators would strut and jive during the funerals or parades — thus, a new dance style was created and which also came to be called second lining.  The term may apply to the entire event or the distinctive syncopated dancing rhythm of the music. </div> <div> <IMG SRC="0ffb5620.jpg" border=0 width="181" height="354" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="7" VSPACE="5">     Second lining is even popular at weddings.  A jazz band leads the couple who are followed by their guests as they strut around the reception hall with decorated parasols and souvenir napkins. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>S</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>econd </B></I></FONT><I><B>L</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>ining is performed all year long on the Gulf Coast at Seasonal </B></I></FONT><I><B>J</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>azz </B></I></FONT><I><B>B</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>runches and weddings as demonstrated by Dan's niece --</B></I></FONT><I><B>T</B></I><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>iffany.</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#003399" FACE="Arial" ><B>Let the Good Times Roll!</B></FONT></div> <div> 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