• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Funeral help

jvhldb

New member
I got roped into playing for a funeral on Wednesday:eek:. Any advice on what to do, not to do? Both the regular organists are out of town this week, so I can't ask them for help.

Is there any music that I can play before the service (something EASY that can be learned in less than 24 hours)?
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Weird as it may sound, but a funeral can also be a time for rejoicing. This, in some ways, is the celebration of being born into Eternal Life in some religions - Ok, Flight of the Bumblebee would be quite inappropriate (unless specifically requested), but everything does not have to be in a minor key and played so painfully slow - That will put people to sleep.

Handel's Water Music Suite for Organ works well, as does the Pachelbel Canon in D. Jesu, Joy of Mans' Desiring, hymns like Beautiful Saviour, Rock of Ages, What a Friend, Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, (etc)are all ones that I use at funerals here. Of course, I do my own improvs of each of those hymns during which I will employ elaborate key changes and registration changes. And I don't limit my funeral prelude to just the softest flues either - I open it up and let 'er rip a few times too - nothing sacreligious about that whatsoever.

Soothing music works too ... but for me, it's too Funeral Parlor"ish" ... and depressing.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
OMG, never thought of that one ... that would be great, especially out here in this quasi western town ... :lol:.
 

jvhldb

New member
Thanks for the advice, I don't like "dead" funerals either:grin:. When I go to church later to practice I'll see if I can blow the dust of the benches, even if the bereaved don't like it at least I won't fall asleep at the organ;). I just hope I can get the sugested music on the internet as we don't have any music shop in town and I have less than 24 hours to practice
 
A very nice piece you can play also.. is "Adagio in G minor" of Tommaso Albinoni! I had played it sometimes in funerals..It's a great soft piece: you can play chords with left hand, and the solo line (originally destined to a "flauto traverso") with a Orchestral Oboe on the swell or with a sweet soft labial stop!!!

Manuel
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Thanks for the advice, I don't like "dead" funerals either:grin:. When I go to church later to practice I'll see if I can blow the dust of the benches, even if the bereaved don't like it at least I won't fall asleep at the organ;). I just hope I can get the sugested music on the internet as we don't have any music shop in town and I have less than 24 hours to practice

Hi Johan,

Another resource for music is the recently re-opened IMSLP site that has scads of PD scores for the taking.

*PD = Public Domain
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi Brother Mat,

I firmly believe in giving them a good send-off :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Cheers,

CD :):):)
 

Corno Dolce

Admiral Honkenwheezenpooferspieler
Hi CT64,

No offence taken - A little showman-stunt like arm-flinging never hurt anybody :D:D:D

Cheers,

CD :):):)
 
Last edited:

greatcyber

New member
Way back when...about 25 years ago or so, there was a movie made called "Valentino." It had a GREAT funeral scene, complete with wailing and a wildly-garbed woman with a cap on her head that had filaments with balls on the end. She entered the room with quite a commotion. She was wearing a long, flowing cape that had a train that was about 20 feet long. It was made out of carnations. She walked up to the casket, threw her arms over it, sobbing and screeching and saying how much she loved Valentino. Then she undid her clasp and walked away, leaving the casket draped entirely (as well as the room) in flowing carnations.

(I'm odd, I know)
Stephen
 
Top