Played at a funeral yesterday

[dreadnut]

I helped play music at the funeral of a friend who was 91 years old. He was a self made millionaire - bakeries and restaurants - but they scarcely talked about that. His legacy was that he was Christian in the true sense of the word, he was a compassionate, caring person who would take time do do things like make soup and take it to visit a refugee dying of AIDS, he and his wife took people who were down and out into their home and helped them get back on their feet, on and on went the testimonials about my old friend.

Then the music director from the church came out with his vintage 1980 or so Guild D-25NT and we made some beautiful music together

 

[cjd-player]

Good on ya, Dread.

 

[Graham]

Sounds like a nice send off Marc.

 

[kitniyatran]

Yep; like they said.
I played at a double(husband & wife) baptism yesterday. D25NT, of course.

 

[Guildmark]

I played at a funeral about 3 weeks ago. He was 83, and an elder at my church, a great mentor and advisor. Loved puns and Dilbert. One of his daughters is a musician. She and my wife have known each other all their lives. It was she who asked me to play.

John had been a nuclear engineer at Livermore. In the 50's he was one of the guys working on the project to develop a nuclear powered airplane. In the end, he said, they couldn't overcome the practical issues around lift required for a reactor's lead shielding!

He worked at Rockwell on both Apollo and the Space Shuttle before retiring.

My favorite anecdote about him was the time, at some meeting or other at church, when we were talking about the possibilities of nuclear terrorism after 911. John stated that it isn't too difficult to build a nuke - heck, the plans are out on the internet. All one needs is enough fissionable material, which is a real trick. Our new minister looked across the table and said, "John, are telling us if you had enough uranium 235 or plutonium, you could build an atomic bomb in your garage?!"

John furrowed his brow, frowned and said, "Well, not a very good one."

I miss him.

 

[Frosty]

A kind and generous way to share music, guys. I have played for the annual memorial service for the local hospice and found it gratifying.

 

[fab467]

A kind and generous way to share music, guys. I have played for the annual memorial service for the local hospice and found it gratifying.

Pretty kind and generous yourself Frosty...

 

[dreadnut]

It was a real honor to be asked to play at the funeral/remembrance service. You guys know how it is - there's no end to the amount of gigs we can do for free, right? Yet when it comes to something like this we jump at the opportunity. There was a time in my life when I loved to play in front of people largely just to stroke my own ego, but now when I jump to play its usually for one of two reasons: 1. A personal connection to someone, and 2. $$$

 

[Jeff]

What songs did you play Dred ???

 

[West R Lee]

I'll bet your friend is smelling some sweet pastry now Marc......and so will you my friend. :wink:

West

 

[Willy]

Now that's much more encouraging than reading news headlines...a life well lived for the King and friends who gather to celebrate it!

 

[dreadnut]

Jeff, we played "Agnus Dei", "Because He Lives", "How Great Thou Art", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", a couple others I can't think of right now, then the organist finished up with a rousing rendition of Handel's "Halleluiah Chorus". In Arnie's case, it was more of a celebration than a funeral. Afterwards, his daughter came up and thanked us and said the music was "just the way he would have wanted it" (i.e., a bunch of folk musicians banging out the tunes on stringed instruments) - we had five guitarists, a fiddle, a standup bass, a mandolin, and a piano, and the guy with the D-25 also played the flute on a couple tunes.

And I have to confess, they had some outstanding eats afterwards, the hallmark of a good Dutch funeral

 

[Jeff]

Jeff, we played "Agnus Dei", "Because He Lives", "How Great Thou Art", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", ...... organist finished up with a rousing rendition of Handel's "Halleluiah Chorus". In Arnie's case, it was more of a celebration than a funeral. Afterwards, his daughter came up and thanked us and said the music was "just the way he would have wanted it" (i.e., a bunch of folk musicians banging out the tunes on stringed instruments) - we had five guitarists, a fiddle, a standup bass, a mandolin, and a piano, and the guy with the D-25 also played the flute on a couple tunes.

And I have to confess, they had some outstanding eats afterwards, the hallmark of a good Dutch funeral

Life is good

 

[fungusyoung]

Major kudos to you, Dread, and to everyone else that plays at funerals or memorial services.

I can't think of a better way to share your music and to bring joy to those grieving. Though I would personally find it very hard to do. Not quite as difficult as delivering a eulogy, maybe, but I'm sure it's still emotionally a pretty tough spot to be in at times.

 

[dreadnut]

I had lots of help

 

[krysh]

...Life is good

...as long as you try to live it. :wink:

 

[Guildmark]

...Life is good

...as long as you try to live it. :wink:

Yep. It sure beats the alternative.

 

[krysh]

definately.

 

[JerryR]

...Life is good

...as long as you try to live it. :wink:

Yep. It sure beats the alternative.

Life is invariably fatal :roll:

 

[dreadnut]

Jer, my dad used to say when driving past a cemetary: "People are just dying to get in that place" :lol: