Music has always played an important role in Funeral services. Browse our sheet music and scores, and let Stretta help you find the right music today.
Since the 13th century, clergymen have gathered in calendar brotherhoods on the calends, the first days of each month, to remember their deceased brothers. As at the funerals themselves, there was extensive singing. Later, choirs emerged from this ritual, to perform motets at funerals, in church or at the grave.
In addition to settings of Requiems, the Dutch composers of the 15th and 16th centuries wrote funeral motets to commemorate princes and rulers, which continued to spread across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, with settings such as Handel’s Funeral Music for Queen Caroline, Musical Exequies by Heinrich Schütz and Purcells’s Funeral Music for Queen Mary. This began to expand into the secular world with works like Monteverdi’s Lamento d‘Arianna.
In France, the Sarabande was the most popular lament before the funeral march developed in the late 18th century. In the last century, new works such as dirges and epitaphs have entered the repertoire as expressions of mourning and grief.
Nowadays, pop or rock songs are often played at funerals. Here is a list of popular modern songs for funeral ceremonies:
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373120
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373119
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373118
Funeral motet
for: Mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Cello, double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 373121
for: 5 soloists (SATBB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 627246
Musikalische Exequien III SWV 281
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo; 8 instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Instrumental part 2 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1160516
Musikalische Exequien III SWV 281
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo; 8 instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Instrumental part 1 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1160510
Musikalische Exequien II
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); 8 melodic instruments (colla parte), basso continuo ad lib.
Instrumental part 4 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1121071
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 269164
Early version
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Violin 2a (orchestral part)
Item no.: 444389
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Single part Basso continuo
Item no.: 737643
for: 3 violins, basso continuo
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 724929
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 230676
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234681
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Viola da gamba 3 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 234624
HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 601975
HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 601974
for: Soloists, mixed choir, orchestra
Viola 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 424924
for: Viola [violin/cello], string orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 580170
Single part Guitar 1
Item no.: 610353
Musikalische Exequien II
for: 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB); 8 melodic instruments (colla parte), basso continuo ad lib.
Instrumental part 2 (Choir 2)
Item no.: 1121068
Über die Nicht- und Flüchtigkeit des menschlichen Lebens.
Kantate zum 24. Sonntag nach Trinitatis
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Recorder 3
Item no.: 674996
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 384702
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771655
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771654
Music of Mourning
for: Viola (Violine, Violoncello) und Streichorchester
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 748080
Funeral Cantata TWV 4:17
for: 2 soloists (SB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Single part Violin
Item no.: 430522
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 384705
for: Melody instrument (C), piano [organ]
Single part Trumpet (B-flat)
Item no.: 1566605
for: Solo voices, mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 671874
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 230671
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, organ
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 771658
Begräbnismusik in drei Teilen für Singstimmen und Basso continuo
Stuttgarter Schütz-Ausgabe Urtext
for: 8 voices (SSAATTBB), organ, bass; mixed choir (SSATTB), 6 melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Single part 3
Item no.: 674155
Early version
Bärenreiter Urtext
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SSAATTBB), orchestra
Violin 1b (orchestral part)
Item no.: 459767
Über die Nicht- und Flüchtigkeit des menschlichen Lebens.
Kantate zum 24. Sonntag nach Trinitatis
for: 3 soloists (SAB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Single part Recorder 1
Item no.: 674994
for: Basso continuo
Single part(n)
Item no.: 457318
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), chamber orchestra
Single part Organ
Item no.: 681148
Funeral Anthem HWV 54
for: 6 soloists (SSATBB), 2 mixed choirs (SATB, SATB), orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 601976
Musikalische Exequien III SWV 281
for: 2 favorit choirs (SATB, SATB), basso continuo; 8 instruments (colla parte) ad lib.
Instrumental part 4 (Choir 1)
Item no.: 1160511
Begräbnismusik in drei Teilen für Singstimmen und Basso continuo
Stuttgarter Schütz-Ausgabe Urtext
for: 8 voices (SSAATTBB), organ, bass; mixed choir (SSATTB), 6 melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Part 1
Item no.: 674158
Fassung II
for: Organ
Single part Organ
Item no.: 640919
Cantata for funeral service / Purification of Mary.
Reconstruction Klaus Hofmann
Urtext Stuttgarter Bach-Ausgaben
for: 2 soloists (TB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra, basso continuo
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 233919
Begräbnismusik in drei Teilen für Singstimmen und Basso continuo
Stuttgarter Schütz-Ausgabe Urtext
for: 8 voices (SSAATTBB), organ, bass; mixed choir (SSATTB), 6 melody instruments colla parte ad lib.
Single part 5
Item no.: 674157
Single part Guitar 2
Item no.: 610354
Single part Violin 3
Item no.: 384706
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 230672
for: 4 soloists (SATB), mixed choir (SATB), orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 230670
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.