Is a Jazz funeral okay?

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One may certainly incorporate some elements of the “Jazz Funeral” – but it might be difficult depending upon circumstances.

The Funeral Procession could certainly be accompanied by music. And the style of music outlined in the article is certainly appropriate. However… In the NOLA context, the funeral procession was usually conducted on foot, because the cemeteries were in walking distance of the Churches.

When was the last time you attended a walking procession? It’s not often done that way for practical reasons. I suppose that you could have the people gather, say, just at or near the gate of the cemetery, and then process on foot with the body to its place of interment.

But will the elderly be able to handle the walk? Maybe. That is a practical matter.

Regards,
Joe
 
Sorry about the double posting, but a couple of thoughts occurred to me…

(1) The pattern of mourning/rejoicing has a parallel in the Catholic funeral rites, at least as they are given for the U.S.

The Vigil for the Deceased has a focus on mourning the death of the person. The Vigil is what is commonly called a Wake Service, held in the presence of the body, usually in a funeral home.

But the Mass of Christian Burial refocuses the bereaved on the reality of Resurrection. Hope is not absent from the Vigil, and mourning is not absent from the Funeral Mass, but there is a shift in emphasis.

(2) There is a need – especially now, in these latter days – for those who lead funerals (usually priests and deacons) to remind the faithful to pray for the soul of the deceased. We tend to canonize them as soon as they are dead, when it is at that time that they may really benefit from our prayers, being unable to help themselves.

This is not contrary to the idea of a NOLA Jazz Funeral, but I just wanted to get that point in.

Regards,
Joe (aka, Deacon Joe)
 
Having grown up in New Orleans, I saw many jazz funerals. We had a funeral parlor across the street from school and the brothers often let us out of class to stand in silence, pray for the deceased, and watch as the casket was brought into the church just down the block. (The band stayed outside church). The traditional song is “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”.

To my knowledge, there has only been one Jazz Mass written and it was written in the context of a concert piece. In that case they did bring the band into St. Louis Cathedral (three archbishops in attendance) but it was a concert.

I was always told by my family that the Irish cry when a babe enters this vale of tears but rejoice when the soul goes to heaven. Same idea as this.
 
brotherhrolf said:
Having grown up in New Orleans, I saw many jazz funerals. We had a funeral parlor across the street from school and the brothers often let us out of class to stand in silence, pray for the deceased, and watch as the casket was brought into the church just down the block. (The band stayed outside church). The traditional song is “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”.

To my knowledge, there has only been one Jazz Mass written and it was written in the context of a concert piece. In that case they did bring the band into St. Louis Cathedral (three archbishops in attendance) but it was a concert.

I was always told by my family that the Irish cry when a babe enters this vale of tears but rejoice when the soul goes to heaven. Same idea as this.
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Where’s Stan Kenton when I need him? 🤷
 
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