playing for a baby's funeral

[Cosmosa]

I recently was given very helpful advice about playing at the end of a funeral on this forum and have now added Buxtehude Eine Feste Burg very successfully. Very sadly I have to play for the funeral of a 3 month baby next week and am wondering if I should just play 'normal' music beforehand.

[dll927]

Which raises the question, just what do you mean by "normal" music??? Surely not "Twelfth Street Rag"!! But there are many hymns that would be appropriate under the circumstances.

[musicalis]

May be you could play La Berceuse de Vierne (Vierne's Lullaby)

[Cosmosa]

He he! Thank you. That's a good start.

[Flute'n'Pedal]

The hymn "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" is very appropriate for a child's funeral. I also like "When at Night I go to Sleep" from the opera "Hansel and Gretel."

[wljmrbill]

First thing I always do is ask the family if there is any music they prefer to hear...after all it is for them anyway and not the person who passed into another life.In general for childrens funerals I try and play music I feel the family might not remember as tied to the their child as time passes. Bach, Handel are always good. I like the idea of " When at night I go to sleep" be a nice theme and variation to do.Goodluck

[Cosmosa]

Many thanks for the help. I couldn't find the hymn 'safe in the arms of Jesus' but it made me look at other hymns and I found a Graham Kendrick one Peace I give to you which seems rather nice. I may look at the When at night I go to sleep for another time. I don't ever meet the family but they have asked via the vicar for All things Bright and Beautiful to be played at some time before the service. That is helpful advice re Bach since I am always wondering what proportion of the music should be known by the mourners. e.g. I play Ich Ruf mainly because it is so secure, but then wonder what effect it has.

[Krummhorn]

Some appropriate hymns come to my mind:

• Children of the Heavenly Father
• Jesus Loves Me
• Jesus Loves the Little Children

I really like the Hansel & Gretel music idea of Flute'n'Pedal ... had not thought of that before, but ever so appropriate.

[Contratrombone64]

have you thought of asking the clergy what s/he thinks is appropraite as s/he would have spoken to the grieving parents. An extremely difficult service to play for.

[Houshintida]

have you tried to ask the parents of what hym did they like you to play on their child's funeral?..go, better ask the parents and discuss what hyms they want you to perform.