Tag Archives: Expressive Music

Paul K. Joyce’s musical adaptation of Mary Elizabeth Frye’s “Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep.”

A composer sets the popular bereavement poem to music with hauntingly beautiful results

Since 1932, when florist and Baltimore-based homemaker Mary Elizabeth Frye wrote “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep,” quite a few musicians have felt compelled to set the poem to music. Frye’s wise, comforting lines have been transformed into … Continue reading

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“Der Tod und das Mädchen” by Franz Schubert

Death comforts a young maiden

“Der Tod und das Mädchen” (Death and the Maiden) is a gorgeous “lied” composed by Franz Schubert in 1817. The word “lied” is a German term originally used to describe the fusion of poetry and music, or more specifically the practice of … Continue reading

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Gillian Welch’s Neo-Traditional Hymn “I’m Not Afraid To Die”

A simple tune, a deep well of comfort

The first time I heard Gillian Welch’s achingly lovely neotraditional folk song “I’m Not Afraid To Die”, I heard it sung in harmony by my dear friend and her dying father. He was in hospice at home in Santa Fe, lying … Continue reading

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“Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” by Eric Idle

Monty Python's Life Of Brian song Is a popular funeral tune

In 2014, the Telegraph published the findings of a study carried out by a cohort of funeral directors investigating which is the most played song at funerals in the United Kingdom. The survey, based on more than 30,000 funerals, found that … Continue reading

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Make the Most of Today: “Like I’m Gonna Lose You”

Meghan Trainor and John Legend sing about the pain of loss

Meghan Trainor is a rarity in the world of pop music. An accomplished singer, songwriter and music publisher by the time she was barely out of her teens, the 22 year-old star records punchy, throwback-style tracks that sound like they … Continue reading

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The Iconic Funeral Hymn “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”

Written in 1907 and made famous by The Carter Family in 1935, this iconic song has a simple message

In 1907, Ada R. Habershon, an English Christian hymnist, and Charles H. Gabriel, who is said to have written or composed up to 8,000 gospel songs, wrote a Christian tune called “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The original lyrics are clearly … Continue reading

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