Identifying key changes: the progress of cremation and its influence on music at funerals in England, 1874–2010

Abstract

Historically, musical contributions to the Church of England funerals were marginalised by the constraints of the burial service. Challenged by the introduction of cremation in the 1880s, then in the twentieth century by advances in recording equipment and more recently through a trend to personalise funeral ceremonies, the choice of music performed at contemporary funerals has widened dramatically, frequently fusing the religious and secular. This article examines the impact that relocating the funeral from the church to the crematorium had on music-related funeral practices and the place of music at cremation services today. Developments occurring as part of the funeral reform movement and surveys revealing musical preferences are discussed, whilst the final section presents the analyses of music performed during a one-month period at a London crematorium.

Keywords:

• music
• cremation
• contemporary UK funeral rituals
• religion

Acknowledgements

Natasha Bradshaw and Bill Arbery at Mortlake Crematorium; Dawn Squires and Richard Pilliner at Eltham Crematorium; Joe Wisdom at St Paul's Cathedral; Dr Philip Smyth, the Revd Anthony Caldicott and the Revd Dr Peter Jupp.