I’m not sure if I am in a fit state of mind to cover the extensive selection of funeral songs in CWB II. Currently, funerals are limited to ten participants in Australia due to Covid 19, but that won’t last forever.
I have blogged elsewhere some of the highlights: “Go Silent Friend” 143, “There’s a Place” 148 and “When Human Voices Cannot Sing” 149 – all wonderful texts and tunes if you can get through them without breaking down.
These two are both set to FINLANDIA so there is a good chance the mourners will know the tune.
“Fare well …” has a text by Michael Thwaites that he has posted on his website. It works just as well as poetry.
“Be still..” is by Katharina vons Schlegel and translated by Jane Borthwick. The text is here.
Somewhat off-topic, but for anyone who likes the FINLANDIA hymn tune Janèt Sullivan Whitaker’s setting of the Magnificat to this tune is sensational and worth a listen. Her arrangement includes descants for the final verse that send shivers down my spine everytime I hear them! Find the recording at https://youtu.be/dGsTqcKZ0P0.
Having said how much I enjoy listening to it thanks to the wonderful arrangement and performance, I must confess I’ve never used it at Mass, as I think the tune is rather melancholy to associate with joyful lyrics and prefer Dudley-Smith’s “Tell Out My Soul” in Gather Australia!