Episode 112 - Elizabeth M
WFNU Frogtown Community Radio Edit
Podcast Episode
Elizabeth M.’s Funeral Music Playlist
Your Funeral Music: A Celebration of Life Through Song
Welcome to Your Funeral Music, the show where each week, a guest shares the songs they would like played at their funeral, offering a unique and deeply personal perspective on life, death, and music. Hosted by Michael Venske, this program invites listeners to reflect on mortality through the power of melody and lyrics. This week, we are joined by Elizabeth M., a lover of classical and choral music whose choices offer a profound glimpse into her life and passions.
The Resonance of "I Hope You Dance"
Elizabeth M. begins her playlist with "I Hope You Dance" by Leanne Womack, a song she first encountered through a video her sister made featuring family photographs. Elizabeth describes the piece as "lovely advice to give to a child," inspired by watching her baby nieces grow into adults with children of their own. For Elizabeth, this track is more than just a sentimental choice—it’s a heartfelt message to those she loves and to those attending her funeral.
When asked why she included this song, Elizabeth admits with a smile that she "stole" it from her sister’s video project. Despite not typically enjoying country music, she found herself moved by the emotional depth of the lyrics and melody. "The fact that it touched my soul was a big surprise," she shares. For Elizabeth, music has the power to transcend genres and personal preferences when it connects with the heart.
Pentatonix and the Power of A Cappella
Next on Elizabeth’s list is the iconic "Hallelujah," originally written by Leonard Cohen and covered by the a cappella group Pentatonix. Elizabeth’s enthusiasm for the group stems from her background in choral music, having spent years singing in choirs during high school. She recalls the challenging yet rewarding experience of performing intricate pieces in multiple languages, with harmonies as complex as they were beautiful.
"This group is absolutely amazing," she says of Pentatonix. Their rendition of "Hallelujah" combines breathtaking harmonies with an emotional depth that resonates deeply with Elizabeth’s love of music. Reflecting on her choir days, she notes that this appreciation has stayed with her throughout her life, shaping her musical preferences and inspiring her to include choral works in her final playlist.
The Timeless Elegance of "Amazing Grace"
Elizabeth’s third selection is a classic—"Amazing Grace" performed by Scottish bagpipers. For her, it is the bagpipes themselves that hold the deepest significance. "There’s something I can’t explain about the bagpipes that sends me back centuries," she explains. The ethereal and haunting sound of the pipes evokes a sense of history and reverence that Elizabeth feels is essential for a funeral setting.
Interestingly, Elizabeth is the first guest in the history of Your Funeral Music to choose "Amazing Grace." As host Michael Venske observes, this choice is both deeply traditional and profoundly personal, a fitting addition to a playlist designed to celebrate a life well-lived.
A Journey Home with "Going Home"
The next track in Elizabeth’s list is "Going Home," a hymn based on Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9. This version, performed by the English boys choir Libera, merges classical music with angelic vocals to create a piece that is both nostalgic and uplifting. Elizabeth discovered this version while searching for the hymn and was delighted by the addition of the boys choir, as she has always admired a cappella and youth choirs.
"I’ve seen the Minnesota Boys Choir and the Vienna Boys Choir," she shares. "This stuff just resonates with me." The purity of the voices and the emotive power of the piece remind her of her own experiences performing in choir, making it a meaningful and nostalgic choice for her funeral music playlist.
Interpreting the Song of Life
In the early moments of the discussion, Elizabeth M. reflected on a deeply personal piece—an arrangement she recalled singing as a teenager. With its poignant themes of "going home" and end-of-life reflection, the song captured a rare emotional depth. She fondly remembered how the arrangement featured an alto solo, a rarity in her experience, and how its beauty resonated with her even at a young age. This set the stage for a broader conversation about the emotional connections we form with music throughout our lives.
Funeral for a Friend: An Anthem for Eternity
Elizabeth introduced Funeral for a Friend by Elton John, a piece she identified as her "very first funeral song." With a touch of humor, she recounted telling friends to write it down because they’d likely forget her wishes. This track, part of the medley that opens Elton John's 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, holds special significance: it was composed as the music Elton John envisioned for his own funeral. Its dramatic, sweeping melodies and themes of farewell made it an indelible choice for Elizabeth's playlist—a testament to its enduring emotional impact.
A Wedding Favorite with a Twist: Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Next, the conversation shifted to a piece with a surprisingly multifaceted role in Elizabeth's life. Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D—a Baroque masterpiece rediscovered in the 1980s, thanks in part to a commercial—became a fixture not only at weddings but also in Elizabeth’s vision for her own funeral. Recalling its playful nickname, “Taco Bell,” she shared how this timeless piece moved her from the moment she first heard it. Its serene beauty and universality underscored its ability to mark both joyful and solemn occasions.
The Emotional Gravity of Barber’s Adagio for Strings
One of the most profound selections on Elizabeth’s list was Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings. Known for its association with moments of collective mourning—such as the broadcast announcing President Franklin Roosevelt’s death—this piece also held personal significance for Elizabeth. She recalled its haunting presence in the film Platoon, describing its ability to evoke deep remorse and longing. The sweeping, melancholic strings encapsulate a sense of beauty amid pain, making it a poignant addition to her musical reflections on mortality.
Closing the Night with Time to Say Goodbye
Fittingly, Elizabeth chose Time to Say Goodbye to conclude her playlist. This instrumental version, performed by Chris Botti, carried a sense of closure and finality, perfectly encapsulating the sentiment of parting. “It’s so apropos,” she remarked, reflecting on how music has the power to help us embrace the inevitability of goodbyes, whether at the end of a day, a season, or a life.
Wisdom for the Living: "It’s Later Than You Think"
As the episode drew to a close, Elizabeth left listeners with a sobering yet inspiring message: “It’s later than you think.” Reflecting on the fleeting nature of time, she urged the audience to cherish each moment and embrace life’s impermanence. Her words were a fitting end to the program, reminding us all that music, much like life itself, is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.
Looking Ahead
With this heartfelt and reflective episode, Your Funeral Music wrapped up its first season, offering a space for deep contemplation about life, death, and the music that binds them. Host Michael Venske promised a recap of the season in the following episode, including bloopers and memorable moments. As Elizabeth’s playlist demonstrated, the songs we choose to accompany us in life and beyond speak volumes about who we are and how we wish to be remembered.
Whether it’s the soaring notes of Canon in D, the dramatic crescendos of Funeral for a Friend, or the poignant strains of Adagio for Strings, each piece invites us to reflect not only on our mortality but also on the beauty of being alive in the present moment.
