FUNERAL MUSIC TOO DEPRESSING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 256, 25 July 1936, Page 23

FUNERAL MUSIC TOO DEPRESSING

Minister’s Suggestions “I am a minister, and during the week these words are written, it has been my duty to attend no less than four funeral services, all of which have been rather on the lengthy side. Much music was sung and played nt each of the services, much of it very appropriate and much of it not quite in place and keeping with my idea of a funeral service,” writes “XYZ” in the “Choir.” 1 “I came away from one of these services as though I had attended an atheistic service, for the pessimism and death-the-end-of-all atmosphere was supreme, and the music played at that service had more to do with that pessimism than anything else. Two long-, drawn and much too slowly-placed* funeral marches were endured, and as their agony was drawn out, I wondered if there was anything after death. “Death was the note of the music; it was weird and awe-inspiring, but it left me morose and sad. Surely a Christian funeral service ought to give one the sense of triumph and certainty over death; it ought to lift one up and give the heart an assurance that life went on even when the body is placed in the tomb. “If I were a dictator of church music I would exclude all the standard and classical ‘dead marches’ from the funeral service, so would I exclude anything that inclined toward the morose or which did not help the congregation or mourners to be a little brighter. Somewhere during the service I would Include Handel’s ‘Halleluiah’ Chorus. “Au organist friend of mine plays one half of it at the opening of the service. and the other half as the service ends. “My own organist always plays Handel’s ’Largo.’ I must confess that I had not a little difficulty in persuading him to leave off the ‘dead marches’ he had always played, and which he had always beard played at funeral services. Now he wonders why he was s'o foolish as to play such anti-triumphant music as the •dead marches.’ He begins the ‘Largo’ very softly as soon as I pronounce the Benedict ion ; he gradually works it up to a grand loud organ with a sweeping note of triumph. “A ministerial friend of mine says that some years ago he was asked by some mourners if they could have ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth’ sung as a solo or played on the organ as they left the church after the service. Ever since* lie always asks his organist to play that music. No wonder, for one can realise its effect when everybody is inclined to be doleful and sad. It is one of Hie grandest pieces of triumphant music that can be used with great effect on the organ. “In order to make the, funeral service yield of its best, music has much to do to that end, and I would suggest the following. I give alternatives for the simple reason that one could then sustain the note of triumph without mak lug oneself the slave of sameness. “Before the service I would use one of the following: ‘Blest Art the Departed.’ ‘The Last Judgment.’ ‘Solemn Melody’ (Walford Davies), Preludes S and 22- (from Bach’s ‘Forty-eight’) After the Benediction, either when the people are still silent or when they are retiring, I would play one of these: 'I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.’ •Hallelujah Chorus,’ ‘What Are These?’ (Stainer), ‘O Rest in the Lord’ (Mendelssohn), Handel’s ‘Largo,’ or the ‘Adagio’ from the 'Patlietiquo Sonata’ of Beethoven.”

The Marquis of Crewe suggests that there is no clearer index of the gulf that divides genius from mere ability in story-telling than the treatment of bores. We should all escape as soon as possible from the company of Mr. Collin s or Miss Bates, and of Mrs. Jellaby or Major Bagstock. But wo rejoice in their flitting appearances in tlie pages of Jane Austen and Dickens.

There will come shortly from Hutchinson’s what is likely to be the most important political biography of the year—the life of Lord Balfour by his niece, Blanche E. C. Dugdale. This book has developed from an autobiography that was long contemplated but never written. Lord Balfour actually started work on it, but. too late, and a time came when the task was so evidently overtaxing his flagging energies that his relatives persuaded him to give It up. It was then decided that Mrs. Dugdale should supplement the fragment he had bini.self written.