Funerals.
With 4 occurring in 5 days time, I feel it appropriate to reflect on the musical planning of such:
3/4 funerals include Amazing Grace
3/4 funerals include Ave Maria*
3/4 include On Eagle's Wings
3/4 include Be Not Afraid
1/4 included performances by a Spanish guitar/tambourine/mariachi band from a parish an hour away (i renounce all previous statements about publishers inclusion of "mariachi" music for Spanish-speaking peoples as blind sighted and racist...I am now convinced [yes, because of one encounter, call me close-minded] that every person of Mexican heritage goes around playing "La Bamba" in Churches. Oi.)
0/4 include In Paradisum (although we do sing the Song of Farewell based on Old 100th [and not some trite, lame melody] at every funeral - of course, the family gets no choice in this matter)
*Schubert's "Ave Maria," albeit beautiful, is all too often seen as an appropriate substitute for the use of any and all other Latin texts.
It really makes me wonder: even though I want nothing more than chanted Latin propers (with some Tallis or deVictoria at offertory), will my family go ahead and choose music that makes them "feel good?" (This is in response to one family who went on and on about how their dad loved everything traditional, loved the Latin Mass and used to rail against the use of guitars in Church. [yay old Italian men] They even said, "there better be no guitars," but then went on to choose the usual non-traditional staples. Not that their father cares now - he is able to experience the most beautiful and celestial music in all of eternity - but what is wrong with at least "simulating" eternity with the most pure, beautiful and transcendent music we have? *sigh*
Anna, my experience is nearly the same regarding funerals, with the exception of the Ave Maria. We don't do that.
ReplyDeleteThe problem lies in asking the family for their desired music. In their grief, they rely on the "old (and tired) standards." If they are not presented with options, they'll be perfectly content with the beautiful music that you'd choose.