You know when you're full to the brim - when your emotions are so high you can barely hold them back and you're struggling to keep yourself composed? For me it's never a sad song that breaks the dam - it's always a happy one - and this track is the worst!
We were talking about music in funerals today - see the video below - reflecting on how the music in funerals is typically as unique as the individual being memorialized. Some people like to go with traditional hymns, others with soft classical music. Others mix it up - with certain types of music at the beginning of the funeral and others in the middle and at the end.
My cousin who died way too young last year had Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird as his exit music - it was brilliant.
For me I think I like the mixture - the sombre more solemn music to start and accompany people as they enter the room - maybe a classical requiem or even one of my own pieces - Loss (The Bench) perhaps - then a song in the middle of service to give people time to reflect - something like the On An On by the Longpigs - and then the out track - the exit music...
What song do you want to leave people with? What track sums up a life and let's people know that it's going to be OK? Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World was what my mother chose for my Dad's funeral - and it was perfect.
A shorter session this morning - Sharon from Grief Reiki and Andrew talk about the importance of the Funeral - why crying in public is good for you and of course - what music to have playing!
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About the Curator - Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the dark forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top. They would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
After my dad died I was very sad - I couldn't play for a while and when I did, the music that came out reflected my grieving state. I wrote an album of solo piano music called Music to Grieve to - from which the idea of the Music to community originated.
If you'd like to know more you should read Nicole's fabulous article on why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
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Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.