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:
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725828
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 741138
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725829
Funeral March
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 752129
from 'Scenes of Childhood'
for: Alto saxophone, piano
Music score
Item no.: 752833
Music of Mourning
for: Viola (Violine, Violoncello) und Streichorchester
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 756378
for: Women's choir (SMezA) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 755742
op. 22, Nr. 2
for: Organ
Sheet music
Item no.: 4014
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725808
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725811
for: Women's choir (SMezA) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725842
1. Ah, leave me here to perish
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 755301
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725820
for: Women's choir (SMezA) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725850
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Study score
Item no.: 759249
aus "Il sesto libro de madrigali" (1615)
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Score
Item no.: 1874
for: Women's choir (SMezA) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725856
Edition Schott
for: Mezzosopran und Orgel oder Synthesizer/Akkordeon
Music score
Item no.: 757097
from Sonata B-flat minor
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748942
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725810
for violoncello and organ
for: Cello, organ
Music score
Item no.: 755243
for: Mixed choir (SATB/SAB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 755723
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 741143
(Trauer / Sorrow)
for: Women's choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 750705
for chorus and orchestra
for: Choir, orchestra
Choir score
Item no.: 747683
op. 15/7 und 85/12
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 749009
aus Wagners Götterdämmerung
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 747480
"Trauer"
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 740217
for: Mixed choir (SATB/SAB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 755720
Edition Schott
for: Blasorchester oder Bläserensemble
Set of parts
Item no.: 750295
Edition Schott
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Piano part for conductor, Parts
Item no.: 740013
Edition Alfonso
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 733043
Schlusschoral aus der Johannes-Passion
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 751725
op. 72/2 (posth.)
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748946
Kanon zu 3 Stimmen
for: Women's choir a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725844
Edition Schott
for: Blasorchester oder Bläserensemble
Score
Item no.: 743395
for: Women's choir (SMezA) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 755736
Eulenburg Miniature Scores
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 749257
Edition Schott
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 729658
op. 15/7 und 85/12
for: Cello, piano
Music score
Item no.: 723907
bearbeitet für Violine und Viola
for: Violin, viola
Ensemble score (pdf download)
Item no.: 3361
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 725807
Dolly's Complaint
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 729882
Str. 1: aus den Psalmen 55, 108,25; Str. 2: Klaus Heizmann
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 755730
Edition Schott
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 729731
for: Women's choir (SMezA) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 741151
Madrigal cycle
for: Mixed choir (SSATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 761296
aus "Vier Lieder des Gedächtnisses", op. 24 (Nr. 3)
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Sheet music
Item no.: 1142