Music has always played an important role in Funeral services. Browse our sheet music and scores, and let Stretta help you find the right music today.
Since the 13th century, clergymen have gathered in calendar brotherhoods on the calends, the first days of each month, to remember their deceased brothers. As at the funerals themselves, there was extensive singing. Later, choirs emerged from this ritual, to perform motets at funerals, in church or at the grave.
In addition to settings of Requiems, the Dutch composers of the 15th and 16th centuries wrote funeral motets to commemorate princes and rulers, which continued to spread across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, with settings such as Handel’s Funeral Music for Queen Caroline, Musical Exequies by Heinrich Schütz and Purcells’s Funeral Music for Queen Mary. This began to expand into the secular world with works like Monteverdi’s Lamento d‘Arianna.
In France, the Sarabande was the most popular lament before the funeral march developed in the late 18th century. In the last century, new works such as dirges and epitaphs have entered the repertoire as expressions of mourning and grief.
Nowadays, pop or rock songs are often played at funerals. Here is a list of popular modern songs for funeral ceremonies:
Urtext Stuttgarter Schubert-Ausgaben
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Choir score
Item no.: 237917
for: 2 flutes (duet)
Parts (2)
Item no.: 1563702
for: Harmonium [organ manuals]
Item no.: 147693
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 626830
für gemischten Chor (und Orgel)
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 207977
for: Concert band [youth concert band]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1319378
Schütz-Gesamteinspielung, Band 11
Audio-CD
Item no.: 677166
for: 3 trombones [tenor horns]
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1563084
Sakrale Trios
for: 3 trombones (C)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1562176
for: 3 alto saxophones
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1558259
Trauermusik für 6 Bläser
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices)
Set of parts
Item no.: 313680
Trauermusik
for: 2 soloists (SB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 661371
first movement from 'Stabat Mater' arranged for Low Flute Choir
Music for Low Flutes – The Bottom Line Series
for: Flute ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 682700
Horn, Posaune und Tuba
Partitur und Stimmen
for: KAMMERMUSIK BLECHBLASINSTRUMENTE QUINTETTE
Score, Parts
Item no.: 290271
Die erste kritische Edition von Verdis Requiem mit komplett käuflichem Aufführungsmaterial.
Partitur im Leinenumschlag
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 670139
Postkarte
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); orchestra ad lib.
Postcard
Item no.: 424132
for: Piano, tape
Piano score, CD
Item no.: 402785
for: Mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 612574
for: Chor TTBarB, [Trommel]
Score
Item no.: 423615
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 424007
for: CHORMUSIK GEMISCHTER CHOR A CAPPELLA GEISTLICH ALBEN
Score
Item no.: 582916
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 558620
Arrangement for strings, harp and organ
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), string orchestra, harp, organ
Score
Item no.: 771664
for: Mixed choir, instruments
Score
Item no.: 215629
for: GCH (SSTB) (+ ORG)
Score
Item no.: 350953
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 167548
for: Oboe, Tasteninstrument (Klavier / Orgel)
Score
Item no.: 202993
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 156873
Transcribed for piano solo by the composer
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 382265
for: Voice, piano
Songbook
Item no.: 345126
for: Mixed choir (SAATBB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 678371
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 477543
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 333781
for: Double bass, piano
Item no.: 140985
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 214046
for: Alt und Orchester
Piano reduction
Item no.: 351221
for Violin and Piano
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 682689
for: Organ
Stimme, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 369618
for: Horn, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 266883
Alpine Pop–Ballade
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, parts, online media
Item no.: 1558864
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 667670
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318817
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 117837
for: Orchestra; mixed choir (SSTTBB) ad lib.
Score (Hardcover, Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116886
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 144688
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Score
Item no.: 263764
for: Recorder Ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 274070
for: Piccolo
Score
Item no.: 100998