As you know it's still mandatory to wear a mask in a place of worship, along with cinemas, galleries and museums. (2)

At Singers for Funerals, we decided to do our own tests to determine if wearing a cloth face covering / face mask would in any way affect:

• our ability to sing
• the clarity and volume of our voices

(We use the term ‘face mask’ to cover all kinds of face coverings that are neither a tied scarf nor medical grade PPE.)

For us, the highlight of any funeral are the eulogies, the tributes paid to celebrate the life and achievements of some truly remarkable people. Whether spoken by the priest or by family members, we very much enjoy hearing of lives lived to the full, of family achievements and holidays, tricks played by kids long grown up and favourite pets.

When it comes to deciding what to include in the service for a small funeral, there really are no hard and fast rules. The last few funerals I've sung at have shown exactly that point.

​At a recent funeral I came across this wonderful, evocative poem especially appropriate for a Catholic funeral Mass. This was the first time I'd heard this and it struck me as a wonderful celebration of how ordinary things brings us closer together.

This blog was originally posted on Singers for Funerals

So far this year we've sung over 100 individual songs and hymns for funerals, burials and memorials services. As you would expect, this total includes some of the most popular items, including:

Music at a funeral service is often one of the first things to be discussed, as music has a great effect on people’s emotions.

Choosing music for a funeral can seem a daunting task, as you can have almost any type of music you wish at a funeral. Don’t feel pressured by this thought. Take time to consider if the deceased had favourite songs, hymns or instrumental music they loved. These pieces of music would add a greater meaning to the service, rather than just the first thing that come to mind.

Choosing funeral songs can be difficult, and even more so if you're choosing for a Roman Catholic Funeral.​

We have sung at a number of Roman Catholic funerals, when there has been some confusion beforehand about what music may be sung during a requiem mass.

There's something particularly moving about singing at the graveside.

​​Many families ask for a choir to sing at a funeral because that’s usually what everyone has, isn’t it?

Not necessarily. A solo funeral singer (or duo) can be a better option.

There's something particularly moving about singing at the graveside.