Funeral Music

[thedrizzle]

This is kind of an odd question and I only ask because whenever somebody passes away in my family I usually get asked to play at the funeral. Any suggestions for appropriate pieces to perform at such an occassion. I know this is a weird question and the reason I ask is my grandfather has been sick for a while and I would like to prepare something fitting for a man I really respect. Recuerdos and Julia Florida are already off the list. Thanks

D

[nylon6]

A slow movement by Bach would be nice--any of the Sarabands from the Cello Suites. The Andante from the 2nd Violin Sonata is very moving and dignified. The Largo from the F minor Piano Concerto is also very beautiful--and rather challenging to play. Weiss' Tombeau to Logy might work, too.

[Techmanac]

This is kind of an odd question and I only ask because whenever somebody passes away in my family I usually get asked to play at the funeral. Any suggestions for appropriate pieces to perform at such an occassion. I know this is a weird question and the reason I ask is my grandfather has been sick for a while and I would like to prepare something fitting for a man I really respect. Recuerdos and Julia Florida are already off the list. Thanks

D


Bachs BWV 997

[brian richardson]

there is a tarrega transcription of a piece
by beethoven called 'marcia funebre' which is
somber, dignified, and quite powerful at times.
PM me if i can help you.

[keith]

lagrima comes to mind.

[Pumping Carbon]

Handel's "Sarabande and Variations."

[Quoise1203]

I played Canco del Lladre at my grandfather's funeral several weeks ago

[Sandra]

My best suggestion would be to stay away from anything too ponderous or heavy/dark (e.g., minor keys). Much as I love Bach's "Chaconne" and Mertz's "Elegy", I think they would be too depressing for a funeral.

Don't know why you would eliminate "Julia Florida", I think that it and "Lagrima" have a bittersweet, evocative quality that might be appropriate for the occasion.

You can't go wrong with most Bach, and I also think "Cavatina" would be good. They both have some familiarity for a non-CG audience.

[thedrizzle]

Thanks for all the input everybody, lots of good suggestions to think about.

Sandra-my aunt got Julia Florida

I just got the sheet music for the two Bach chorales arranged by David Russell, so those might be nice

[khayes]

Give consideration to "In Sorrow's Wake" by Andrew York.

[Sasquatch51]

As Ken said, In Sorrow's Wake would be a good piece to play, and it's well within the reach of a good intermediate player. There are a couple of stretches that take a little practice and some of the harmonics take some getting used to, but overall it's attainable.

Lagrima is a good short piece and as someone already mentioned, there are several Bach pieces that always work well, a couple of possibilities besides the ones alreadyt mentioned are Sheep May Safely Graze and Jesu, Joy of Man's desiring.

Another possibility is Ravel's Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte, although the difficulty factor for that piece is considerable higher than the Bach, Tarrega and York pieces.

[Tony Hyman]

,
Hi Drizzel , I was at my guitar partner's Funeral about 2 jrs back and I also wondered
what requiem dose a CG player play at a funeral the above mentioned pieces
are of course appropriet .After the funeral I decided to write a piece which I
called Salig in U Hande (Tranquill in Thy Hands) in typical Largo Style you can
listen to it in Midi Format at Scriptorium at http:www.vpmag.com/nwc/index.html under the composer section .If you like
the piece I could send you the live mp3 CG part as well as the Score in Pdf to your email.
Or alternatively you could download the Piece from Scriptorium if you a
Noteworthy Composer Reader which is a Free Download.

[khayes]

Hi Tony - I know I'm a moron but I would like to hear your piece. I followed the link - do I have to download something to listen to .nwc files?

[Tony Hyman]

Hi Khayse ,
Yes you can download a Note Worthy Composer reader for Free and then the
it should read the piece in standard notation .You could also download Notation Reader which is also free but I am not sure wether it would
read as a stacked guitar part.Otherwise I would gladly send you the mp3
and part in pdf to your email if you wish .

[thedrizzle]

Tony, it would be great to have a score of your music. I'll pm you my e-mail.

[Sandra]

Sandra-my aunt got Julia Florida
Sorry to hear about your aunt. But I would think with any time at all elapsed between funerals, that a non-CG crowd isn't going to remember this piece. And so what if they did? I've never heard anyone complain, "OMG, that's the exact same march-down-the-aisle piece they played at the last wedding I went to!"

[tempesto]

Baroque music is a good place to look - you get both the transcendence and the maggots. In addition to Bach, there's Couperin and Weiss, whose tombeaus for Baron d'Hartig and Comte D'Logy are particularily suitable. If you want more of the skeleton beneath the veil, go with Dowland. Personally, I'd rather go out with Brazilian Choros. On mandolin.

[lagg]

What about La Catedral?? At least first two movements are according to the mood...

[TxClassPlayer]

El Testament d'Amelia - Llobet,
Cancion del Emperador - Narvaez,
Estudio 1 - Sor.
La Grima (obviously).

I tend to play things slow. I would love to be a speed demon but haven't gotten that good yet...yet I prefer most pieces slow. Estudio 1 can be very dignified. I was present at a master class given by Elliot Fisk where someone performed Bachs Chaconne. Elliot talked about how to Bach the climbing tones represented heaven, reaching for God and the descending represented death. There is a lot of that in Estudio 1.

When I play Cancion del Emperador I visualize it as a conversation between God and mankind, God and me...but it will work as a conversation between someone and the departed. It flows at times, hesitates at times, starts and stops and can be very angry, very sad, then moving into very beautiful and transcendant(?).

[Rio]

I'm a little late on this thread, I know...

I listened to Paul O'Dette playing Dowland the other night, and one piece stuck in my mind to the extent that I've resolved to learn it.

"Tarleton's Resurrection". It's in volume one of the Amsco "Library of Guitar Classics".

I sight read it through, and then thought of this thread.

Sweet and sad. A perfect farewell. Rather short, but you could probably come up with a "division" or two to extend it.

Rio

[brian richardson]

nice one Rio!!
i forgot all about that tune and very
appropriate.