Singers for Funerals

_A rare treat for singer Kirsty last week, two funerals in two days with her favourite funeral organist Paul Burgoyne. Two very contrasting services too!

First, a RC mass in London where Kirsty led the hymns and sung various responses, while Paul conquered a rather reluctant piano that had no sustain! A sincere and heartfelt service with lovely family contributions, including readings and a song by the grandchildren.

Then, a quiet but very refined service at the lovely little chapel at the North East Surrey Crematorium. Very peaceful, very elegant, just like the lady herself, I gather. Paul had advised on the purchase of their new chapel organ, and it was a delight - a lovely sound and so right for the space, much enhanced by Paul's sensitive and expressive playing.

"Kirsty, you & Paul (organist) were absolutely amazing, thank you from the bottom of my  heart. Everyone was talking about you, full of praise. My dad was so pleased, and he kept  saying "Beautiful, beautiful" which it was - you were both so magical!"
CA, on her mother's funeral mass in Camberwell, London

"Thank you for singing - it made the service so special and so suitable for my opera-loving mother."
SG, funeral service at North East Surrey Crematorium, Lower Morden

Funeral hymns really do sound best played on a real organ - but what if the church or crematorium doesn't have an organ, or indeed an organist? Singers for Funerals have an extensive library of recorded hymns accompaniments for funerals for just such a situation, thanks to the excellent recordings by John Keys available from the Hymns CDs website.

We invested in the full set of accompaniments - over 1000 in all - and they have been invaluable for our soloists so far, as we can quickly learn new hymns tunes and accompaniments. 

So far we have been very lucky in that every funeral we have performed at has booked an organist, and to be honest, we'd always rather sing with a real live organist than recordings, given the choice.

However, our funeral hymns backing tracks, for lack of a better phrase, will soon come into their own when we will be singing at a funeral in a tiny country church where there is no organ at all. Our library also includes our own recordings of songs and opera arias, so whatever the family chose from their funeral service music, we should be covered!


photo by uktripfor2006 at flickr.com

At Singers for Funerals, we keep discovering more about the amazing people who provide services for funerals in the UK, including the Society of Crematorium Organists. Kirsty has just become a Fellow of the Society, without being able to play a note herself!

As Dr Michael Walsh, founder of the Society says, "The Society exists for all those who are involved in the musical side of funerals" so funeral soloists with Singers for Funerals definitely qualify.

Kirsty is delighted to be in such esteemed and experienced company, and looks forward to working with Society members to bring the joy and consolation of live music to crematorium funeral services across the UK.

Discover more about the Society at their website: http://www.societyofcrematoriumorganists.org.uk

This year, we've all seen what real snow is like again. You know, the kind of snow that covers your boots and means you have to use a shovel to clear your drive. However, it seems that now the mere sight of it terrifies us again.

Monday saw a icing-sugar dusting of snow here in Hampshire, but the effect on the traffic was terrific. Our soprano funeral singer was due to sing at a funeral in Surrey, just a 20 mins drive from our office. Having left nice and early for a good rehearsal with the organist, she actually arrived almost an hour later after endless traffic jams!

Luckily, years of experience clicked in, allowing her to assess the acoustics, rehearse the 5 numbers with the organist (more than usual because it was a full mass), change her shoes from snow boots to more elegant heels, and still give a lovely performance that drew praise from family and guests alike.

Needless to say, by the time the service was over at 12 noon, the snow had all melted away and the traffic had all but disappeared!!