Practical limitations aside, I would have Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, as it is fundamentally a positive piece of music.
I would want the first movement; I find the music so emancipatory. To me, more than any other piece of music I've ever heard, it rings of freedom, and of "release".
I certianly wouldn't want anything dark, the problem with dark music is that it is a bit self-aggrandizing at a funeral, I think. ;)
amazing grace, sung a cappella by one of my students. such an amazing and musical voice!
dj
Mahler 2, probably, or if I want to spare the mourners time, I'd go with Chopin Ballade #1.
Why would you care what they play? How about a fugue of crying bastards? ;D ;D
Something self-aggrandising. ;D
Really I don't care though, because I'll be dead...
"Highway to Hell" by AC/DC because everyone needs a good laugh from time to time ;D
First movement of Mozart's clarinet quintet.
Rachmaninov's All-night Vigil. In full, with a massive, self-aggrandising choir. Or at the very least, the 'Bless the Lord, O my soul'.
Alternatively, three English songs: Elgar's 'The Shower' to begin, then later, Pearsall's 'Lay A Garland', and to close, Stanford's beautiful 'The Blue Bird'. Divine.
Eine Alpensinfonie by Richard Strauss or
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi
Wagner ~ Lohengrin Prelude Act.1.
Note: We did this topic a few months ago :)
A requiem, of course...by J.D. Zelenka.
Or should that be A Solo Requiem for Soprano and Two Pianos by Milton Babbitt?
To adapt something I wrote at rmcr, when the question was instead: "A while back I asked which piece would you choose to hear if you had only 30 minutes to live," I think I would pick these three pieces as my program:
- the third movement of Beethoven's quartet, Op. 130
- the third movement of his quartet, Op. 135
- the bass aria Mache dich, mein Herze rein from Bach's St. Matthew Passion
If there were time, I would also schedule the slow movement from Beethoven's quartet, Op. 127, the Chopin 4th Ballade, and "Ich bin der Welt" and "Um Mitternacht" from the Ruckert Lieder. And hopefully I could end with the most peacefully beautiful piece of music ever written, the third Agnus Dei from the Missa L'Homme Armé Sexti Toni by Josquin des Prez.
I would actually like Thomas Tallis's Spem in alium performed at my funeral or at least in memory of me. The sheer beauty of the sound of massive 40-voice imitative counterpoint tends to put me in a reflective state of mind and it seems befitting.
Across The Universe by the Beatles.
Quote from: LaciDeeLeBlanc on August 14, 2007, 02:48:18 PM
Eine Alpensinfonie by Richard Strauss
A bit over-the-top don't you think?
I would probably want Strauss'
Metamorphosen for Strings or his
Death and Transfiguration.
Wagner: Siegfried's funeral music from Götterdämmerung.
Verdi: Tuba mirum from the Requiem.
8)
Since Harry probably isn't going to come anyway, and my survivors have so many versions to choose from, I want the "Ode to Joy". It suits me to a "T". :)
8)
The second Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen from this disc:
(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SXMM4ZGHL._SS500_.jpg)
When I'm dead, I probably won't care.
But if people wanted to remember me properly, they would play P.D.Q. Bach's Missa Hilarious. Since I am a screwball, this choice would be appropriate.
Heather
Chopsticks.
Anything DMX
Billie Holiday singing "Please don't talk about me when I'm gone."
Quote from: dtwilbanks on August 14, 2007, 06:21:31 PM
Richter, of course! :)
I know you're saying that "tongue-in-cheek". But I wouldn't be quite so dismissive of that possibility if I were you. I can't speak about Richter. But I can speak about another great pianist ..Rudolf Serkin.
One of the summers that I was working at Tanglewood, Serkin was scheduled for a performance of the Beethoven "Emperor" Concerto, with Munch and the Boston Symphony. He was at the Shed about 3 hrs before the concert doing his very preliminary "warm-ups". I was busy doing my preliminary duties as well, but when I heard the sound of the piano, I looked in at his dressing room, and saw that it was he seated at the Steinway. He looked up, saw me in the doorway, and said "Come in. What would you like to hear"? Now a bit weak in the knees, I said "anything that pleases you, Mr. Serkin".
He played "Chopsticks" Apparently he was unsatisfied with his initial performance, so he played it two more times. I said "thanks, is there anything I can get for you"? He said "no, I don't need anything right now". And I left.
Weak in the knees? How come? That doesn't sound like you.
Quote from: MozartMobster on August 14, 2007, 08:31:02 PM
Weak in the knees? How come? That doesn't sound like you.
I was young. It wouldn't happen now. believe me.
I dont't understand why people would become so shy when meeting someone they admire. Why is that, I mean they aren't any better than anyone else. I imagine, If I ever meet Erika Miklosa, I'd put the moves on her ;D
Mahler number 3
Ligeti's Requiem.
Zero sound or at most the sound of a single instrument. A Mozart or Haydn piano sonata will do just fine but most definitely Schubert's last piano sonata D.960 played by Wilhelm Kempff, transcendent and lighthearted at the same time.
Quote from: Iago on August 14, 2007, 08:04:23 PM
I know you're saying that "tongue-in-cheek". But I wouldn't be quite so dismissive of that possibility if I were you. I can't speak about Richter. But I can speak about another great pianist ..Rudolf Serkin.
One of the summers that I was working at Tanglewood, Serkin was scheduled for a performance of the Beethoven "Emperor" Concerto, with Munch and the Boston Symphony. He was at the Shed about 3 hrs before the concert doing his very preliminary "warm-ups". I was busy doing my preliminary duties as well, but when I heard the sound of the piano, I looked in at his dressing room, and saw that it was he seated at the Steinway. He looked up, saw me in the doorway, and said "Come in. What would you like to hear"? Now a bit weak in the knees, I said "anything that pleases you, Mr. Serkin".
He played "Chopsticks" Apparently he was unsatisfied with his initial performance, so he played it two more times. I said "thanks, is there anything I can get for you"? He said "no, I don't need anything right now". And I left.
Great story. Thanks.
I'll be in a better place having a cuppa with Mr Beethoven - they can play anything they like at my funeral :).
But I can tell you my playlist from when my dog died though :'(:
Fauré requiem - because that's one of the gentler requiems; Verdiesque fire and brimstone weren't my dog's style
Des Abschieds from Das Lied von der Erde - to bawl my eyes out to
Mahler 2 - because of the uplifting ending 0:)
Bruckner's 7th adagio
I would love almost anything live to be played at my memorial, as a composer I know did for his mother who died a few years ago. (He did a very beautiful percussion piece - soft - that seemed very timeless.)
But if that doesn't happen, here's a possible program:
Ligeti: Atmosphères
Mahler: Andante from Symphony No. 6
Gubaidulina: String Quartet No. 3
...followed by something much more upbeat, like some traditional New Orleans jazz...(can't be morose the whole time)...
--Bruce
and after the Bruckner this (from an all time classic):
http://www.youtube.com/v/jHPOzQzk9Qo
Quote from: bhodges on August 15, 2007, 11:25:06 AM
I would love almost anything live to be played at my memorial, as a composer I know did for his mother who died a few years ago. (He did a very beautiful percussion piece - soft - that seemed very timeless.)
But if that doesn't happen, here's a possible program:
Ligeti: Atmosphères
Mahler: Adagio from Symphony No. 6
Gubaidulina: String Quartet No. 3
...followed by something much more upbeat, like some traditional New Orleans jazz...(can't be morose the whole time)...
--Bruce
You must be planning on a very long funeral.
Quote from: Don on August 15, 2007, 11:46:59 AM
You must be planning on a very long funeral.
;D
--Bruce
Quote from: bhodges on August 15, 2007, 11:25:06 AM
I would love almost anything live to be played at my memorial, as a composer I know did for his mother who died a few years ago. (He did a very beautiful percussion piece - soft - that seemed very timeless.)
But if that doesn't happen, here's a possible program:
Ligeti: Atmosphères
Mahler: Adagio from Symphony No. 6
Gubaidulina: String Quartet No. 3
...followed by something much more upbeat, like some traditional New Orleans jazz...(can't be morose the whole time)...
--Bruce
Andante from M6 or adagio from M5???
Quote from: rach on August 15, 2007, 02:37:05 PM
Andante from M6 or adagio from M5???
surely, you must've meant "Adagietto" from M5
Thanks for the correction: yes, the Andante movement from the Sixth. (Sorry, got distracted by the chorus in Peter Grimes. ;D)
I love the Adagietto from the Fifth, but the slow movements from Nos. 4 and 6 are my favorites.
--Bruce
Vivaldi Concerto Funebre RV579. Mixes sadness and joyfulness in just the right proportions.
I have enjoyed this thread but it seems like it's always music for funerals. How about music for your marriage?
Quote from: Anne on August 15, 2007, 06:40:27 PM
I have enjoyed this thread but it seems like it's always music for funerals. How about music for your marriage?
that would be too easy (thinking about a certain mozart opera)
Quote from: Anne on August 15, 2007, 06:40:27 PM
I have enjoyed this thread but it seems like it's always music for funerals. How about music for your marriage?
To some people, music for a marriage would be exactly the same as music for a funeral.
Scriabin - Preparation for the Final Mystery
Ode to Joy.
Yes, I'm that much hated.
GUILLAUME DE MACHAUT: Rondeau "Ma fin est mon commencement". By the Hilliard Ensemble.
Marche Funèbre by Cherubini
Quote from: D Minor on August 16, 2007, 03:11:53 AM
Marche Funèbre by Cherubini
A little extravagant, don't you think? The tam-tam would scare the old women.
Quote from: Iago on August 15, 2007, 08:14:56 PM
To some people, music for a marriage would be exactly the same as music for a funeral.
Gustav Mahler
I've never thought of this before, but I think I'd go with the shakuhachi piece Kokuu, if I have any say in the matter.
The last movement of Mahler's Symphony No.2-so beautiful, tear-inducing but uplifting,
AND-if I can get away with a second bit at the cherry-
the final 'Chorus Misticus" from Liszt's Faust Symphony. Now there is a piece of music to raise the rafters!