Classical music for a funeral?

[jimslater1957]

Can anyone recommend a calming, soothing piece of classical music to play at my aunt's funeral? what have other people chosen?

Thanks, Jim

[luciestorrs]

Welcome to the forum, Jim. I am sorry for the loss of your aunt.

There's an article on the main Light Beyond site called Sound of the soul: how to choose music for a funeral which you might find useful. It includes a list of suggested classical pieces which I am reproducing below:

Adagio For Strings – Albinoni
Agnus Dei – Samuel Barber
Ave Maria – Andrea Bocelli
Canon in D major – Pachelbel
Lacrimosa, from Requiem in D Minor – W.A. Mozart
The Lark Ascending – Vaughan Williams
Pavane – Fauré
Pie Jesu – Fauré and others

I hope this helps a little. You can find most of these in the Music for funerals section of our bookstore.

[SuzyQ]

We played part of Faure's Requiem at my grandmother's funeral, and that was very beautiful. Not sure which part it was though!

[AmyJoyce]

Jim, you could have a listen to Ave Verum Corpus by Bach, if you like choral music. It's a very beautiful piece, about three minutes long.

Regards, Amy

[jimslater1957]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'll take a look - we have to decide quite quickly, so thanks again for the quick responses.

Jim

[Sunnycharacter]

Adagio for Strings is a wonderful selection. Although it's melancholy notes are combined to tough even the hardest heart, I think it's also a comforting tune. It brings things to mind that make us remember the good times.

[Taggart]

I think some of Bach's Cantatas are just beautiful instrumentally, but I don't know if they're too associated with Christmas to be appropriate for a funeral service.

I'd be happy to have one or two played at mine.

[echos]

I went to a very lovely fruneral a while back for a Native American and they played Native songs on the muted drums and flutes the whole way thru. It was very beautiful.

[riskey58]

I think that is a good idea. But i think that you should pick something that you know the person would have liked.

[sharron1]

I had come across a site calledCaring.com, where they have a list of songs to play at a funeral. Just have a look at it.

Sharron