Funeral Service Times August 2017 March 2019 | Page 31

SOAPBOX 31 from head to foot, and engage in a more active, physical and connected way. We have seen in our work that choosing the right music for the entry of the coffin can really help to focus the attention of the congregation. Instead of music being just the conventional background texture of the processional, a person stepping forward to sing brings a special hush into the room that really heightens the atmosphere. We find that the spine-tingling opening notes of Schubert’s Ave Maria, sung without any backing from the organ, particularly effective for this – one client who chose it for their service described it as “beautiful, emotional” and [most importantly] “unforgettable”. Finally, we need to bring up something of a taboo: the funeral is not really for the dead – it’s for the living. The funeral service is the most important milestone in the grieving process, and it’s a privilege to join other funeral professionals in helping people get what they need from it. Our clients’ feedback shows us that there are as many things that a funeral service must do as there are members of the congregation, and that live music can help with nearly all of them. For example, some people need catharsis, some way to release pent-up emotion in a safe and supportive environment though a www.funeralservicetimes.co.uk heightened atmosphere that transcends the mundane: “Many of those attending the funeral commented on the passion of the performance.” “There were no dry eyes in the room.” “The atmosphere was electric.” Others are just after a little moment of comfort during all the turbulence that comes with grief: “[The singers] brought serenity and grace to the service.” Many also use music to lift their spirits, and remind them to celebrate the time they were given with the person who is gone, as well as mourn their passing: " It was a difficult day but they ensured that the funeral was uplifting." Of course the funeral organiser’s goal is for people to come away from the service changed. But the rite of the funeral is such an ancient, well-trodden ritual that it can be hard to keep it from feeling routine. Grief takes comfort in the familiar but the death of a loved one, while a natural part of life, is never routine, so it takes something out of the ordinary to capture and reflect it. Through our work, we see that music reaches places that words simply can’t touch. In that unique moment where a song comes alive through a singer or choir, and binds together the people there listening and witnessing, the funeral service can surpass our expectations and become what any of us would want our own funerals to be: something beautiful and extraordinary. By Briony Rawle of “[They] gave what is normally a sombre occasion a real boost of solace for the soul.” The London Funeral Singers www.londonfuneralsingers.co.uk 020 3488 3080 [email protected] Twitter: @LFuneralSingers Insta: @londonfuneralsingers MARCH 2019