Music and Traditions

     It is always beautiful to learn about the musical traditions that a culture holds. For this blog entry, I want to focus on the music that is played at a funeral. This is because the music played at a funeral holds significance and great meaning to everyone attending. I will be breaking this blog up into two parts. The first part will focus on my experience with music while I attend a funeral held on my dad's side and the second part will be focusing on a funeral that is held on my mom's side. Funerals are a way to celebrate the life of a lost one and their are many cultural traditions that are followed. Music that is played at an African american funeral is often the blues, jazz, and soul music. Artist who make touching music with these kinds of genres include Whitney Houston, Kirk Franklin and Patti Labelle. At an African American funeral, I feel like the music during the service is meant to allow everyone to show and share their emotions. The music that is played allows people to connect with those around and appreciate the life of who was lost. However, the music changes once the service is over and the repast begins. At the repast, more upbeat and lively music is played. Soul food is also a cultural food that is served at an african american repast. 

   For my mom's side of the family, the traditions and events that take place at a funeral are different from my father's side. A Native american funeral is always held around a table full of food. Everyone attending must have tobacco to give to the cheif upon entering. When everyone arrives, they must go around the table once in order to get to their seat. When seated, instead of playing a soundtrack, the drummers begin to hit their drums with long sticks. While the music filled with drums that replicate a heartbelt is played, the chief goes around the room with sugar water and a smoking pipe. After everyone has came into contact with the items provided, prayers in the Potawatomini language are said. The food that is served at a Native American funeral includes fried bread, deer, and wild rice. I won't insert a video from a native american funeral for cultural beliefs although, here is a video that is similar to the drums that are played.