When I think of a 'trad' funeral, I think of New Orleans, weepy music on the way to the cemetary, and then you pull the handkerchief from the snares in the drum, do a rolloff, and play the happy stuff all the way to the wake, where you drink to the memory of the departed.
The after funeral do for the box player Bernie Green pretty much gave us the enthusiasm to get a regular session up and running again after a couple of years break.
I'd be surprised if a lot of folk here hadn't played at or at least after funerals.
When there´s somebody who can sing, it´s always beautiful to have something like the `Poor Wayfaring Stranger´...And there are of course, the tunes which you perhaps have heard too much so you don´t realise anymore how beautiful they are: last summer in Quebec there was a group of pipers in the Lower Town and they played `Amazing Grace´ ..and the whole crowd of listeners was softly humming the tune with them..Most terrible experience: a funeral where a group sang `Operator, give me Jesus on the line´ ... The New Orleans way probably is the way to do it
Scott Joplin wanted "Maple Leaf Rag" played at his funeral but it wasn't played at his funeral.
As for my own funeral and memorial service, there had better be live music at it. If they try to play any recorded music, I will rise up out of my coffin and cuss them out--then I will lay back down. Also, I have given instructions that the song, "Who Will Sing For Me?" must be performed at my funeral and memorial service.
A priest once told us he wouldn't tolerate any music played at the funeral except sacred or religous music. We gave him a set list with The Madonna's Lament, Jesus Wept, The Magis Return etc (made up obviously) and belted out trad airs and tunes to our hearts content. He was a prick!
As a bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery in the remote countryside and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost and being a typical man, did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew who were eating lunch but the hearse was nowhere in sight.
I apologized to the workers for my tardiness and stepped to the side of the open grave where I saw the vault lid already in place.
I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I played out my heart and soul.
As I played the workers began to weep. I played and I played like I'd never played before, from Going Home and The Lord is My Shepherd to Flowers of the Forest. I closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to my car.
As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "Sweet Jeezuz, Mary'n Joseph, I never seen nothin' like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
I'm afraid mine isn't as humorous as Terry's.
My dad died in 1993 and was buried in Lislea cemetery, county Armagh, overlooked by the mystical Slieve Gullion where his house was. He like so many of that land had to leave when young and moved to England.
He was at last back home, The melody of "An Raibh Tú ag an gCarraig"-were you at the Rock was the nearest this Londoner playing a 19th century wooden flute could close the circle of history.
Peter
"Trad" Music at a Funeral
"Trad" Music at a Funeral
I was a funeral recently .
The priest announced how the deceased loved traditional music...
He added it would be played at the mans grave.
After the Rosary I saw a banjo and a guitar....
Hmmm.... I thought.
I had to restrain myself when they started belting out IRA songs...
# Posted on February 25th 2010 by premier
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
You would have had to restrain the priest if they sang them in the church.
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by clareman
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
When I think of a 'trad' funeral, I think of New Orleans, weepy music on the way to the cemetary, and then you pull the handkerchief from the snares in the drum, do a rolloff, and play the happy stuff all the way to the wake, where you drink to the memory of the departed.
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by AlBrown
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
Have played at a couple of funerals.
The after funeral do for the box player Bernie Green pretty much gave us the enthusiasm to get a regular session up and running again after a couple of years break.
I'd be surprised if a lot of folk here hadn't played at or at least after funerals.
- chris
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by ramblingpitchfork
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
When there´s somebody who can sing, it´s always beautiful to have something like the `Poor Wayfaring Stranger´...And there are of course, the tunes which you perhaps have heard too much so you don´t realise anymore how beautiful they are: last summer in Quebec there was a group of pipers in the Lower Town and they played `Amazing Grace´ ..and the whole crowd of listeners was softly humming the tune with them..Most terrible experience: a funeral where a group sang `Operator, give me Jesus on the line´ ... The New Orleans way probably is the way to do it
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by alexweger
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
Fairly traditional version of "Poor Wayfaring Stranger".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLu3idRYKPc
Nice one, however you play it.
(within reason!)
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by Piece
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
Scott Joplin wanted "Maple Leaf Rag" played at his funeral but it wasn't played at his funeral.
As for my own funeral and memorial service, there had better be live music at it. If they try to play any recorded music, I will rise up out of my coffin and cuss them out--then I will lay back down. Also, I have given instructions that the song, "Who Will Sing For Me?" must be performed at my funeral and memorial service.
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by fauxcelt
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
A priest once told us he wouldn't tolerate any music played at the funeral except sacred or religous music. We gave him a set list with The Madonna's Lament, Jesus Wept, The Magis Return etc (made up obviously) and belted out trad airs and tunes to our hearts content. He was a prick!
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by iwerzon
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
Just chiming in to notice no one has touched the 'material' OP mentioned...which is probably safest.
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
For me, there is no honor greater than being the piper at a well respected person's funeral.
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
Whatever you do, don't play the bones
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by geoffwright
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
One funeral was enough for us to play. He was a good friend, though; and loved traditional tunes.
# Posted on February 26th 2010 by vonnieestes
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
A moving story about a Bagpiper ...
As a bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man who had no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery in the remote countryside and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost and being a typical man, did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew who were eating lunch but the hearse was nowhere in sight.
I apologized to the workers for my tardiness and stepped to the side of the open grave where I saw the vault lid already in place.
I assured the workers I would not hold them up for long but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch. I played out my heart and soul.
As I played the workers began to weep. I played and I played like I'd never played before, from Going Home and The Lord is My Shepherd to Flowers of the Forest. I closed the lengthy session with Amazing Grace and walked to my car.
As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "Sweet Jeezuz, Mary'n Joseph, I never seen nothin' like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
# Posted on March 1st 2010 by Terry McGee
Re: "Trad" Music at a Funeral
I'm afraid mine isn't as humorous as Terry's.
My dad died in 1993 and was buried in Lislea cemetery, county Armagh, overlooked by the mystical Slieve Gullion where his house was. He like so many of that land had to leave when young and moved to England.
He was at last back home, The melody of "An Raibh Tú ag an gCarraig"-were you at the Rock was the nearest this Londoner playing a 19th century wooden flute could close the circle of history.
Peter
# Posted on March 3rd 2010 by sheepdip