News
1 March, 2025
The beauty of funeral songs
Moreton Bay locals are being encouraged to share their stories about singing at funerals, and what songs they might have chosen for their own funeral and why, to help two locals prepare for their new performance.
For renowned singers, researchers, and writers Leah Cotterell and Narelle McCoy, music has always been a powerful unifier at funerals, whether the service is held in a grand church, a crematorium, or even in the comfort of someone’s home. Over the years, they have found that the right song can help mourners express their grief, celebrate the deceased, and create moments of unexpected emotion, from sorrow to laughter.
Now they are appealing to the Moreton Bay community for stories about singing at funerals, and asking what songs people might choose for their own funeral and why.
Having explored the topic of death for years, Leah and Narelle’s first project, “Whistling Past the Graveyard,” was performed at the South Brisbane Cemetery in 2023 and 2024, and at the Redcliffe Museum in 2024. Now, they’re gearing up for their next performance, “Confessions of a Funeral Singer,” which will incorporate the stories and songs they gather from the community. The new show aims to capture the complex emotions involved in funerals, exploring themes of loss, love, and the role music plays in these deeply personal moments, ranging from tenderness and sorrow to unexpected moments of hilarity.
Have you ever sung at a funeral? How did it feel? Was it different from other performances? Are you singing for the dead or for the living? Is singing your job or a vocation? Is it a favour or an obligation? How did the gathering respond to the song? Who chose it and why? What did it mean?
“Confessions of a Funeral Singer” will debut over the weekend of May 24 and 25 in the program of the Anywhere Festival Moreton Bay 2025, with dates at Woody Point Community Hall, The Hills District Community Centre, and Dayboro Community Hall. For more: https://www.leahcotterell.com.au/whistling-past-the-graveyard.
To share your story about singing at a funeral, or your preferred funeral songs, please email Leah and Narelle at: confessionsofafuneralsinger@gmail.com.
