three more funerals in May

I sang at four in all this month. I have already mentioned the first – the second was that of an old friend back in Cambridge. We sang Byrd’s four-part Mass, and I heard a voice from heaven by Tomkins, which I used to sing at that church when I was a student, but haven’t done since. The final contribution from the choir was the closing chorale from Bach’s St John Passion. I have sung this recently and it is one of those pieces that is guaranteed to reduce me to a blob of jelly, whatever circumstances I hear or sing it in.

Three days later I was back in Bath at the church I used to attend for the funeral of the husband of a fellow member of the choir. This time my musical contribution was to help lead hymns (mostly Easter-themed) and plainchant, and more elaborate pieces were performed by others. With both of these two, the choice of music seemed personal rather than having been suggested by a funeral director or based on what the family had heard at other funerals (and I knew family members well enough to know this was actually the case).

I have now resolved to take an iPad when I sing at funerals and weddings. so that when there aren’t enough service sheets to go round I can photograph one and sing from the screen. How else can I give a decent account of the hymns with the correct words, and lead the spoken parts of the service, as the choir is supposed to do? This turned out not to be necessary at the funeral of a former Lay Reader at my church as there were plenty of orders of service. We sang Rutter’s The Lord bless you and keep you and three hymns.

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