It's your funeral

[presbyter]

[Moved here from another thread. Thank you, Monty - Musicus]

I shall, of course, lay aside my opinions expressed above at my funeral when the only music I want is the Plainsong requiem with Introit and Communion Chants (With Psalms) and In Paradisum - and with an Alleluia the antiphon Ego sum ressurectio et vita http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&v=VZ6-qFn1EEU

[Nick Baty]

If I have my way – and I'm sure I won't – I'll be having Farrell, Inwood, Tamblyn standards at the vigil Mass following the reception of my body. Next morning I'll be taken across the river to my home parish, bigger church for the expected crowds: Huijbers, Löwenthal, Mozart, Cherubini and Jenkins here, I think.

But then, for the committal at the crematorium, it has to be Liza going in and Glen Miller coming out.

Back in the real world, I've recently given my funeral instructions to my sister. The only thing I've actually written down is that all possible costs should be saved from coffins, hearses and flowers to ensure there's plenty of insurance cash to pay the musicians a decent rate.

[mcb]

If I have my way –

You're having My Way??

[musicus]

I suppose I ought to point out that posters should not rely on this thread outlasting them. That is to say, by all means tells us about the music etc you would like at your funeral, but please tell your next of kin or executors too. You know it makes sense...

[keitha]

Nick, on the basis that you seem to think there may be money left over, I assume that that you did not mean Katherine Jenkins!

[presbyter]

...... at the vigil Mass following the reception of my body.

I'm now wondering how widespread this practice is. I myself do not celebrate a "Vigil Mass" for the deceased, following the reception of a body - but I do know some people who do. What's wrong with the OCF that it seems necessary for another Mass to enter the proceedings?

Just so I stay on topic - I have no desire for a Vigil Mass for myself.

[presbyter]

and with an Alleluia the antiphon Ego sum ressurectio et vita

Hmmmm - it was either a "typging" error or I really cannot spell resurrectio - which I can - 'onest!

[Nick Baty]

You're having My Way??

Only if I can have the Gypsy Kings' version!

[Nick Baty]

by all means tells us about the music etc you would like at your funeral, but please tell your next of kin or executors too. You know it makes sense...

All depends where you are. In our diocese, the preference is for the readings of the day – and as I don't yet know the date of my funeral, I can't really choose the music!

[Nick Baty]

What's wrong with the OCF that it seems necessary for another Mass to enter the proceedings?

Absolutely nothing. I'm hoping to go young enough for there to be plenty of people who'd like to come – shades of Garland, Valentino, Dean etc – so the Vigil Mass will be in the tiny church where I work and the Funeral Mass will be in my much larger home church. Think of it is first and second sitting to get all the guests in!

Of course, the reality is that that it's increasingly unlikely that there'll be a Mass at my Funeral – Funerals celebrated by deacons are becoming more common because we don't have enough priests to do them all. Our parish had 120 funerals over the last 12 months – the majority of those were celebrated by our priest but quite a few were celebrated by the deacon.

Moving on, a couple of weeks after the cremation, my ashes are to be mixed with glitter and placed in a plane which will fly from New Brighton promenade to the Great Orme in Llandudno. scattering me over the Irish Sea on the way. Those of you who fancy meeting on top of the Orme will find a few cases of wine and a choice of mushroom or prawn vol-au-vents! Enjoy!

[Nick Baty]

Nick, on the basis that you seem to think there may be money left over, I assume that that you did not mean Katherine Jenkins!

Well if she's up for it I wouldn't say no. Seriously, if I die before in service then I'm worth a fortune. Sadly, if a live long enough to retire – in my case that's 67 – I'll be as poor as a church mouse!

[Lakelark]

Like presbyter, I would dearly love my funeral to include as much of the chant as possible. However, I suspect that if that is to be achieved in this neck of the woods I shall have to jump out of my coffin and sing the whole lot myself. And it may be totally heretical to say so, but if I can't have the chant I think I would prefer a mass (gulp!) without any music at all.

[docmattc]

If Eimear Quinn is available to sing the setting of In Paradisum from her "O Holy Night" album, I'd make sure I was at my funeral just to listen to it!!

[gwyn]

Just one whiff of How Great Thou Art, The Lord's My Shepherd, Abide With Me or The Old Rugged Cross at my funeral and I won't be going to it.

[nazard]

For my funeral I want the Benedictine Ordo Exsequiarium with the tridentine mass and not a word of english (or welsh, or any other vernacular). I am just sorry not to be able to join in the dies irae. Finally, as a concession to the multi cultural society, I wish to be cremated at Benares to the community singing of "Colours of day" and my ashes are to be scattered in Titford Pool of the Birmingham navigation.