FUNERAL MUSIC SUGGESTIONS
As gleaned from 41 years of playing for them at Calvary Episcopal
Church
MARGARET DICKINSON
At Calvary Episcopal Church, music is almost always an integral part of the liturgy for the Burial of the Dead. In planning the funeral service, one of the first things that the priest and musician try to impart to family members is that this should be a time for celebration, for the one who has died is now at peace. This is cause for rejoicing. The music should follow that precedent as well, with emphasis on resurrection and joy. The whole purpose is to glorify God, and there are many ways in which music moves people to do just that.
Nevertheless, any death is a very difficult thing for those who are left behind. We at Calvary are very sensitive to those who are grieving, and we share in that sorrow, for there are very few people buried from Calvary whom we do not know and love well. It’s hard for us, too.
There are two liturgies for funerals: Burial I and Burial II. As in Rite I and Rite II Holy Eucharist Liturgies, the difference is primarily the language – Burial II being the contemporary, and one being the “old.” Both liturgies begin joyfully: “I am the resurrection and the life.” The collect states “grant him an entrance into the land of light and joy.” (In II, there are more to choose from.) The Old Testament lessons speak of victory, comfort, righteousness. There are psalms from which to choose dealing with praise, trust, strength, refuge, help, redemption, mercy, light; the New Testament selections are about revelation of glory, eternity, wiping away all tears, and making all things new. After the readings, hymns may be sung. Psalm 23 follows, and it is often done as a musical setting (at that point or elsewhere). The Gospel choices are about everlasting life, good shepherd, resurrection and life, and dwelling places. The prayers are somewhat different in I and II. In either rite, provisions for the celebration of the Holy Eucharists are made, although not mandatory.
We give this very simple synopsis of the content of the liturgy in order to pay a groundwork for the planning of the service, and to demonstrate that the best choices of music lie in the realm of joy and resurrection. Of course, the best way for us to know what music YOU would like at your funeral is for you to tell us! And I don’t mean coming up to the organ after the postlude on Sunday morning and saying, “I want that hymn at my funeral.” The best way is to fill out a burial planning sheet, which is available in the church office. That way, there will be no argument when the time comes, because we will have it on file. Remember, funerals take place suddenly, for the most part, and emotions are right at the surface. This is not the time for the priest or musician to try to persuade the family that Aunt Susie should have loud organ music, when she always held her ears during her lifetime when she thought the organ was too loud; nor is it the time to deny her a tear-jerker if that’s what she had her heart set on. We’re flexible, within limits of the liturgy.
Bear in mind that the first thing you probably should do is choose the lessons to be read. As states above, the prayer book stipulates what the choices are. At Calvary, we always try to relate the music to the lessons. Now by this time, you are probably totally confused. How can the music relate to the lessons? If you already know what music you would like, just write it down! Let me emphasize how very helpful it is to me as a musician for the music to already be selected (within the bounds of good taste, of course!). So here are a few suggestions, incorporating what has been done at Calvary over the years.
HYMNS: These are used at various times during the service, as prescribed. Be sure not to plan too many hymns, but your favorite ones would make a good list from which to choose. Here are some suggestions, using the numbering in the 1982 hymnal:
Hymn 423 – “Immortal, invisible”
Hymn 680 – “O God, our help in ages past” 1111111
Hymn 711 “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”
Hymn 482 – “Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy”
Hymn 688 – “A mighty fortress is our God” 11111111
Hymn 397 – “”Now thank we all our God” 11111
Hymn 657 – “Love divine, all loves excelling” or 460 with 3 verses!
Hymn 690 – “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah” 11
Hymn 390 – “Praise to the Lord” 1111
Hymn 208 – “The Strife is o’er” or any other Easter hymns 111
Hymn 473 – “Lift high the cross” 11
Hymn 624 – “I come with joy”
Hymn 287 – “For all the saints” 11
Hymn 376 – “Joyful, joyful we adore thee” 11
Hymn 645 or 646 – “The King of love my Shepherd is”
Hymn 324 – “Let all mortal flesh keep silence” 11
CHOIR ANTHEMS:
Brahms – “How lovely is thy dwelling place”
Bach – “Jesu, joy of man’s desiring”
Bach – Cantata 106 (Actus tragicus)
ORGAN SELECTIONS:
Sowerby “Let all mortal flesh keep silence”
Widor – “Toccata in F Major” (Triumphal)
Paul Manz – “O God our help in ages past” (Partita)
Bach – Prelude in C Major
Bach – Prelude in E Flat (or/and fugue)
Mozart “Fantasy in f minor’ (organist needs to be good!)
Bach – “In peace and joy I now depart”
Bach – “Before thy throne I now appear”
VOCAL SOLOS:
Gordon Jacob – “Brother James’ Air” or other settings of Psalm 23
Mendelssohn – “Then shall the righteous shine forth” (tenor solo)
Any settings of the 23rd Psalm