This morning I played a funeral which I would like to be the last time that I ever have to play "Be Not Afraid" ever again.
I find that mostly when people pick out music for funerals they select music that they are familiar with and have heard before at funerals, etc. They have a sentimental connection with the song, it seems meaningful to them. I have a list of "approved music" that people mostly try to work with but I always still hear "Can we please bend the rule just this once and have 'Amazing Grace', 'On Eagles Wings'... fill in the blanks.
But what I have also found is that if I take the time to explain to people that the Church has given us proper texts to sing at funeral masses which express perfectly the intention of the funeral mass they are usually shocked and very interested. I find that this checks the "meaningful box" that they need to satisfy--and then some. Then I show them the texts, and describe how they perfectly express our prayer for the deceased and how they blend perfectly with the rest of the rite and they are usually blown away! People are conventionally selecting "May Flights of Angels" out of Adoremus as the recessional for this reason.
I thought to myself today after finishing "Be Not Afraid"--what if I had proper texts set to familiar tunes that I could just as easily slide onto the list that would be just as persuading. Needless to say, during the homily I scratched out some ideas and I would love some feedback, editorial help, etc. If anyone else is happy with the final product I would gladly share the result in the commons.
Here's an introit text I scratched out, it is in Common Meter--"St. Columba" (The King of Love...) sounds very nice with it, or any other preferred tune could surely be used:
1. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, our God we pray;
And let your light perpetual shine down on them today.
2. For unto you our praise is due in Zion, saving Lord;
So unto you we lift our voice, to you who hear our prayer.
(It would be good to find a way for the final syllables to rhyme here, but I'm struggling with this... suggestions welcome!)
3. Repeat vs. 1
Please share your thoughts! How about the Offertory and Communion now?
I find that mostly when people pick out music for funerals they select music that they are familiar with and have heard before at funerals, etc. They have a sentimental connection with the song, it seems meaningful to them. I have a list of "approved music" that people mostly try to work with but I always still hear "Can we please bend the rule just this once and have 'Amazing Grace', 'On Eagles Wings'... fill in the blanks.
But what I have also found is that if I take the time to explain to people that the Church has given us proper texts to sing at funeral masses which express perfectly the intention of the funeral mass they are usually shocked and very interested. I find that this checks the "meaningful box" that they need to satisfy--and then some. Then I show them the texts, and describe how they perfectly express our prayer for the deceased and how they blend perfectly with the rest of the rite and they are usually blown away! People are conventionally selecting "May Flights of Angels" out of Adoremus as the recessional for this reason.
I thought to myself today after finishing "Be Not Afraid"--what if I had proper texts set to familiar tunes that I could just as easily slide onto the list that would be just as persuading. Needless to say, during the homily I scratched out some ideas and I would love some feedback, editorial help, etc. If anyone else is happy with the final product I would gladly share the result in the commons.
Here's an introit text I scratched out, it is in Common Meter--"St. Columba" (The King of Love...) sounds very nice with it, or any other preferred tune could surely be used:
1. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, our God we pray;
And let your light perpetual shine down on them today.
2. For unto you our praise is due in Zion, saving Lord;
So unto you we lift our voice, to you who hear our prayer.
(It would be good to find a way for the final syllables to rhyme here, but I'm struggling with this... suggestions welcome!)
3. Repeat vs. 1
Please share your thoughts! How about the Offertory and Communion now?