Can anyone suggest NSP music that would be appropriate for a funeral?
Sorry but, without knowing the people involved or where in the service it is
to be used, I'm afraid not. From personal experience, unless you're talking
about an anonymous stereotypical funeral (such as may be portrayed in a film
production for some marginal character), it's really a case of 'horses for
courses' if you're not to 'add insult to injury' at a very stressful time.
Rule 1: There are virtually no rules
Almost anything goes or (to roughly quote funeralsuk.com):
Funeral music can be whatever you or the deceased would have wanted it
to
be. Jazz, pop, gospel music, football songs or favourite hymns (whatever
you or the deceased wanted), you can have.
The funeral is an event to both celebrate the dead person's life and to
say
goodbye - so, if a particular song or tune is appropriate, use it.
Rule 2: Use your nous
Choices also depend on whether they're to be ...
* processional,(setting the mood as mourners and/or the coffin enter,
in whichever order decided, given that most probably
won't even be conscious of the music at this point)
* the 'main event' (once everyone is settled, usually a personal favourite
associated with a eulogy, for private reflection)
* or recessional (to sum it all up on leaving the church/chapel)
.. - all the while in keeping with whatever hymns/psalms/songs have been
chosen so that the service 'comes together' as a whole.
But you don't have to take my word for it with so much free advice on the
web like (to name but a few):
* http://www.funeralsuk.com/Topics/Funeral_Music.htm
* http://www.music-for-church-choirs.com/funeral-music.html
* http://www.fawkhamandhartley.org.uk/Info/Funerals/music.htm
Some Local Council crematoria (e.g. Worthing) even list their canned music
online to give folk an idea of what's ready waiting - without recourse to
special request. And I freely admit NSP were far from appropriate the one
time I was faced with this conundrum.
Or perhaps you really meant 'NSP music that would be traditional for a
funeral'. If so, I'm sure others are better placed to comment on that than
li'l ol' me.
Condolences,
Steve Collins
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