Thread: What do you want to be played at your funeral? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by George Spigot (# 253) on :
 
Inspired by this thread in purg: Goodbye England's rose, may you ever grow in our hearts

I'd be interested to know what shipmates would like to have played at their funeral.

Up until this week I didn't have any preference at all but then this track came up during random shuffle and I got to thinking.....that would be a good track to be cremated to.

Portishead - It's a Fire
 

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Posted by George Spigot (# 253) on :
 
Just read my post and I swear to all thats holy I did not at all see any pun between cremation and the song title until just now!
 

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Posted by sabine (# 3861) on :
 
Sometimes in a bad mood, I think I'd like to have The Road to Nowhere by the Talking Heads. . .with the assembled mourners singing the lyrics, including the shouts and grunts.

But then my saner self prevails.

sabine
 

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Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :
 
Seriously, I'd like to have "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light". It always makes me yearn for Heaven.

[tangent]Anyone else having trouble with the sound from YouTube? Nada sound for me right now. I thought my speakers had gone down until Windows made those cute little chime sounds when I rebooted. Pandora is okay, too.[/tangent]
 

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Posted by Silver Faux (# 8783) on :
 
"We ain't gonna take it" by Twisted Sister.
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
I'd like to have the choir sing the Nunc Dimittis (don't mind which chant, probably the one they know best at the time, so the singing sounds confident).

Given enough confident voices, I'd also have 'Beati Quoram Via' (Stanford), although 'God be in my head' (Walford Davies) might be better if resources are low.

But I shan't come back to haunt my family if they decide on other music - I'll be past caring by then and they're the ones who have to choose stuff to help them through. As long as they don't choose 'Ding, dong, the witch is dead', in which case, obviously, I'll haunt them until the Twelfth of Never.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
All Things Must Pass, either by George or Paul, I don't mind.
 

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Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
"Into the West" by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore, sung by Annie Lennox.

[ 23. June 2012, 16:34: Message edited by: Nenya ]
 

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Posted by Polly Plummer (# 13354) on :
 
Purcell's music for the funeral of Queen Mary, performed of course by brilliant singers and instrumentalists.
 

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Posted by Schroedinger's cat (# 64) on :
 
An old song by a band who have not yet been born, and who will not produce any music for another 60 years.

REM "Everybody hurts" would be good. And "from the river" as people were leaving.

Some part of me would also like "November Rain", with the final piece just starting as the coffin goes through the curtains.
 

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Posted by no_prophet (# 15560) on :
 
Ode to Joy, Beethoven. It's a family tradition since apparently the 1920s, played at funerals and weddings.

Amazing Grace, however will be distinctly not played, as this has come up in the last 30 years or so as a funeral cliché within our opinionated living and deceased family members.
 

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Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :
 
My two essentials are a recording of Gundula Janowitz singing Strauss' 'Beim Schlafengehen' and a good recording of 'Soave sia il vento'. Kitsch? Yes. Camp? Yes. But I'll be dead - and de mortuis nil nisi bonum*.


* Usually translated 'never speak ill of the dead'.
 

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Posted by Qoheleth. (# 9265) on :
 
The complete Barbirolli/Halle Dream of Gerontius, please.
 

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Posted by AristonAstuanax (# 10894) on :
 
Mahler's "Urlicht," best known for being the fourth movement in his second symphony.
 

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Posted by Matariki (# 14380) on :
 
A bit left field here but "Into the Sun" by Jason Arthur.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
"Forever Young" - the acoustic version
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Hm.

You know what? "Shosholoza."
 

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Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :
 
"Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye"
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
Another vote for "God be in my head"; I also want "If you love me", and Psalm 23 only if it's the psalm for the day.
 

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Posted by Mary LA (# 17040) on :
 
God of Mercy and Compassion. If I die in Lent or Passiontide.

Or O Love That Will Not Let Me Go.

Or Shoshaloza.
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
It would be rather good to be played out to the strains of Bach's St. Anne Fugue. (Variations on 'O God our help in ages past')
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Nenya:
"Into the West" by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore, sung by Annie Lennox.

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I chose that for my mother's funeral and now no one else in the family can bear to listen to it.

I'd like it too, if they let me.
 

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Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :
 
Bach's Toccata in C BWV 564, and 'And Can It Be' for one of the hymns.

(BTW, this guy on the YouTube is doing a nice job on the tracker with the coupled manuals...your pinkies must be strong to do so!)
 

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Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
To say nothing of his pedalwork. Wow! What a beautiful instrument and a great performance!
 

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Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
Without a doubt, I want the Sumsion Nunc Dimitis in G. I'd also like "O Jesus I have promised". That's for the serious stuff in church.

At the Crem, I'd like a Barber Shop Quartet singing "My comrades, when I'm no more drinking"
 

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Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 
To say nothing of his pedalwork. Wow! What a beautiful instrument and a great performance!
 

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Posted by Paddy O'Furniture (# 12953) on :
 
Let's see... a few selections from the John Rutter "Requiem" but I'd have to go listen to it now to decide which sections I'd want sung.

"Follow me, follow you" ? Not sure of the exact title but it's by Genesis, and Phil Collins sings it.
 

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Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :
 
Another vote for Purcell's funeral music for Queen Mary.

Or if we're looking for something simpler, the Old Hundredth.
 

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Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :
 
When my father died I had to pick the hymns for his funeral, and chose the 23rd Psalm to Crimond (I was younger then and not very 'churched') - only to discover afterwards that he had loathed it!

So I have made things easier for my family by writing down what *I* want at mine.

Before the service, "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis" (Vaughan Williams); and during, "Blessed be your name" by Matt Redman; Robin Marks' "Days of Elijah" and "How deep the Father's love for me" (Stuart Townend). THAT should have them all in floods by the end.

Oh, and "Guide me O thou great Jehovah" as a nod to my Welsh heritage!

Mrs S. gleefully choosing all the music for once!
 

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Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 
Cricket.
 

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Posted by MSHB (# 9228) on :
 
Spem in alium.

That way, at least 40 people will have to turn up for my funeral (41 if you count the conductor).

PS: for "played at my funeral" read "performed at my funeral".

[ 25. June 2012, 12:11: Message edited by: MSHB ]
 

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Posted by Amanda B. Reckondwythe (# 5521) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Paddy O'Furniture:
Let's see... a few selections from the John Rutter "Requiem" but I'd have to go listen to it now to decide which sections I'd want sung.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
Cricket.

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An Ashes match, presumably?
 

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Posted by IceQueen (# 8170) on :
 
Apart from Purcell's glorious and aforementioned Funeral Music, I would like Raymond Warren's choral setting of C S Lewis'
What the bird said, early in the year.

Words of hope, and Professor Warren's finest music, in my opinion.
 

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Posted by Anna B (# 1439) on :
 
I was just thinking the other day what a lovely funeral processional "The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended" would make.
 

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Posted by MarsmanTJ (# 8689) on :
 
I'd like either played (or ideally sung by a decent choir) the closing 'God shall wipe away all tears' from The Armed Man, by Karl Jenkins. And another vote for Beati Quorum Via.
 

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Posted by Og, King of Bashan (# 9562) on :
 
I have a gradually evolving lists of hymns. "Ye Holy Angels Bright" and "They Cast their Nets in Galilee" are two of the mainstays.

If there is a choir, as I said a few weeks ago on another thread, I would like Friedell's "Draw us In the Spirits Tether."

But for the real musical fireworks, you will have to wait for the procession out and around the block to the reception, which should look something like this.
 

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Posted by busyknitter (# 2501) on :
 
Teenage Kicks by the Undertones followed by Mozart's Requiem (all of it).
 

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Posted by Balaam (# 4543) on :
 
I've always thought going throgh the curtain to The Trammps Disco Inferno would be a good way to go out.

In saner moments, and because not everybody's sense of humour is as dark as mine, U2's Gloria would be a good choice.

Forever Young sounds like a good choice, but for me it would be Joan Baez version (Sorry Zappa,I am an heretick.)
 

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Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
I would like Arthur Sullivan's "God Shall Wipe Away All Tears".

Moo
 

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Posted by redderfreak (# 15191) on :
 
This:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXCoHxX1OC8
Please note in case I die tonight.
 

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Posted by piglet (# 11803) on :
 
The Old Hundredth (Vaughan Williams' arrangement) and Guide me, O thou great Jehovah with the descant, Psalm 76 to the Purcell chant based on the Queen Mary funeral music (with percussion would be fun ...), Byrd's Mass for Four Voices and the Nunc dimittis from Gibbons' Short Service.

Organ music should include Howells' Master Tallis's Testament before the service and Susato's La mourisque and the Battle Pavane afterwards.

The Sortie in E♭ by Lefebure-Wely has become a bit of a family fixture; D. played it by request at the funerals of my brother-in-law and my mother, but it is very silly ...

Oh yes, and if they use anything other than the Book of Common Prayer and the Authorised Version of the Bible, I'll come back and haunt them.

[ 26. June 2012, 01:20: Message edited by: piglet ]
 

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Posted by Bernard Mahler (# 10852) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Anna B:
I was just thinking the other day what a lovely funeral processional "The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended" would make.

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I've listed it -played by a military band as the Naval Sunset Hymn.
Also Barber's Adagio for Strings and Nimrod.
 

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Posted by PaulBC (# 13712) on :
 
Prelude Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring Bach
1st hymn Abide With Me
Psalm 23rd Crimond
2nd hymn Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Recessional Jerusalem
Postlude Elgars Variations Nimrod

These would be my selections for a church funeral.Of course in 30+ years that might no longer be the done thing. And of course what does
one chices for music for ones own funeral do for the mourners ? Maybe the music should be uplifting happy stuff .
 

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Posted by Marvin the Martian (# 4360) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:

quote:

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Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
Cricket.

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An Ashes match, presumably?

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*rimshot*


 

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Posted by Selmo (# 14632) on :
 
My daughter has asked that, should she turn up her toes before I do, our small worship band (including me on drums)perform Norman Greenbaum's 1969 hit "Spirit in the sky" for her.

As for myself, I want to go out to the strains of Vivaldi's "Gloria". (A Methodist requesting a song in Latin; I must be loosing my marbles.)
 

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Posted by ProgenitorDope (# 16648) on :
 
There's a song by my favorite group, Nightwish, called "The Islander." It IS about suicide, yes, but the lyrics are about casting off misery and the tune is appropriate enough, I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5juc6fmgylw

Though that choice may be influenced by being in the misery of bar prep right now. Normally, I'd want to be buried as I lived: irreverant and trying to make people laugh. As such, "Don't Fear the Reaper" with whoever owed me the most money having to play "more cowbell" throughout.
 

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Posted by Barnabas Aus (# 15869) on :
 
We don't have a choir, so I want the congregation to raise the roof. Opening hymn Guide me O thou Great Jehovah, then Praise to the Holiest in the Height [Gerontius] closing with Thine be the Glory Risen Conquering Son. I was going to have the Shepherd Song setting of the 23rd Psalm until my wife vetoed the 23rd altogether, so I have to rethink that element. Had thought of a couple of modern settings to be sung during communion, but I think I might have to run them past her as well.
 

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Posted by Bernard Mahler (# 10852) on :
 
In addition to my previous choice, I suggest, quite theologically, "Happy Birthday to You".
 

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Posted by rolyn (# 16840) on :
 
Those were the Days of our Lives

--- Freddie Mercury
 

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Posted by leo (# 1458) on :
 
William Croft's Burial Service, especially the sentences, if it's during term-time and the choir are there.

If in the vac., a CD of ot.

[ 29. June 2012, 15:02: Message edited by: leo ]
 

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Posted by badger@thesett (# 16422) on :
 
And can it be
especially the last verse
No condemnation now I dread
[had that verse when I got baptised]


and
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
the only other verse I know to it is
No more crying then we are going to see the King

and finishing with something lively, maybe a ska beat
 

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Posted by Caissa (# 16710) on :
 
Where the Streets Have No Names
 

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Posted by Enigma (# 16158) on :
 
Since I won't be there at my funeral I will leave the choice of hymns to whoever is left behind and how they would want to remember me.

For myself though I think -
O Jesus I have promised to serve You to the end.

I pray that this will be so.
 

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Posted by Hilda of Whitby (# 7341) on :
 
I'm partial to 'That'll do' by Randy Newman, sung by Peter Gabriel, from 'Babe, Pig in the City', especially these lines:

"A kind and steady heart is sure to see you through"
the remaining fine lyrics now available here

I capitalized "someone" because the very first time I heard the song, this image flashed in my mind of Jesus, God, an angel ... a celestial being ... greeting me at the point of death and letting me know that it was all right. That might not be what Randy Newman had in mind, but it's a very comforting image to me, and in fact I can't write about it without choking up. (Please don't laugh ...)

Another one I really like is 'Spirit in the sky'.

[Edit: possibly over-cautious attention to potential copyright violations]

[ 30. June 2012, 02:01: Message edited by: Zappa ]
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
[Hosting]

A Gentle Reminder™ to all to avoid possible copyright violations. Hilda's slice may have been fine legally, but I'd prefer to err on the side of caution.

Zappa
Cautiously leaping where every host has leaped before

[/Hosting]
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by badger@thesett:

Soon and very soon we are going to see the King
the only other verse I know to it is
No more crying then we are going to see the King

and finishing with something lively, maybe a ska beat

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Oh, that sounds wonderful...

I was thinking about it today and realized that, somewhere in the general music set I would want
this, and I would want it made very clear it's a dedication to my Neph.

[ 30. June 2012, 03:03: Message edited by: Kelly Alves ]
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Last one and then I will stop screwing around. If I ever do get hit by a bus, not only do I want you all to gather together, have many beers, play and discuss the song "Africa" by Toto in my memory, but I want all of you to forever burst into tears at the mere sound of the opening kalimba.
Bong bong, ba bong bong BONNGG... "Oh, she was too young!" (sob)
 

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Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Organ playing the Ashokan Farewell beforehand.

Psalm 139 to Highland Cathedral
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.

Coffin carried out preceded by a piper playing Dark Island
 

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Posted by Galloping Granny (# 13814) on :
 
We don't have a choir but we all sing!:

All my hope on God is founded (tune Groeswen)
Be Thou my vision (Tune Slane)
Where the road runs out (Colin Gibson)
Reading: Donne's Death, be not proud

Haven't thought of played music, but if a piper was available to play me out of the church it would be rather nice.

GG
 

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
The Incomparable and Amazing Ella singing Every Time We Say Goodbye and the slow movement from the Schubert String Quintet, the same as my dad chose for his funeral.

Here's Ella with it now.
 

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Posted by snowgoose (# 4394) on :
 
Another vote for "Into the West." As soon as I heard it I knew I would want it sung at my funeral. My husband feels the same (about his). On the other hand, funerals are for the living, not the dead, so if something else would be of more comfort to my survivors, that that is what they should have.
 

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Posted by agingjb (# 16555) on :
 
Der Abschied from Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde.
 

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Posted by Zappa (# 8433) on :
 
I'm almost tempted to say that speaking in tongues is verboten
 

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Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
The Incomparable and Amazing Ella singing Every Time We Say Goodbye and the slow movement from the Schubert String Quintet, the same as my dad chose for his funeral.

Here's Ella with it now.

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