Funeral March » Funeral Planning

Planning a Funeral Service

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:25:57 +0000

Although inevitable, planning a funeral or memorial service is, without a doubt, a difficult task to perform. Yet, though it is difficult, a funeral or memorial is often considered a rite of passage both for the deceased and the grieving. In an effort to make this necessary task seem less insurmountable, below you’ll find some helpful hints on how to approach and plan a funeral or memorial service.

At First
Some of the first things that should be taken care of are the date and location of the service. Once decided, it is also important to notify friends and family by spreading the word via the newspaper, telephone, and internet. Additionally, selection of a funeral home and final resting place should be decided upon. A majority of establishments require a legal certificate of death before caring for the deceased.

And Next
A large portion of planning will be devoted to the programmatic details of the service. Typically, funerals and memorials include some or all of the following: eulogies, music, religious readings, poetry or prose, a sermon or message, and prayer. The elements you choose to include should be an appropriate representation of your loved one’s life. You should also consider people who may want to take part in the service such as specific ministers, family members, or friends.

At Last
Decorations, flowers, and food or refreshments are all common at funeral services. Many people will bring or send flowers, but it is also appropriate to have flowers custom designed for the service. Providing food or refreshments for everyone who attends can be a daunting task, but caterers are available for these events. As an alternative, relatives and members from your local church are typically very generous and gracious when it comes to preparing and providing food.

Variations on Funeral Marches

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:15:18 +0000

In classical music, funeral marches are typically written in minor keys, with a simple signature to imitate the slow, solemn pace of a funeral procession. Other types of funeral music include dirges, elegies, laments, and requiems.

Dirges are also appropriate music for funerals, as they are mournful songs composed in memorial to a dead person. Dirges express grief without maintaining the rhythm of funeral marches.

An elegy is often described as a poem of mourning. In music, an elegy, sometimes spelled elegie, is a piece that conveys a sad and somber tone. Elegies do not have to be written on a specific death, and may reflect a general melancholy instead.

A lament or lamentation is a song, poem, or piece of music expressing grief, regret, or mourning, often performed by women. The Scottish bagpipe is often associated with purely instrumental laments.

A requiem is the term used for any composition that sets to music religious texts that would be appropriate for a funeral. Originally, requiems were written for the Catholic funeral mass.

Selecting Funeral Music

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:11:41 +0000

Even choosing music for a memorial service or funeral can be quite difficult. Here are a few tips on how to select appropriate music for such a somber occasion.

Celebrating Life Through Music
Choose music that reflects the life of the deceased. For instance, a World War II vet’s service might include “I’ll Be Seeing You (In All the Old Familiar Places),” both as an expression of grief, and as a reflection of time in the Great War.

Remembering Preferences
Select music that the deceased especially enjoyed; this will certainly remind listeners of happy memories. (Truly forward thinking individuals may have already selected songs for their own service; be sure to research this if you are the music organizer.)

Consider Mood
Perhaps more than any other art, music links to our emotions. Memorial services often feature somber pieces for entrance processions, but you may choose hopeful music near the end of the ceremony to leave participants with a lighter feeling.

Involve Family and Friends
Once you have your list of songs, reflect on who might like to perform music during the memorial service; you might be surprised how many family members and friends volunteer to contribute their musical talents in memorial to the deceased.

When To Use Music

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:15:10 +0000

Music can be used in any way that the family feels is appropriate. Music can be played at the funeral service itself as people enter the service or, if conducting an open casket service, as people walk by and pay their last respects. Some families choose to have someone sing or play a song during these services as well.

Music can also be played at the graveside service as well, so long as it is approved by the cemetery or final resting place location managers.

Music can also be incorporated into online memorial pages set up in memory of the loved one. Many memorial sites allow certain songs to be played in conjunction with a slide show or album honoring the life.

Popular Funeral Music

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:49:31 +0000

Music is one of the best ways to capture a memory, evoke an image, or honor a life. When someone passes away, a song or set of songs can be played at the funeral or memorial service that both capture the loved one’s personality and represents the grief felt over the loss.

Music is powerful because it speaks when words cannot. Music not only has the ability to soothe and comfort the soul, but to open and expose it as well. Using music as a part of your service may seem intimidating, but it is most certainly a powerful yet beautiful means of celebrating a life and mourning a death. Let us help you.

This site aims to provide a list of songs that many have recommended as potential funeral songs or marches as well as offer some practical advice on planning and preparing for a funeral service involving music.

Funeral Music: Discover songs others have found beautiful and moving for memorial services.

Funeral Marches: Look at songs best used for processionals and entrance music.

When To Use Music: Learn how to incorporate songs into various types of services.

Selecting Funeral Music: Read helpful advice on choosing appropriate music for funerals.

Variations on Funeral Marches: Learn about other genres of traditional funeral music.

Planning a Funeral: Get a feel for funeral planning as well as some tips along the way.