Music for Funerals
Introduction
“Music is integral to the funeral rites. It allows the community to express convictions and feelings that words alone may fail to convey. It has the power to console and uplift the mourners and to strengthen the unity of the assembly in faith and love. The texts of the songs chosen for a particular celebration should express the paschal mystery of the Lord’s suffering, death, and triumph over death and should be related to the readings from Scripture.
“Since music can evoke strong feelings, the music for the celebration of the funeral rites should be chosen with great care. The music at funerals should support, console, and uplift the participants and should help to create in them a spirit of hope in Christ’s victory over death and in the Christian’s share in that victory.”
(From the General Introduction from the Order of Christian Funerals) *
Most of us are rarely asked to choose music for a church service and may not know where to start. The list below is provided to give some ideas (it is not an ‘official list’ of approved music. Sometimes there is already a starting point: the wishes of the dead person. These may have been written down, or you may know a favourite hymn or hymns which they would have wanted or which you yourself find inspiring or comforting. This list cannot include every possible hymn, but it contains some which have been found helpful and may help you think of others.
If you find the task of choosing music daunting, please say so. In the same way you may not feel like singing and would prefer us to arrange a soloist / cantor or a group of singers. This can all be arranged easily through the Director of Music. Should you decide to have one, two or three hymns, here are some suggestions:
Abide with me
All my hope on God is founded
Be thou my vision
Firmly I believe and truly
For all the saints
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer
I heard the voice of Jesus say
O Jesus, I have promised
Lead, kindly light
Lord of all hopefulness
Now the green blade riseth
O God, our help in ages past
Praise to the holiest in the height
Praise we our God with joy
Sing with all the saints in glory
Soul of my Saviour
Thine be the glory
Additional Music
Psalms
To have a Responsorial Psalm sung, (after the first reading) as in many places on Sundays, a cantor / soloist will be needed. A psalm can be chosen when you decide the readings with the Celebrant, alternatively the Director of Music is happy to advise.
Alternatively, the psalm may be sung by everybody present as a hymn or song: Psalm 22(23): The Lord's my shepherd or The king of love my shepherd is • Psalm 102(103): Praise, my soul, the King of heaven • Psalm 41(42): As longs the deer
Alleluia
The Gospel Acclamation is important as it prepares everyone to listen to the Gospel. In Lent, the Gospel Acclamation is not Alleluia but 'Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory' or a similar verse. If there is no cantor, then usually the Celebrant will lead everyone in the singing of this acclamation.
Mass Settings
If at all possible, the Holy, Holy, Memorial Acclamation and Agnus Dei should be sung at Mass in English or Latin. If a Cantor has been engaged this will be led by her / him. The settings will be simple and familiar to our parish and likely to be easy for the people attending to sing.
Additional Music
If a soloist / cantor has been engaged to sing, then you might like her / him to sing for the entrance procession into Church, the recessional and during Holy Communion and at the Commendation. Here is a selection of suitable pieces by way of example:
Ave Maria – Schubert or Bach/Gounod.
Panis Angelicus – Franck
Where’re ye walk – Handel
I know that my Redeemer liveth – Handel
Pie Jesu – Faure or Lloyd Webber
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring – J.S.Bach
Sheep may safely graze – J.S.Bach
In Paradisum – Gregorian chant
Faith Vigil ended – Nestor.
As with all the music for the funeral rites in church, only sacred (Christian) texts are appropriate as nothing should impede or overshadow the Church’s belief and proclamation in the Lord’s Resurrection as celebrated in the Funeral Liturgy.
Secular music, songs or pieces of instrumental music that may have had a particular association with your loved one, are best played at the Crematorium or around the grave.
Following the Catholic Church’s Instruction on Music in the Sacred Liturgy ‘De musica sacra et sacra liturgia’ recorded music / CDs etc. are not permitted to be played in the church.
Contact us
Please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Music to arrange a meeting or a telephone call to discuss the music for the Funeral Liturgy of your loved one. Organist, soloists, cantor, choir, instrumentalists etc may all be booked through him. We politely request that no musicians ‘external’ to OLEM are engaged to sing / perform in church before first discussing this with the Director of Music.
* Text based on ‘Into Your Hands: planning a Catholic funeral, readings and prayers’ © 1999 Liturgy Office of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, published by Decani Books (0845 456 8392)