"Lilly of the Valley" - New Birth Brass Band

“Lilly of the Valley” (PDF) from the New Birth Brass Band album, New Orleans Second Line!

The lily appears throughout the Catholic tradition as a symbol of, essentially, new birth. The virgin-white flower blossoming among its scorned surroundings suggests a ray of hope and beauty from a glorified provider, as celebrated in the fleur de lis. A reassurance that all this too shall pass, placing one’s faith in the lily of the valley is an act of defiant strength.

Recommended reading: Roll With It: Brass Bands in the Streets of New Orleans by Matt Sakakeeny. Published by Duke University Press.