Selecting Music for a Funeral Service
When choosing music for funeral services at funeral homes in Camillus, NY, the landscape is wide open, since music is very personal and the choices you make will have significance to your deceased loved one and to you and your immediate family.
The music can remain within a single style or it can be a mixture of many different traditions, and might include hymns, contemporary music, pop songs, classical music, or songs featuring a specific vocalist. In other words, the choices are unlimited. So you may want to begin by choosing songs that were particularly loved by the deceased, which will doubtless resonate with those in attendance as well. Almost any song can be seamlessly and effectively incorporated into a funeral service, and it can be be done in a way that is meaningful and appropriate for everyone. So don’t hesitate to choose music that is diverse or from multiple styles, for this can enhance both the significance of the music as well as its effectiveness in providing a fitting tribute to your loved one.
Generally, you can choose anywhere from three to five songs or passages to use during the funeral service, and their placement can help you determine your ultimate selections. For example, music is often used as an opening hymn or welcome, played after readings or during moments of reflection, and used again as a closing tribute, hymn, or recessional. But you can also use it as an overall setting as mourners are gathering for the service or dispersing once it is complete. The important thing to remember is that each part of the ceremony can include some form of music. However, it’s also important to remember that the music is most effective when its place within the ceremony is carefully considered.
It’s a good idea to keep in mind, too, how it will sound at the funeral by those who will be attending. In considering the needs of a wide variety of friends and family members, and the likely range of ages and sensibilities, you might ask yourself: is it appropriate in this setting and respectful to all? Will family and friends respond to it in the way the deceased might have wished? Does it serve as both a fitting tribute to your loved one as well as a comfort to those attending?
When making these and other considerations regarding the music for the funeral, it’s extremely helpful to have guidance. For example, if you are holding the service according to the laws of a a particular religious tradition, you will want to make sure that the music can be used by speaking with the officiant. Or if the service is secular, non-denominational, or less formal in its religious adherence, you can consult with the funeral home director about any concerns you may have regarding the music you select.
In other words, you have a very wide range of music from which to choose. Music can evoke memories, provide tribute, and bring comfort and solace to those who are mourning. If you are careful in your selections, you will greatly enhance the service and the experience of it for all.
For more information about choosing funeral music at funeral homes in Camillus, NY, our compassionate and experienced team at Bagozzi Twins Funeral Home, Inc. is here to help you. You can visit our funeral home at 2601 Milton Ave., Solvay, NY 13209, or you can call us today at (315) 468-2431.
