We embrace the light hearted nature of the New Orleans musical spirit. As musicians, we also also hold space for reflecting on where this music comes from, and the stories that it holds.
We thought we'd start off the "Deep Dive" content tag on the new site, with a list of our resources - places we go when we want to know more. We have shared our take on things in a workshop/assembly format, but today's just sharing the links.
We try to find paths to connect to the hearts and voices that brought all these elements of humanity, music, art, and movement together to forge community, and center their unbreakable resilience.
Resources for Advance Work in the Classroom
Course Work/Presentations/Lesson Plans
Congo Square - Preservation Hall Course Work
In this lesson, djembefola Weedie Braimah will introduce students to the cultural
traditions of drumming in Congo Square. Students will collaboratively plan and design acommunity “Square” that represents a collective cultural space.
New Orleans - Birthplace of Jazz- Preservation Hall Course Work In this lesson, students will research and gather information on the history and culture of New Orleans Jazz and its African roots. Students will create African folk art to tell a visual story of New Orleans ‘ history.
Closer Walk with Thee (Pres Hall) Music Lesson
Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Pres Hall) Music Lesson
Crescent City Gumbo: Race & Jazz in New Orleans | Finding Your Roots (PBS)
Articles
5 Things about Congo Square 64 Parishes
Jazz Origins National Park Service
Second Lines Historic New Orleans Collection
Second Lines New Orleans.com
Jazz Funerals and Second Lines 64 Parishes
Second Lines Gambinos
Mardi Gras Indians & Mardi Gras History Smithsonian
Mardi Gras Music Cajun Encounters
Mardi Gras Music Movies/Watch
Tuba to Cuba: (1 hr. 23 min)
Black Masking Indians (7 min)
WGNO's Mardi Gras Indians (28 min)
Congo Square. African Culture in New Orleans (41 min) Freddi Williams Evans
Jazz Funerals (4 min) History of Jazz Funerals (2 min) Preservation Hall
Tom Dent Congo Square Lecture (Jazz and Heritage Foundation) (95 min)
Creoles & Early Jazz Formation (Nick Douglas) (3 min)
Reconstruction to Storyville: How Free People of Color changed Louisiana and the South. (44 min)
History of Free People of Color in New Orleans ( New Orleans Opera Association) (57 min)
Resources
WWOZ - A Closer Walk
Musical Background/Song History
Down by the Riverside (Trad. Spiritual mid-1800s, pub. 1918)
Pres. Hall on Down by the Riverside
The Rough and Tumble on Down by the Riverside
Words Music and Stories on Down by the Riverside
Closer Walk with Thee: (Trad. Spiritual pub.) (1940)
Big Chief (Earl King) (1974)
Mardi Gras Mambo (Frankie Adams/Lou Welsch) 1953
Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Longhair) (Pres Hall) 1949