Peter Stanford’s column (24 January) reminded me of anguished comments from church musicians on Facebook organists forums. In 40 years of playing for funerals I consider that my role is to accompany and try to comfort the bereaved. Too often people choose the easy and dreary option like Psalm 23 to “Crimond”, “O Lord my God” and the unsingable “I watch the sunrise”. An opportunity to reach out to the non-believer is lost.
Why not the great hymns of faith like “Lord of all hopefulness”, “Love divine” and “Thine be the glory” among so many others? I recall a funeral of a young person who had committed suicide, where the parish priest finally agreed that the deceased’s favourite pop song should be played as the coffin left the church. I have never heard a family in such distress literally howling with grief. There is a time and a place for everything and sometimes the wake or the crematorium is a better option for such music.
As to organ music I always want to include Handel’s “I know that my redeemer liveth”, the Angel’s farewell from Elgar’s “Dream of Gerontius” and some Bach, whose music speaks of faith in the face of death.
Happy the organist who can liaise with the family and does not have to sit and listen to CDs! My dear Catenian friend David Barratt loved Mozart, and his funeral Mass concluded with Beethoven’s “Ode to joy” at the family’s request. This is how David wanted to be remembered – always smiling.
John Woodhouse, South Norwood, London
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