How to Pick Music for a Funeral
Picking music for a funeral can be a difficult task--especially when you are grieving. Make the grief process easier by following these tips and finding funeral songs that best represent your emotions and your memories of your loved one.
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Instructions
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Choose songs that help mourners reflect on the decedent, grieve over his passing and celebrate his life. If the song has a special relevance to the decedent, consider preparing a short verbal introduction so that all mourners can understand its significance.
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Evoke emotions with your song choices. Pick traditional songs like hymns that can soothe, comfort and inspire along with contemporary songs that evoke memories of the decedent. Consider including the decedent's favorite songs or songs that best encapsulate the decedent's personality, life, preferences or philosophies.
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Make the necessary preparations if you'd like to employ a choir, soloist or organist. Check with churches to get referrals, phone numbers and available dates. If you decide to employ a choir, soloist or organist, meet with the musicians or conductor and ask to hear recordings of their work to help you decide on a musical piece with which they are familiar.
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Honor the decedent's musical requests. If a decedent extended a verbal or written request for a specific song to be played at her funeral, find a way to include the song during her funeral proceedings. Don't shy away from the song because it's upbeat or isn't a traditional choice. There are no "correct" funeral music choices and it's important to honor the decedent by complying with her final requests and honoring her the way she would have preferred.
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Check lyrics. Examine the songs you have chosen to ensure that the lyrics are appropriate to be heard by mourners of all ages.
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Pay any fees associated with choosing music for a funeral. Choirs and organists usually charge upfront fees for their services; churches may sometimes ask for donations before the actual service. Ask vicars or the funeral organizer about fees associated with using prerecorded, copyrighted music.
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Tips & Warnings
Consult hymn books to find hymns to sing at funerals. Songs from the 23rd Psalm are popular choices.
Run Internet searches for songs popularly played at funerals. Many websites offer sample sound files that can help you decide on songs.
Pick songs that can easily be reproduced and listened to after the funeral ends. Mourners may request their own copies of songs after the funeral to remember and reflect upon their loved one.
