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:
Psalm 39 für Orgel
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 654986
Über die Nicht- und Flüchtigkeit des menschlichen Lebens – Kantate zum 24. Sonntag nach Trinitatis
Urtext Telemann-Archiv – Stuttgarter Ausgaben
Satz mit vier Blockflötenstimmen
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 234621
für Horn und Orgel
for: Horn (F), organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 596483
for: Mixed choir, basso continuo
Choir score
Item no.: 464356
Klassik
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 323295
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 370417
Verse aus Psalm 30
for: Voice, organ [Solo voice, mixed choir (SATB)]
Item no.: 272317
Kantate Nr. 53 – Trauermusik
früher J.S. Bach zugeschrieben (BWV 53)
for: Voice (alto), strings, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 392245
for: Symphonic orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 667086
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 370579
Cantata for funeral service / Purification of Mary.
Reconstruction Klaus Hofmann
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 2 soloists (TB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Set of parts
Item no.: 662160
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 206569
for: Trumpet (C/B-flat/E-flat), piano
Item no.: 431272
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 601543
for: Flute, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 124782
for: Guitar
Item no.: 277944
Edition Schott
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 750498
for: Cello, organ
Organ score, solo part
Item no.: 624457
for: Mixed choir (SATB), basso continuo; 3 solo voices (SAT) ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 422907
for: 5 Gesang (SSATB) und Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 446334
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 235642
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo; 8 instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 231793
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Score
Item no.: 230665
for: 2 pianos
Score
Item no.: 695687
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 557026
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Score
Item no.: 644637
for: gemischter Chor (SAATTBB)
Choir score
Item no.: 204860
for: Alt solo, Gemischter Chor: SSATB, Basso continuo
Score
Item no.: 1665075
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 143092
for: BL SEXTETT
Score
Item no.: 103097
for: Mixed choir (SATB), organ
Score
Item no.: 154554
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 376851
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Piano reduction
Item no.: 632386
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), horn (F), trombone, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 400880
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 257954
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 264709
for: Clarinet, 2 violins, viola, cello
Set of parts
Item no.: 189233
für 2 Violen da gamba und Bc (ausgesetzt)
for: 2 viole da gamba, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 665590
for: Women's choir (SSA) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 320460
for: 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 820399
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 150584
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 151215
for: 4 guitars (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 301182
for: Chor, Orchester, Orgel
Gesamtausgabe, Partitur, Urtextausgabe
Item no.: 645621
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 166734
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 116494
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 348439
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 392728