Yet another family member has passed... Great grandfather in his 80`s and really hasn`t known who I was for the past 10 years... I`m not terribly emotionally hurt by it (It`s those family members who are mourning around me, oi!).

Every time someone in my family dies... I pull out my Schubert "Ave Maria" flute arrangement (from "Let Us Have Music for Flute"), pull out a Karaoke CD that is thankfully in the same key (C), and I sing and play the same type arrangement that Stevie Wonder does (1st verse, flute, mid-1st verse to end).

I was wondering if anyone knew of a solo flute piece that would be appropriate for a funeral as I am losing my voice and don`t care to play Ave Maria in its entirety on flute.

I am sorry to hear about your loss. I think that something simple like "Amazing Grace" would probably be suitable for a funeral.

I am so sorry for you loss. How wonderful that you will be able to be involved in the celebration of his life.

Will this be a church funeral? Are there specific parameters you need to comply with (such as in a Mass)? The Ave Maria is so beautiful, it clouds my mind to try to think of something else.

Did your Great-Grandfather have a particular music preference? I can think of a popular funeral pieces (these are very simple): On Eagle`s Wings, Holy is His Name (The Magnificat), ....dang, all I can think of is Ave Maria!

My thoughts are with you.

I never really knew my great grandfather very well... even though he was ever present he never spoke much nor recognized people as long as I could remember. I`m quite alright though the family is quite upset.

I may just give a list of songs, excluding the Ave Maria, to my Aunt to see what she thinks. Ave Maria is very beautiful, but oh sooo long and repetative on the flute alone. I guess I`m looking for something that won`t be challenging to energize... yet be suitable for a funeral.

The funeral will be at a mortuary with no limititation on what I perform. My family is largely Catholic (the holiday mass only variety).

Hey sweetie, I am sorry to hear that.
I am called to play for funerals when needed, and this is some of the repertoire that I have used.

If you would like or need anything from this list just let me know and I will be happy to scan it for you.

Siciliano from Sonata in Eb Major - Bach

Arioso - J.S Bach

Syinx - Debussy

Andante transquio (part) from Sonata Undine - Carl Reinecke

Sonata #7 Adagio movement - Bach

Saraband - Corelli

I`m so sorry for you. I also had to play at the funeral of my grandfather a little while back and, if you find a good arrangement of the Circle of Life from the Lion King, that is a perfectly acceptable piece to play. When I was done, people were sobbing...
I hope everything goes ok and that you get through this!!!

I always like to play The Marriage of Figaro, I got a standing ovation the last time I played that at a funeral.

Thank you for your suggestions. I have most of the suggested pieces and I`ll give them ago. Honestly the Santa Ana winds and fires are getting to me so bad I may end up passing on playing.

I played Amazing Grace solo at my Grandmother`s funeral, for everyone to sing to. Everyone said how nice it was.

Following this success, I was asked to play at another funeral, and I played En`tracte from Carmen (the slow bit) as a solo at the end.

I think it`s a nice thing to do. Flute played well sounds lovely and soothing and better than a church/crematorium etc. organ!

Massenet`s Eligie is a good one.

I ended up performing the Ave Maria after all... it went over well. I was plesantly suprised that I entered the flute section in tune as I was not able to tune there. Turns out my great grandfather was 95 years old when he passed.