Funeral Recessional Music

[Bruce Miles]

I have been using the slow section (Grave) of the Fantasia in G (BWV 572,
Novello Bk9 p170) as the music to accompany the outgoing funeral procession
for some years now. The pointer came from Winston Churchill's funeral way
back in 1965. As a very slow march it is absolutely ideal for this, you can
start softly and gradually build up to a more or less triumphal finish if
the occasion requires. Also, it's a good length (about 9 minutes) but can
easily be shortened if required.
I would dearly like to find something else which is as good and as suitable
just for a change. Any suggestions? It doesn't have to be JSB, but would be
preferred.

Perhaps we should have an classical organ music newsgroup !!

Regards Bruce Miles.

[Ben Crick]

In article <712p6b$t6j$1...@plutonium.btinternet.com>, "Bruce Miles"

<Bruce...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> I would dearly like to find something else which is as good and as
> suitable just for a change. Any suggestions? It doesn't have to be JSB,
> but would be preferred.

The 5-part Fantasia in c minor BWV 562 springs to mind (Novello, Book 3,
page 57). I heard John Scott play it on the organ at St Paul's Cathedral
once during Lent. He took it much slower than most people play it, and
very splendid it was too.

I have used the (in)famous Toccata in d minor (without the Fugue) as
a funeral outgoing voluntary. But check with the clergy first, because
some like to "read out" the deceased to the words of the Nunc Dimittis.

My favourite non-Bach is the Parry /Elegy/ in Ab "for the occasion of
the Funeral of Sydney, 14th Earl of Pembroke. April 7th, 1913",
Novello Edition 14063. The RSCM has it on their stock list of Organ
music.

Or how about Karg-Elert's March Triomphale "Now thank we all our God"
(Carl Simon Musikverlag). And for something entirely different, try
Jean Langlais' "Mors et Resurrectio", No2 of the "Trois Paraphrases
Gre/goriennes" (Editions Phillipo, Paris). It takes about 6 minutes to
perform, ending with the "Last Trump" on solo Tuba and the Resurrection
of the Saints on the tutti. The better-known "Te Deum" (No 3) is also
suitable.

HTH

Ben

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