This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Funeral
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Barry Johnston
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Funeral by James P. Carrell — Lyrics
1. Rejoice for a brother deceased,
(Our loss is his infinite gain)
A soul out of prison released,
And freed from its bodily chain:
With songs let us follow his flight,
And mount with his spirit above,
Escaped to the mansions of light,
And lodged in the Eden of love.
2. Our brother the haven hath gained,
Outflying the tempest and wind,
His rest he hath sooner obtained,
And left his companions behind;
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About Funeral
James P. Carrell's SATB setting of Funeral offers a deeply comforting perspective on death, drawing from sacred English text. The lyrics speak of release from earthly chains and a joyful ascent to eternal peace, likening the deceased's journey to a soul escaping prison and flying to the mansions of light. The music is intended to guide the choir in expressing profound solace, moving from the immediate grief of loss to the celebration of a soul's reunion with divine love and freedom from worldly suffering. This piece encourages a hopeful outlook, portraying the transition as a gain rather than an ending.
