5 month old infant funeral

[tirips213]

Hello peeps my name is Kenny and I could really use some advice on what to play
at a funeral for an infant.  I'm a church pianist and the standard hymns I play for
funerals don't seem to be a safe bet.  There was a Mozart Sonata that I was thinking
might be nice, any suggestions would be helpful.  Thank you

[bench warmer]

Look at some of Chopin's Preludes & Nocturnes, the middle section of the Funeral March movement of his Sonata 2, Liszt's Consolations and some themes from Liszt's Funerailles.

You have a tough assignment with this one. Good Luck

[rallestar]

Chopin preludes op. 28 no 4, 6 and 20. 6 is incredibly beautiful imo.

[pies]

a

[rallestar]

You're right - It's not. As if somehow the suffering a death causes should be any less because of a young age. Only makes it worse that a life was taken so young.

[gruffalo]

check out Liszt's "la lugubre gondola". he wrote it around the time of Wagner's death. it was something to do with him having predicted or seen a vision of Wagner's death.

[pianistimo]

mozart might actually be a good thing throughout.  do you realize half of mozart's children died as infants or babies.  at least that's what i thought i remembered.  life was much harder back then - and cycles of money/poverty/sickness affected people much more (possibly).  anyways - i would think mozart has some comforting qualities.  some hope.  five months is very young.  not sure what the parents believe - but i tend to think that zechariah 8 is very encouraging if you believe in a ressurrection of the dead (including children) to live out their physical lives in a peaceful setting.

[dorfmouse]

On such an occasion I can’t imagine that most people are in the frame of mind or have the concentration to be immersed in a whole sonata,  … maybe some shorter, simpler but beautiful melodies … I’m thinking of pieces with a lullaby quality; gentle Brahm’s waltzes, some of Mendelssohn’s SWW eg Op 19/6 Gondollied, a few variations from Mozart’s A Maj sonata or some of his beautiful andante movements, Grieg’s Nottorno… some of Schumann’s Kinderszenen … that sort of thing? Chopin’s Berceuse of course if you’re up to it but it’s so achingly beautiful that it would be almost unbearable to hear at a baby’s funeral…
How sad.

[lostinidlewonder]

Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte would be ideal.

[minor9th]

The Bach-Siloti Prelude is very touching. Played a bit slower than usual would have quite a powerful effect, although I'm not sure what effect one would want at such a horrific event.

[pianowelsh]

The event is probably traumatic enough without dark gloomy pieces?!? I might be inclined to suggest the first piece from Schumanns kinderzenen...its calming but at the sametime quite reverencial...i see actually someone else has suggested this - the chopin preludes suggestion is also good.  The slow movement from Bach french suite no 5 is quite a good one too..for practical as well as musical reasons (good steady beat and in 2 sections)

[jinfiesto]

Do the B minor Chopin Sonata... It's got that famous funeral march in it... Or just do the march. The sonata is a beezy by the way... Have fun. The Chopin C sharp minor nocturne (posthumous) was also supposed to be a funeral march if I remember correctly.

[G.W.K]

I would suggest Canon...it is a nice tune and it is quite popular at funerals as well as weddings. That might sound a bit sick...but it is only a suggestion.

 

G.W.K

[rallestar]

What about Schuberts impromptu in Gb major? Op 90 no 3. It's has such a quiet, tranquil beauty.

[soliloquy]

Ravel Sonatine 2nd movement


or


Ravel Pavane pour un infante defunte  <---how did this not get mentioned earlier?

[nanabush]

Ummm ppl suggesting the most 'depressing' piece... that's probably not what people are going to want to listen to at an infant's funeral.  Pavane pour une infante defunte is a sad piece, but is very beautiful, and would work well!  Chopin preludes mentioned seem a bit grim... What about the A major prelude  

Also I'd agree with sections from Funerailles,

[gerry]

The two Liszt "Consolations" are lovely - they are contemplative with glimmers of hope. Personally, I would never think of playing the Chopin Funeral March movement unless it was a victorian affair with everyone dressed in black mourning garb! 

[soliloquy]

The two Liszt "Consolations" are lovely - they are contemplative with glimmers of hope. Personally, I would never think of playing the Chopin Funeral March movement unless it was a victorian affair with everyone dressed in black mourning garb! 

There are six consolations.

[gerry]

In my haste I meant to say the two Consolations (#3 and #5) - I have an old dog-eared edition that has two of the six and are the ones I was referring to. Thanks for the clarification.

[the_duck]

i'd go for the slow movement of mozart's c major sonata K.545. it's simple and beautiful and ends in a major key.

[gerry]

So many suggestions; but, thankfully, this particular venue is a rarity--at least in my life.

[pianowelsh]

yes nothing too dour - its sad enough you dont want everyone to feel suicidal.

[mknueven]

pies,
what kind of music do you like?
I didn't think too many people that felt that way could like music either.

[jinfiesto]

Play the alkan funeral march... Hahaha... Jk... I personally would go with the bach-siloti prelude...

[houseofblackleaves]

Ravel Sonatine 2nd movement


or


Ravel Pavane pour un infante defunte  <---how did this not get mentioned earlier?

Those were the exact pieces I was going to suggest. XD

[lani]

Teresa Carreno composed Elegie for her mother's funeral - I would suggest this piece.  It is a beautiful dedication for mother and daughter. There is a recording by Carmen Rodriguez.  Regards, Lani

[imbetter]

try chopin 10/5 or 10/8

[lavalse]

Have you considered asking close family of the child if they would like something specific...?