Gospel music is one musical option for funerals.
Gospel music is a variation on hymn singing. Growing out of black communities, gospel music tends to have a bit more sass and is sung with a bit more gusto than hymns sung in the Christian mode. Sales of gospel music recordings tend to be more lively than sales of hymns too.
Gospel songs are sung for pleasure as well as for religious and ceremonial occasions. A very rich tradition, the term ‘gospel music’ has been around since the late 1800s.
Wonderful contemporary singers like Whitney Houston learned their craft in gospel choirs – lots of big voices, unaccompanied, with rich harmonies. The glorious ‘call and response’ style of singing happens in Christian hymns too (like Scottish Isle of Lewis Psalm Singers) with someone singing a solo lead and the chorus echoing or replying; with clapping and feet stamping providing a bit of percussion.
Depending on which part of the country gospel music came from, some gospel music shows strong hints of Blues and Country.
Top 10 Gospel Music for Funerals
This is our Top 10 list of gospel music for funerals.
- Take My Hand Precious Lord
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
- Oh When the Saints Go Marching In
- I’ll Fly Away
- Going Up Yonder
- Soon As I Get Home
- God Be With You
- Hello After Goodbye
- Angels Watching Over Me
- I Stand Amazed
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Download Top 10 funeral music
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