Music

The early Jazz years coincide with the time of the closing of Congo Square and continue through the close of the 19th century (1885-1899). During this early period, New Orleans boasted a host of traditional symphony orchestras as well as marching bands. It is from the ranks of the classically trained Faubourg Tremé musicians that some of the earliest bands developed. Their repertoire consisted of marches, funeral dirges, and popular dance music. They were hired to play for Black church events, to advertise benevolent society subscriptions and enrollments, as well as for dances and benefits of all kinds. The high demand for dance bands eventually spelled the death of the larger orchestras.

 The bands usually consisted of a dozen or so instruments: three cornets, two trombones, alto horn, baritone horn, two clarinets, and two drums, bass and snare. These smaller bands were far more versatile as they could play parades and funerals as well as large and small dances held at the numerous halls across the city.

 One of the most popular bands of the early period was Professor Théogène Baquet's Excelsior Brass Band. The personnel included Baquet and Fice Quire on cornets, brothers Lorenzo and Luis Tio on clarinet, the Hackett brothers on alto horn, Anthony Page on trombone, and a drummer named Lee.

 Baquet led the Excelsior from the 1880's until his retirement in 1904, when he turned the band over to his friend, cornetist George Moret. A stern music professor, Baquet counted his son George among his many students. In the late 1890's, Baquet was conducting the Lyre Club Symphony Orchestra. George played clarinet with the Lyre, under his father's direction, as young as  age 14. The younger Baquet went on to play with Onward Brass Band, the Superior Band, the Imperial Orchestra, the Magnolia Orchestra, with Buddy Bolden's band, and with ...