Music & Medicine

Almost every street has some type of performance happening. I couldn’t tell you what types I have heard specifically because I don’t know how the artists define themselves that I have seen on the street. Many of the performer’s have had guitars, some type of drums, violins etc. I have also seen a pair of people performing. One on the guitar while the other sings. I have heard a variety of songs, some I believe to be the performers original songs. We also went to Frenchmen St. and were able to hear some jazz and blues while we were there. Music is important to New Orleans because it brings people together and it helps them connect with their ancestors. Music connects the younger generations with the older generations. The mixing of many different ethnicities’ and their music has combined to make things like jazz. The music from New Orleans has affected music in general such as rock n roll and others. I think it is beautiful the way these individuals from New Orleans can come out to the streets and perform their music completely free of judgment and get respect for their talent. Things like this don’t happen in any other places that I know of especially Peoria, IL.

            Treme was the first place free slaves were able to buy and own property. This was during a time when this was not happening in other parts of America. Treme has celebrations like second-line parades and jazz funerals. I thought it was interesting out tour guide grew up in Treme because he was sharing a part of his history and where he came from.

            The Pharmacy museum was pretty cool and Own was very knowledgeable on his information regarding 19^th century medicine.  Not only was his very informed but he was also very charismatic. I was a shockingly surprised by many of the things he told us. Like the women in the 19^th century and all the narcotics used to “treat” them of their womanly woes.  I learned a lot about the city, especially the fact they believed in the air containing something that caused the people to get sick and that they must clean the air to rid of it.  They really had no clue what they were doing when it came to medicine so it seems. They used lead, heroine, and other things like cocaine in their medicines, which is a terrible idea.