Essay III Catholic Church

1 Essay III Catholic Church - 2 St. Thomas Catholic Church - 33 Robert Hingle - 47 Emmanuel Chol - 98 Father Menard's Dairy - 109 Early Italian American Jazz - 118 Original Dixieland Jazz Band - 126 Mose 'Toots' Johnson - 140 Names of Bands - 230 Jazz on Earl Radio - 247 2 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EARLY JAZZ/DANCE MUSIC IN AND AROUND NEW ORLEANS During the occupation of Louisiana by Federal troops in the civil War, the native populace in the New Orleans area and the gulf coast were exposed to regular union military bands. In command of all the Union bands (approx. 40) in the Gulf Coast Command was the world famous bandsman, Patrick Gilmore. The existing military garrisons had daily parade formations using military music. Gilmore also initiated special ‘promenade’ concerts for the citizens of New Orleans while the outlying garrisons used their bands for activities in and around their station for both military and civilian usage. The populace of Louisiana, being occupied for most of the war by Federal; troops, were exposed to the Federal (North) military ceremonies and their military music. Federal troops were ordered out of Louisiana territory in 1865. This fact is noted in the Thibodaux Sentinel on Dec. 25, 1865: “The last remnants of the U. S. Troops left us Monday: effective means, previously taken by our active mayor, for the preservation of order and peace in the community.” The departure of U. S. troops left a void to be filled – the need for brass bands. The end of the war, in reference to brass bands, was felt mostly by the south, as most bands in the army were fife and drum corps, not brass bands. The turn of the century in America, the most popular form and style of musical groups was the brass band. Every hamlet in America seemed to have a brass band. Towns in Louisiana were no different; rather, they seemed to be fanatical about brass bands and were fervent for their brass band music and the colorful pageantry and festivals that gave them the opportunity to use brass bands. This void, left by the departure of Federal troops and their regimental bands with their colorful ceremonies, was partially filled by the sponsorship and use of brass bands by the Catholic Church. The Church sponsored organizations with allegiance to the church. One such organization was usually the local fire departments. Local fire departments, during this era, were famous for their brass bands. These bands participated in many church services: for social events and in the Holy Mass and other religious events. Southern Louisiana was largely Catholic in religion and it was said that almost every town in Louisiana had both a brass band and a Catholic Church. The Catholic Church was the center and catalyst for most of the social activities of the community and of its moral and ethical character. In New Orleans and the surrounding parishes, beginning with 3 the period just after the Civil War, each settlement/town contained a Catholic Church, which also had a brass band. Below is a partial listing of the Catholic churches in the surrounding area around and in New Orleans that supported brass bands -–these bands either directly sponsored or cooperated with the local church. These brass bands were used as part of the music for the Mass and other religious ceremonies: Names of Church, Town and Band St. Joseph – Thibodaux - St. Joseph Silver Cornet Band St. Bridget - Terrebonne Parish - St. Bridget Brass Band St. Thomas - Pt. La Hache - Sweet Sixteen Brass Band St. Patrick - Home Place - Tri-Color Brass Band St. Maurice - St. Bernard Parish - St. Maurice Brass Band Holy Ghost - New Orleans - Holy Ghost Brass Band Holy Name - New Orleans - Holy Name Brass Band St. Eloise – Houma - Houma Brass Band Francis de Sales – Houma - Francis de Sales Brass Band Holy Savior – Lockport - Holy Savior Brass Band St. Marys – Raceland - St. Mary Brass Band The Catholic Church sponsored various activities using brass and string bands and often held social affairs in the church hall. They also used instrumental music in their elaborate ceremonies and even for Holy Mass. Below are a number of examples of these various activities but I have found many more than I give below. They will be in chronological order and not under certain towns or type of events. In Southern Louisiana, the Catholic Church was the center of social affairs and social behavior. The church many times dictated the behavior of the populace. Even the grand affair of Mardi Gras dictated social customs and church rules” “Lent is on hand. Weddings, balls and soirees must, for awhile, be kept in suspense. We hope that after Lent, balls and soirees will be frequently given.” (Thib. Feb. 17, 1866) The use of the band by St. Johns Episcopal Church is next quoted from an article in the local paper: “Concert and tableaux given by ladies of St. John’s Church…evening entertainment began at 7:00 by an overture by the Lyrique Brass Band under the leadership of that prince of music, Mr. E. Chol.” (Dec. 5, 1868) 4 Also in Thibodaux, directly following the Civil War, Professor Chol organized the Lyrique Band. He cooperated very closely with both St. Joseph Catholic Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Thibodaux. The Lyrique Band is mentioned in connection with both churches. The Lyrique Band is mentioned in the fireman’s Day Parade: th “Fireman’s day parade of June 10 – Lyrique Brass Band – Chol. To the music of the band they proceeded to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where a solemn and impressive Mass was said in commemoration of the deceased members of the company. After Mass they proceeded to Rev. Menard who after being serenaded by the band, addressed a few judiciaries and well selected remarks to the company.” (June 19, 1869) In upper Lafourche Parish, in the town of Donaldsonville, a church sponsored an excursion: “A pleasure excursion from Donaldsonville to Lockport – with concert and ball for benefit of Christ church at Napoleonville. A fine brass band is engaged for the occasion. Fare $2.00” (April 1, 1870) While New Orleans is famous for their funerals, funerals were held in the parishes surrounding New Orleans. Below is a funeral conducted in Thibodaux, Louisiana: “Funeral of Alfred H. Martin – Fireman – The hearse, preceded by the St. Joseph Band, playing appropriate music proceeded to St. Joseph Catholic Church, followed by the members of the family, the mayor, and members of the council.” (April, 1872) The Catholic Church has many ceremonies with much pomp and circumstance. One of these is the religious procession: “The Catholic Procession – The procession which paraded the principal streets of town last Sunday afternoon in commemoration of the anniversary of the Corpus Christi festival was quite large in point of numbers and events and attractive in appearance, was headed by the Ascension Brass Band, which discoursed sacred music in fine style, adding much to the interest of the occasion. Following in the wake of the band came numbers of young ladies, embracing many of the beauties of our town and parish, all handsomely dressed; the neatly attired orphan girls under the kind care of the sisters of the St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum; a dozen or so of young boys dressed in the custom of attendants upon the altar; the choir of the Ascension church; the Reverend Father Cupped, bearing ___and accompanied by two attendant brethren of the holy cloth, over whose heads a canopy was spread, supported by six well known citizens of this place; 5 and after these came a large number of person of both sexes and colors, old and young, great and small. Numerous banners bearing scriptural pictures were borne by members of the procession, adding greatly to the imposing aspect thereof. Several prettily ornamented altars were erected in different parts of town by the inmates of the houses that they fronted, and before each one of these the procession came to a halt and all kneeled down while the priest uttered a benediction and the choir chanted a canticle, when the concourse would move forward again with measured tread, keeping time with the slow music of the band, some seventy-five or a hundred salutes were fired in front of the church and at the public square during the day and while the procession was in motion. Altogether the affair was a gratifying success, and attested the devotion of the Catholic portion of our people to the rites of their church.” (June 8, 1872) There is another article associating the Catholic Church with brass bands and music. The instruments of the brass band are blessed in an interesting church ceremony: “Interesting ceremony at the Catholic Church. The ceremony of blessing the instruments just received by the new church band, or St. Cecile Philharmonic Society, which was performed at the Catholic Church in this town last Sunday evening, was interesting and beautiful as the large concourse of people who witnessed it will attest. An admission fee of 25 cents was charged, but in spite of this the large church was filled with spectators. The exercises consisted of a short address in French from one of the attendant priests of the church, music by the St. May-Jefferson College Band, which had been invited expressly for the occasion, singing by the choir; blessing of the instruments by Father Coupons and presenting them then to the members of the Philharmonic Society. We can not close our notice of this ceremony without referring briefly to the St. Mary-Jefferson College Band, whose excellent music contributed so much to the interest of the occasion.

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