Musical photographs

Abstract

In a recent survey of 29 funeral homes in the south west of England it was found that people are choosing more popular music to be played at funeral services (The West Briton 2002). Traditional hymns are being replaced by classic songs such as Elton John’s Candle in the wind and Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge over troubled waters, or by contemporary hits such as Angels by Robbie Williams. At the top of the funeral charts calculated in the survey were pieces from Hollywood movies about bereavement and loss. Number one was Bette Midler’s Wind beneath my wings from the film Beaches while number two was Celine Dion’s theme from Titanic, My heart will go on. Outside the top ten were occasional choices for more light-hearted music such as I’m the king of the swingers from The Jungle Book, Party Atmosphere by Russ Abbot, and Always look on the bright side of life from the Monty Python film The life of Brian. The point of this story is that ordinary people are rather good at selecting music based on its personal meaning to them or to their close family, and using that music to create particular emotional and symbolic effects. Those familiar with any of the examples above will recognize symbolic connections with enduring love and the celebration of life in adversity, and these meanings will be amplified when there is some personal association between the music and the person who has died. Indeed the funeral directors interviewed about the survey results, stated that people are turning to popular music to personalise the funeral service and make it relevant to their loved one who may not be familiar with church hymns and choruses.

“For me the voice captured the memory, the music captured the mood” (John, audio annotation trial).