FuneralsClick on the dropdown button to translate. Translate this page: You can translate the content of this page by selecting a language in the select box. |
'Thank you for playing the organ so beautifully at our daughter's funeral. We are very grateful to you accommodating our requests at such short notice. Many people have commented on how moving the service was, and the music was a significant part of this. We appreciated the time to reflect and compose ourselves as you played pieces in full and with grace.'
Funerals have formed a large part of my church work, and, including crematorium services, I have played at well over a thousand of them. In addition to Anglican services, I am experienced with Roman Catholic and Lutheran funerals. The suggestions for funeral music below represent what I normally bring with me to the church or chapel. However, I am always open to special requests as long as I am sent the sheet music (hard copy or legible scan) well in advance.
You may contact me here.
Funerals have formed a large part of my church work, and, including crematorium services, I have played at well over a thousand of them. In addition to Anglican services, I am experienced with Roman Catholic and Lutheran funerals. The suggestions for funeral music below represent what I normally bring with me to the church or chapel. However, I am always open to special requests as long as I am sent the sheet music (hard copy or legible scan) well in advance.
You may contact me here.
Liturgies
Orders of Service
Roman Catholic - Traditional
Latin Mass Funeral – the best source of information about funerals in the traditional pre-Vatican II rites. Many helpful links to original sources and full details of the music proper to this rite. References are to the 1962 Missal, i.e. the ‘Extraordinary Form’ of Summorum Pontificum.
A Guide to ensuring you have the Traditional Mass at your Funeral - Another excellent guide to the traditional Catholic funeral rites, published by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.
Roman Catholic – Novus Ordo (Vatican II)
Resources for the Order of Christian Funerals are offered by the Liturgy Office of England and Wales. Read notes regarding the place of music in Roman Catholic funeral rites, and for suggestions for music at Roman Catholic funerals.
Roman Catholic - Traditional
Latin Mass Funeral – the best source of information about funerals in the traditional pre-Vatican II rites. Many helpful links to original sources and full details of the music proper to this rite. References are to the 1962 Missal, i.e. the ‘Extraordinary Form’ of Summorum Pontificum.
A Guide to ensuring you have the Traditional Mass at your Funeral - Another excellent guide to the traditional Catholic funeral rites, published by the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales.
Roman Catholic – Novus Ordo (Vatican II)
Resources for the Order of Christian Funerals are offered by the Liturgy Office of England and Wales. Read notes regarding the place of music in Roman Catholic funeral rites, and for suggestions for music at Roman Catholic funerals.
Suggestions for Funeral Music
Organ music for funerals
- Dido's Lament (from 'Dido and Aeneas') – Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
- March and Canzona (from Funeral Music for Queen Mary) - Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
- Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
- Sonatina (from Cantata 106) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Jesu, joy of man's desiring (from Cantata 147) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Sinfonia (from Cantata 156) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Adagio (from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C, BWV 564) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Air (from Pastorale in F, BWV 590) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Erbarm dich mein, O Herre Gott (BWV 721) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Herzlich thut mich verlangen ('Passion Chorale', BWV 727) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (BWV 731) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Air (from Suite no 3 - 'Air on the G string') – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
- Dead March in 'Saul' - George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
- I know that my redeemer liveth (from 'Messiah') – George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
- Largo ('Ombra mai fu' from Serse) – George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
- Minuet (from 'Berenice') – George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
- Bist du bei mir – Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel (1690-1749)
- Marcia religiosa (from 'Alceste') - Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
- Ave verum corpus – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
- Funeral March (from Piano Sonata op.26) - Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
- Trauer Marsch nr.1 – Johann Heinrich Walch (1776-1855)
- Ave Maria – Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)
- Funeral March (op.62 no.3) - Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
- O rest in the Lord (from 'Elijah') – Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
- Marche funebre - Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
- Prelude in E minor (Op.28 no.4) - Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
- Prelude in C minor (Op.28 no.20) - Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
- How lovely are thy dwellings (from 'A German Requiem') - Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
- Cantilène pastorale (Op.15 no.3) – Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911)
- Andante cantabile (from String Quartet op.11) - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
- God so loved the world (from 'The Crucifixion') - John Stainer (1840-1901)
- Pie Jesu (from 'Requiem') - Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
- Chorale Prelude on 'Eventide' – Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)
- Elegy for April 7. 1913 - Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)
- Chanson de Nuit – Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
- Nimrod (from 'Enigma Variations') – Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
- Clair de lune – Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
- Solemn Melody – Henry Walford Davies (1869-1941)
- Adagio in E major – Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
- Prelude on 'Aberystwyth' - Charles Hylton Stewart (1884-1932)
- Meditation on 'Brother James' Air' - Harold Darke (1888-1976)
- Elegy – George Thalben Ball (1896-1987)
- Gabriel's Oboe (from 'The Mission') - Ennio Morricone (b.1928)