In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
All the funerals I have been to here have had a soloist who only sings 'Ave Maria', nothing more. It always takes some time to complete that - I think it must be the original and not the 'popularised' version. I have always found it very moving.
Having said that, my experience of Italian funerals has only been in Milano, so it may be that there are other customs and observances elsewhere.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In our village as part of the Funeral mass, if the deceased is sufficintly well connected, the village band plays. The village (only 350 people in winter) has a superb brass band and choir. They do sing songs in English but when you see the sheet music the words are written phonetically and most of the choir have no idea what they are singing, but it's delightful to listen to.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
There is a lot of singing at Mass in Italy, I have not attended a funeral....but I don't think that it would be any different. The hymns book at the church is really huge, so there must be plenty of choices for any occasion.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Nielo;102440]I have just been listening to the Sunday Service on Radio 4 and heard ‘Bread of Heaven’ and ‘Abide with me’, both hymns I associate with funerals I have been to in the UK.
I have not attended an Italian funeral but I wonder whether they sing hymns?
[B]I expect the chances of having a non-conformist hymn such as ‘Rock of Ages’ sung at mine are a bit thin[/B]![/quote]
And the chances of me singing at my own funeral are just as slim? :bigergrin:
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=IRITALIA;102494]And the chances of me singing at my own funeral are just as slim? :bigergrin:[/quote]
Tape recorder?
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
ipod!!! That way you can hear it but other can't!!! lol
Edit - I meant others. I'm sure many will turn up!!! lol
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
At the end of Mass in Pienza this morning remembering the dead of the two World Wars we sang a hymn. Well, I didn't, I just hummed along as I didn't know the words but clearly there are special songs for the occasion.
ps: and walking passed our village church whilst a funeral was taking place the other morning, I was struck by the haunting toll of the church bells. Not sure if this is common practice or not but the peal was solemn in the extreme.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Violetta;102503]...
ps: and walking passed our village church whilst a funeral was taking place the other morning, I was struck by the haunting toll of the church bells. Not sure if this is common practice or not but the peal was solemn in the extreme.[/quote]
Yes, it is customary and, as you said, quite haunting. Totally different from the way the bells sound when there is a celebration or just calling people to attend Mass. The other day there was a wedding at the church in Ponte a Serraglio and it was a very joyful sound which lasted for about half an hour!!!!
Hi
MFBLOH, sings in the church choir here, and she thinks not, she recently sang at a wedding, all in Latin, until the couple were outside the church, then the choir and everyone else started singing bawdy local songs at the B&G, much to there delight.
Christmas Carols are given a wide berth also, but we did sing a duet of God rest ye last year, with a group of local school kids, which was good fun.
But I think its going to be a while until they will let you have " stairway to heaven" and the like.