Classical Songs for a Funeral Service
Classical songs for funerals are characterized by emotion, passion, and timelessness. Regardless of the mood you would like to set, there are appropriate classical pieces. That’s why the genre has been an important part of marking many life milestones. Weddings, anniversaries, and funerals are all events where classical music, with its diversity and range, can set the stage for any important commemoration. A funeral is one such occasion where classical songs can honor you or your loved one in just the right way.
Choosing the right classical songs for a funeral is a personal choice. Since there are pieces ranging from haunting to uplifting it’s entirely up to you. You can also decide how you would like the music to be presented—should it be prerecorded or live? If you choose live music, would you prefer it be orchestral, chamber, or some other style?
Remember, there are no hard and fast rules for what music you can choose when selecting classical songs for funerals. It is perfectly acceptable to use classical songs exclusively or to mix your classical selections with music from other genres. The important thing is that you select songs that respect the person you are honoring, reflect the mood and tone you would like to set, and express the sentiments you are trying to convey.
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14 Popular Classical Songs for Funerals
| More Popular Classical Songs for Funerals | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adagio for Strings Barber |
God Be In My Head Rutter |
Prelude No. 1 in C Major Bach |
| Adagio from Toccata and Fugue in D minor Bach |
Going Home from (New World Symphony) Dvorak |
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun Debussy |
| Adagio from Piano Sonata No 8 Beethovan |
Gymnopedie No 3 Satie |
Promenade (from Pictures at an Exhibition) Mussorgsky |
| Agnus Dei, Adagio For Strings Barber |
Hallelujah Chorus (from The Messiah) Handel |
Requiem Mozart |
| Air (from Suite No. 3 in D) Bach |
He Shall Feed His Flock (from The Messiah) Faure |
Requiem Aeternam Verdi |
| Air from Water Music Handel |
How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings Fair Brahms |
Requiem Aeternam (from Requiem) Faure |
| Air on a G String Bach |
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth Handel |
Reverie Debussy |
| Allegra (from Water Music) Handel |
I Waited For The Lord Mendelssohn |
Salut d’Amour Elgar |
| Alleluia (from Exultate Jubilate) Mozart |
In Paradisum (from Requiem) Faure |
Sanctus (from Requiem) Mozart |
| Angels’ Farewell (from the Dream of Gerontius) Elgar |
La cathédrale engloutie Claude Debussy |
Soave Sia Il Vento (from Cosi Fan Tutte) Mozart |
| Ave Verum Corpus Elgar |
Lacrimosa (from Requiem) Mozart |
Song For Athene Tavener |
| Ave Verum Corpus Mozart |
Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams |
Song Of The Reaper (from Album for the Young) Schumann |
| Beati Quorum Via Stanford |
Last Post Traditional Bugle Call |
Songs Without Words Op 102 No 6 Faith Mendelssohn |
| Benedictus (from The Armed Man) Jenkins |
Laudate Dominum Mozart |
Songs Without Words Op 85 No 2 The Adieu Mendelssohn |
| Blessed Jesu, We Are Here Bach |
Libera, Glory To Thee Tallis |
Sortie in E Flat for Organ Lefebure |
| Bogoroditse Devo Rachmaninoff |
Lord Is My Shepherd Schubert |
St John’s Passion – Ruht Wohl (Rest Well) Bach |
| Cantata No. 208 Sheep May Safely Graze Bach |
Mass for Four voices – Agnus Dei Byrd |
String Quintet in C Major Schubert |
| Chanson De Matin Elgar |
Music For The Funeral Of Queen Mary Purcell |
Symphony No 1, 3rd Movement Mahler |
| Chanson Triste Tchaikovsky |
Nessun Dorma (from Turandot) Puccini |
Symphony No 3 Extract (for Organ Manuals) Saint-Saens |
| Chorale Preludes, Fugues and Fantasias Bach |
Nulla In Mundo Pax Sincera Vivaldi |
Symphony No 5, 4th Movement Mahler |
| Con te Partiro Andrea Bocelli |
O For The Wings Of A Dove (from Hear My Prayer) Mendelssohn |
Symphony No 7 in A, 2nd Movement Beethoven |
| Dance of the Blessed Spirits Gluck |
O Magnum Mysterium Morten Lauridsen |
Symphony no. 9 – Largo Dvorak |
| Dead March (from Saul) Handel |
O Mia Babbino Caro (from Gianni Schicchi) Puccini |
Tallis Fantasia Vaughan Williams |
| Death and the Maiden Schubert |
Oh for the Wings of a Dove Mendelssohn |
Third Mode Melody Tallis |
| Dido’s Lament (from Dido and Aeneas) Purcell |
Organ Sonata No 1 Op 42 Pastorale Guilmant |
Toccata from Symphony No 5 Widor |
| Enigma Variations Elgar |
Panis Angelicus Rutter |
Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Bach |
| Farewell to Stromness Maxwell Davies |
Pavane Faure |
Two Sunsets Einaudi |
| Four Last Songs Strauss |
Pavane for a Dead Princess Ravel |
Un Bel Di Vedremo (from Madame Butterfly) Puccini |
| Funeral Ikos Tavener |
Piano Concerto No 21, ‘Elvira Madigan’ Mozart |
Vissi D’Arte (from Tosca) Purcell |
| Funeral Sentences Purcell |
Piano in A Minor Tchaikovsky |
Vitava (Second of 6 Symphonic Poems) Smetana |
| Fur Elise Beethoven |
Prelude No 15 ‘The Raindrop’ Chopin |
Where E’er You Walk (from Semele) Handel |
| Gnossienne No 1 for Piano Satie |
Prelude No 6 & 7 Chopin |
|
As with any other music you select, you must follow copyright law when playing classical songs for funerals and the rules for music that is piped in may be different than for that used in a slide show or video. Most funeral homes have arrangements with the top music licensing agencies and can legally provide you with music from the above lists, but be sure to talk with your funeral director to ensure that you can legally use the songs before making your final choices.
