Funeral music.

[dai bread]

IMO the only people who have ever produced interesting funeral music are the Roman Catholics, or at least the people who wrote their requiem masses.
I've usually been bored to tears by the dirges other people sing, and that includes other Christian denominations.

I posted this on my thread about "Another Culture", in response to big's comment about uninteresting music, and it occured to me that it might make a good topic for discussion. We have several religions represented on this board and it could get interesting.

[Shapley]

I'm a Catholic, and I agree that the Requiem Masses (well, most of them) are interesting (Some are Anglican, BTW). However, the New Orleans Jazz Funerals are interesting. I'm not sure how many pieces of Jazz were composed specifically for funerals.

V/R
Shapley

[barfle]

I attended Ronald Reagan's funeral procession in Washington, DC, and part of that procession included a military band playing a dirge I had never heard before and can no longer describe, except to say that it was fascinating and wonderful. I wish I knew what it was, or even how to look it up.

I've often noted that much of the great music in the world was written to the glory of God. I enjoy many requiems, particularly the Durufle. Amazing choral work.

[piqaboo]

And then there's the piece from 'Oklahoma!'. :snicker:

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

And then there's the piece from 'Oklahoma!'. :snicker:

"Pore Judd is daid,
Pore Judd Frye is daid"
:falling out of my chair:

[shostakovich]

Siegfried had some pretty nice funeral music.

[bignaf]

The German Requiem kicks the donkey of any Catholic requiem.

[Serenity]

I definitely would want Siegried's played at my funeral!

[bignaf]

and I want "Siegfrieds Rhinefart" played in my bathroom.

[DavidS]

Why has nobody mentioned Beethoven's and Mahler's funeral marches, for example?

[Catmando]

Why has nobody mentioned Beethoven's and Mahler's funeral marches, for example?

I love the 2nd movement funeral march from Beethoven's Eroica Symphony.

[Shapley]

Why has nobody mentioned Beethoven's and Mahler's funeral marches, for example?

I'm afraid I didn't make it to either of their funerals, so I'm not sure what they sounded like.

[Catmando]

How about the Cuban Overture?

[DavidS]

Why has nobody mentioned Beethoven's and Mahler's funeral marches, for example?

I'm afraid I didn't make it to either of their funerals, so I'm not sure what they sounded like.

Elderly lady to shop assistant: "I didn't come here to be insulted!"
Shop assistant: "So where do you usually go?"

[Shapley]

Woman: "I've never been so insulted in all my life!"

Groucho: "Don't worry, the night is young."

[DavidS]

A dowager meets a friend and they start discussing the recent demise of a mutual friend.
"Yes", the first lady says, "it's so sad that she was cut off in her prime."
Second lady: "So will you be attending her funeral?"
First lady: "No."
"And why not?"
"Tell me, is she going to attend my funeral??"

[Shapley]

I attended the funeral of an often-married woman recently. A woman standing near the coffin looked at her and said "Well, their back together at last."

I asked "Who do you mean? Her and which Husband?"

"She replied, "I was talking about her legs."

- Joan Collins -

[jamiebk]

A few of my favorites:
##########
Mother-in-law on the phone: "I've decided I want to be cremated."
Son-in-law: "Great, get your coat on, and I'll be right over."
##########
A clergyman awoke one morning to find a dead donkey in his front yard. He had no idea how it got there, but he knew he had to get rid of it. So, he called the sanitation department, the health department, and several other agencies, but no one seemed able to help him. In desperation, the good reverend called the mayor and asked what should be done. The mayor must have been having a bad day. "Why bother me?" he asked. "You're a clergyman. It's your job to bury the dead." The pastor lost his cool. "Yes," he snapped, "But I thought I should at least notify the next-of-kin."


and my all time favorite:

##########
A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation to Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away.

The undertaker told the husband, "You can have her shipped home for $5,000, or you can bury her here, in the Holy Land, for $150."

The man thought about it and told him he would just have her shipped home.

The undertaker asked, "Why would you spend $5,000 to ship your wife home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $150?"

The man replied, "Long ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance."

[dai bread]

Then there's the comment attributed to WS Gilbert:

Society Matron to WSG: ...and tell me, how is dear Bach? Is he still composing?

WSG: No, I'm sorry, but dear Bach is now decomposing.

Re the German Requiem: I'm not sure which I like best, it, Verdi or Mozart. All are welcome at my funeral.

[DavidS]

Mixed feelings:
When your mother-in-law crashes your new Merc and gets killed in the accident.