Funeral Services * Memorials * Celebration of Life Ceremonies * Cremation Services
What is the difference in services?
Do they require different musical selections?
Funeral Song Samples
Somewhere Over the River * Ave Maria * Amazing Grace * My Way * Great is Thy Faithfulness * Tears in Heaven
Memorial Song Samples
Moonriver * Mama (Il Divo) * Unforgettable * You Raise Me Up * Bridge Over Troubled Waters * It Is Well
Celebration of Life Song Samples
I'll Fly Away * Dream a Little Dream of Me * In My Life * What a Wonderful World * I Can Only Imagine
Cremation Service Song Samples
Wind Beneath My Wings * Angels * Hallelujah * Time After Time * Let Her Go * You'll Be in My Heart
Burial (Cemetery) Song Samples
Fields of Gold * My Way * Somewhere Over the Rainbow * We'll Meet Again * It Is Well
Funerals are generally a service held to memorialize a deceased person with their body present.
A Memorial Service is a service held to memorialize a deceased person with their body not present (eg. if a burial occurs prior to the service)
A Celebration of Life Service is like a Memorial Service (no body present), but with a less somber and more "celebratory" environment.
A Cremation Service can commemorate the loved one by spreading ashes on land, air, water, interring them at a burial plot, or placing the ashes in a Columbarium or Mausoleum.
A Burial Service is a service held at the cemetery / memorial park, and gentle music through a battery powered amplifier can be provided. This helps to make the last moments saying "goodbye" as memorable and peaceful as possible.
Music selections for these services are absolutely up to the service planners (eg. family) of the one who has passed. In my years of working as a funeral singer / musician, I have found that there is no "definite" answer.
However, I do find that most funerals and memorials are more somber as to allow the grieving process to take place, and the music matches as such. Celebrations of Life have a "happier" focus, and so more upbeat music is played (usually takes place after people have been allowed to mourn for some time).
Cremation Services may require portable equipment, eg. if ashes are spread on water by boat. Music makes this moment so special as I am able to bring portable / battery powered instruments.
One of the things I get to do as a funeral musician is gage the participants and make appropriate choices which are all discussed in the planning process.