There is a helpful Guide to Selecting Memorial Music here.
(D) indicates song may be played on my smaller DeLight Harp
(V) indicates I may provide vocals on the tune
Unless otherwise indicated, all songs are playable on my large Gold Harp
FAVORITE CLASSICAL SELECTIONS
Adagio – attributed to Albinoni
Air on a G String – J. S. Bach
Ave Maria – Bach/Gounod or Schubert versions (D, V)
Be Thou Near (Bist du bei mir) – attributed to Bach (D, V)
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata BWV 147 – J. S. Bach (D)
Prelude 1 in C – J. S. Bach (D)
Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata No. 208 – J. S. Bach (D)
Wachet Auf (Sleepers Awake) BWV 140 – J. S. Bach (D)
Ode to Joy (Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op.125) – Beethoven (D)
Prelude in E Minor, Op. 28, No. 4 – Frédéric Chopin
Dance of the Blessed Spirits (Act 2, Orfeo ed Euridice) – Gluck (D)
Largo from Xerxes – Handel (D)
Largo from 9th Symphony ‘From the New World‘ (“Going Home”) – Dvorak (D)
Consolation from Song Without Words – Mendelssohn
Pie Jesu from Requiem – Andrew Lloyd Webber (D)
Canon in D – Pachelbel (D)
Panis Angelicus (O Lord Most Holy) – Franck
FAVORITE HYMNS & SPIRITUALS
Amazing Grace from Celia’s CD:
Abide with Me (D, V)
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (D, V)
Amazing Grace (D, V)
Be Not Afraid
Be Thou My Vision (D, V)
Blessed Assurance (Ricky Skaggs and The Whites) (D, V)
Children of the Heavenly Father
Great Is Thy Faithfulness (D, V)
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty (D, V)
In the Garden (D, V)
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (D, V)
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Kumbaya My Lord (D, V)
Let There Be Peace on Earth (D, V)
The Lord’s Prayer – Malotte (V)
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis) (D, V)
Nearer, My God, to Thee (D, V)
Now the Day Is Over (D, V)
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Old Rugged Cross (D, V)
On Eagle’s Wings (D, V)
Rock of Ages (D, V)
Shall We Gather at the River (D, V)
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (D, V)
We Gather Together (D, V)
You’ll Never Walk Alone (D, V)
NOSTALGIC
These selections may prove nostalgic and effective at a funeral or memorial service because they reflect something about the life of the person being mourned. The music itself helps the listener feel both the joy of the life and the sadness that it has ended. Many of these songs are especially appropriate for services that are a celebration of the life.
Aloha ‘Oe (D, V)
Angel – Sarah McLachlan (D)
Annie – John Denver (D, V)
Ashokan Farewell (D)
Autumn Leaves
Battle Hymn Of The Republic (D, V)
Big Rock Candy Mountain (D)
Blowin’ In The Wind (Bob Dylan) (D, V)
Candle in the Wind – Elton John
Con te Partiro “Time to Say Goodbye” (Andrea Bocelli) (D)
Fields of Gold (Sting) (D, V)
Greensleeves (D, V)
Here Comes the Sun – Beatles (D, V)
Hey Jude – Beatles (D)
In My Life – Beatles (D)
Let It Be – Beatles (D)
The Long and Winding Road – Beatles (D, V)
Moon River (D, V)
Morning Has Broken – Cat Stevens (D, V)
My Way (Frank Sinatra)
Only Time – Enya (D, V)
The Prayer (Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli)
The Rose (Bette Midler) ((D, V)
Someone to Watch Over Me – Gershwin (D, V)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Traditional or Brother Iz’s version (D, V)
Those Were the Days
Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiro) (Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli) (D)
Waltzing Matilda (D, V)
When The Saints Go Marching In (D, V)
What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) (D, V)
Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler) (D)
You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel (D, V)
You Raise Me Up (Josh Groban) (V)
Any emotionally suggestive music from whatever country, state, or region a person is – Celia has found Tennessee Waltz or Waltz Across Texas to be particularly meaningful to many here in the Rogue Valley as she plays in Care Homes and Assisted Living Facilities.
LIFE CELEBRATIONS, MEMORIAL SERVICES & FUNERALS
Amazing Grace(D, V)
Ave Maria – Bach/Gounod or Schubert versions (D, V)
Be Thou Near (Bist du bei mir) – attributed to Bach (D, V)
Fairest Lord Jesus(D, V)
How Great Thou Art (D, V)
How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place
I Know that My Redeemer Lives
In the Garden (D, V)
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (D)
Just a Closer Walk with Thee (D)
Let There Be Peace on Earth (D, V)
The Lord’s Prayer – Malotte (V)
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
Old Rugged Cross (D, V)
On Eagle’s Wings (D, V)
Prayer of St. Francis (Make Me a Channel of Your Peace) (D, V)
Shall We Gather at the River (D, V)
The Strife ls O’er (D, V)
When I Survey the Wond’rous Cross
CATHOLIC
Amazing Grace (D, V)
Ave Maria – Bach/Gounod or Schubert versions (D, V)
Be Thou Near (Bist du bei mir) – attributed to Bach (D, V)
How Great Thou Art(D, V)
How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place
I Know that My Redeemer Lives
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (D)
Let There Be Peace on Earth (D, V)
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis) (D, V)
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
On Eagle’s Wings(D, V)
Panis Angelicus (O Lord Most Holy) – Franck
Shall We Gather at the River (D, V)
The Strife ls O’er (D, V)
JEWISH
Jerusalem of Gold
Shalom Alacheim
Adon Olom
Arioso – Bach
On Wings of Song – Mendelssohn
Other Classical Selections