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Playing for the funeral

Playing for a funeral is quite a responsibility. The family and friends are grieving and they don't want hiccups from the organist. Fortunately all went well. They had recorded music for the coming in and going out of the coffin. So I was just required to provide some music before hand and accompany the hymns.

Organs are supplied with rear view mirrors so that you can see what is going on behind you in the congregation. For the hymns you have to give a solid lead and not be put off if the congregation don't seem to be singing very much. The secret is to set a good pace, not to quick and not too slow.

I did not know the departed man but noted that he was six months younger than myself, a significant thought. As John Donne said,"Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." We all have to face up to our own mortality. If you are recently bereaved you might find my poems helpful Poems of loss
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