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:
50 Solo Songs for Special Occasions from Weddings to Funerals
for: Voice (high), piano [organ]
Music score (anthology), online audio
Item no.: 562698
Songs For Funeral Services
Parts in Bb, in Eb and in C–bass clef
for: Voice [melodic instrument (C/B-flat/E-flat/C low)], piano [guitar/keyboard/organ]
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 665906
"Actus tragicus"
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 167439
Begräbnismusik in drei Teilen für Singstimmen und Basso continuo
Stuttgarter Schütz-Ausgabe Urtext
for: 8 voices (SSAATTBB), organ, bass; mixed choir (SSATTB), 6 melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Score
Item no.: 423286
HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 550475
Passio secundum Joannem BWV 245 - Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
Fassung IV (1749) mit der unvollendeten Revision 1739 im Anhang
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 346649
Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben · Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), 2 violins, viola, bassoon, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233890
Early version
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 444394
for: 4 solo voices (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 285525
35 Beautiful Pieces
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 758497
from "The Fairy Queen"
Echo
for: Voice (soprano), violin, piano
Score, part
Item no.: 303053
Music for Strings
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 176724
20 Pieces for 5-string banjo in tablature
for: Banjo
Music score (with TABs)
Item no.: 656661
'Auch das Schöne muss sterben'
Breitkopf Urtext
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 284906
Long considered the noblest, most inspired musical treatment of the crucifixion of Christ, Bach's St. Matthew Passion remains an immensely popular work.
Dover Mini Scores
for: Soloists, mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Study score
Item no.: 168012
"Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir"
Cantata for a penitential service (version in g minor)
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 164264
Actus tragicus. Trauermusik
BWV 106
for: Mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233628
Contemporary Church Music
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 315594
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction
Item no.: 280494
Shawnee Press
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 323212
Hymn to the Victims of the Holocaust
for: Piano
Single edition
Item no.: 683643
Pops For Ensembles Level 2.5
for: Klarinettenensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 465957
Score and Parts
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 607206
Poem by Dana Gioia
for SATB and Piano
Peermusic Classical
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 620144
Choral Music
for: Mixed choir (SATB), 2 oboes, cor anglais, bassoon, 4 trumpets, , snare drum, timpani, organ
Score
Item no.: 321285
Piano for Four Hands
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 292571
for: Voice (high/medium), piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 764779
Brass Ensemble
for: Brass ensemble
Buch
Item no.: 400858
(1550-1650)
An introduction
Book
Item no.: 773230
Choral Large Works
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 317711
Geistliche Musik
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 321689
Azione sacra
Erstausgabe
Staffelpreise auf Anfrage
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Choir score
Item no.: 237396
Azione sacra
Erstausgabe
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Score
Item no.: 237394
Der Musikforscher Malcolm Bruno erstellte auf Basis der inzwischen als Parodievorlage etablierten Trauerode BWV 198 eine neue Rekonstruktion des Werks
for: Narrator, 4 solo voices (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), baroque orchestra
Piano reduction
Item no.: 689659
Last Respects
for: 4 brass instruments
Score, Parts
Item no.: 550554
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Score
Item no.: 377200
Song–Diary on Yiddish poems by Abraham Sutzkever
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 768189
Purcell Society Edition Companion Series 5
Set of parts
Item no.: 769251
for Three Violins & Keyboard (cello cont. ad lib.)
for: Mixed Ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 392720
Music Box
for: Variables Bläserquintett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 446297
Rubank Solo-Ensemble Sheet
for: Flötenquartett
Score, Parts
Item no.: 180756
Dirge-Canons and Song
for: Tenor, String Quartet and 4 Trombones
Piano reduction
Item no.: 303264
Piano-Vocal-Guitar Songbook
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 607983
In Paradisum
Staffelpreise auf Anfrage
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano [organ]
Score
Item no.: 772248
Choral Large Works
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 317789
In Paradisum
Staffelpreise auf Anfrage
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano [organ]
Score
Item no.: 772245
Cantata for funeral service / Purification of Mary.
Reconstruction Klaus Hofmann
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 2 soloists (TB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Piano reduction (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 233914
Choral Large Works
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 317746
Geistliche Musik
for: Voice
Book
Item no.: 324783
Choral Large Works
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 317729