When it comes to arranging a funeral, it is really important that they are catered to your loved one’s requests – showcasing their personality in the best way possible. Choosing the music that is played throughout the ceremony can be a difficult task. While some people may opt for modern tunes or traditional funeral hymns, classical music still remains a firm favourite for funerals in the UK.
Below are a number of the most popular classical music pieces that people opt to play at funerals. We love how beautiful and moving they are, and hope you will too.
This stunning piece of classical music is hugely popular thanks to its beautiful melody, stunning harmonies and rousing crescendos. Pachelbel’s Canon is very powerful, and really helps to evoke the emotions of grief and remembrance. Originally composed sometime between 1680 and 1706, Canon in D gained popularity in the ‘60s, when it became more widely used for events such as weddings or funerals.
With its swelling melody, Nimrod is another very popular piece of funeral music. It is always played at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, and therefore holds a very special place in so many peoples’ hearts. As one of 14 musical compositions in honour of Elgar’s closest friends, Nimrod celebrates Augustus J. Jaeger, who supported Elgar through his struggles with depression, so it remains a very poignant piece of music to this day.
This piece by Bach is composed for orchestral suite, giving it a beautiful fullness that evokes so many emotions. This is an instantly recognisable piece of classical music, which makes it a clear favourite in so many funeral and memorial ceremonies.
This moving adagio from Tomaso Albinoni, an Italian composer, has been used in a number of films and TV shows, so is a very popular choice. The contemplative and mournful style of this composition makes it the perfect reflective piece for funerals.
Vaughan Williams most popular work, the Lark Ascending, is frequently voted as one of the nation’s favourite pieces of classical music. This beautiful solo violin piece has a number of rises and falls in the melody to reflect the rise and fall of a bird’s flight. This is a stunning piece of music that many opt for when it comes to celebrating the life of their loved one.
At Viner & Sons, we have been proudly serving the local community for 244 years, and have experience in so many different types of funeral services. Our friendly team are more than happy to advise you on funeral arrangements, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. Alternatively, you can find more advice in our other funeral advice blog posts.
