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:
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 311884
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 345839
Funeral Ode
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 299977
for: Voice (alto), strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 584393
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 582855
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Organ (orchestral part)
Item no.: 479001
for: Voice (medium), piano
Music score
Item no.: 643990
for: Male choir
Score
Item no.: 309348
for: Male choir (3 voices)
Score
Item no.: 309332
for: GES-H (S) GCH (4-8) ORG SCHLAGW
Score
Item no.: 409584
for: SOLI (ATB) 2 Oboen Fagott, Streicher, Basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 457320
(Urtext)
for: Soloists, 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 328536
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 180783
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Organ
Item no.: 234627
HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1317322
HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 1317320
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148883
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Single part (Organ solo)
Item no.: 771659
Lamento
for: Voice (bass), string orchestra, basso continuo
Viola da gamba 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1681526
Critical Performing Edition
for: Voice, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430881
Music Makes The World Go Round
for: Flexible ensemble
Single part Horn (F)
Item no.: 479551
for: Organ
Item no.: 182625
Item no.: 617756
Early version
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Cello, bassoon, violone (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444391
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420302
– Print on demand –
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Flute 2
Item no.: 696687
for: Brass ensemble (7 parts), latin percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1197860
Score
Item no.: 254421
for: Clarinet, organ
Item no.: 488492
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 326316
for: 8 voices (SSAATTBB), organ, bass; mixed choir (SSATTB), 6 melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Single part Organ
Item no.: 1543941
for: Flexible ensemble
Part for trombone [cello/bassoon/baritone horn]
Item no.: 479558
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 311881
for: Voice (alto), strings, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 637226
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 658675
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Ensemble score
Item no.: 306984
for: Piano
Item no.: 107906
for: Alt solo, Violine solo, Orchester
Score
Item no.: 115223
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SSATTB), basso continuo
Choir part Tenor
Item no.: 644720
Funeral Anthem HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 1317323
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 148790
for: Solo voices, mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 671880
for: 5 soloists (SATBB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 627461
for: Voice (bass), string orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 232542
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Organ
Item no.: 638141