Yay!, of course we could have told him... Options

[maggiemay]

"The music the machine plays is dull and uninteresting, and the tin-like sound is just dreadful" - Vicar Brian Stevens rues the replacement of the crematorium organist with a karaoke machine.

Tony Edwards has been playing sombre tunes at cremations for 13 years, but now the crematorium has decided that a Wesley Music System is a better option. Now Mr Edwards is only available as a paid-for extra.
More details (Daily Mail)

(from the bbc news site)

[Barry Williams]

It is often worse than this.

Recently, one of my professional colleagues asked me if I would play the organ for her father in law's funeral service. I readily agreed, only to be told that there was no organ at Harlow Crematorium.

The family therefore took along CDs of the accompaniments of the three hymns to be sung. The first hymn was played fine. For the second one the Crematorium staff did not play the accompaniment only version the family had provided, but played a choir singing different words to those in the service paper. The service paper had Bunyan's 'Who would true valour see' whereas the Crematorium staff played some cathedral choir singing Percy Dearmer's rather clumsy paraphrase, 'He who would valiant be' which the deceased and the family specifically did not want. The family had to stand listening. They could not join in because the words were different. The Crematorium staff then refused to play the third CD because it had been down loaded from the Internet. The family had paid for the download and had the receipt. The Crematorium staff said that was irrelevant. It was not their policy to play downloaded items in case it corrupted their CD player. Had I known of this I would have borrowed a portable keyboard and played it all myself.

Last January I played the organ for the funeral service of my wife's cousin at Havant Crematorium. The previous funeral had a bagpiper. This wretched man walked up and down outside the chapel playing loudly (and in my opinion offensively) throughout our service, so that it was almost impossible to sing the hymns the deceased had carefully chosen for his own service. It was appalling. The Crematorium then had the cheek to charge £28 for the organist. Of course, I had charged nothing for playing. I only got to know of this because I was Executor of the Will and thus saw the funeral bill. (You can imagine the correspondence that ensued!)

For my mother's funeral in 1989 the organist at Exeter Crematorium completely ignored the specific requests for music and merely churned out what seemed to be a meandering improvisation of very poor quality and riddled with musical infelicities. It was most regrettable as my mother was a very fine pianist and greatly appreciated music, as did the congregation, including my father, my wife and me. Had we known the playing was likely to be that atrocious we would have asked one of the organists from Exeter Cathedral to come and do the job properly.

At one time they had an organist at Croydon Crematorium, (his name is now well known in certain music circles,) who was notorious for playing unsuitable and unhelpful music. It was even mentioned at Clergy Chapter meetings. Eventually he was asked to leave. He was replaced with a more mature musician who took immense trouble in every detail to help families have the music they wanted. It was a matter of frequent comment that his music was invariably helpful and always sensitively performed. Families appreciated the time he took in preparation. Clergy and funeral directors engaged his musical skills to considerable effect.

Unfortunately, the bad events are not isolated incidents. The attitude of Crematorium staff often seems to lack care and compassion. Happily, there are still some places where great care is taken, but they are fewer these days.

Barry Williams

[Swell Box]

Unfortunately, the bad events are not isolated incidents.

No, they're not, but sadly, most of the people who attend services at crematoria don't know any better, so it will only be one in fifty or so families who find the running of things so unhelpful or offensive that they complain. Frankly, most of these places are run like production lines, with tightly controlled schedules and budgets, so the deceased and their friends and family are often treated with as much reverence as a mass produced pizza. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

As an example, we attended a family funeral in Newcastle a year or so ago, which happened to be held immediately after, and in the same chapel as the funeral of a young girl who had died in an event which attracted a lot of publicity. We arrived at the crematorium in good time, but were turned away because of the crowds, and ominously, only Clergy were allowed in. In fact the place was absolute bedlam, and as you would expect, there were many hundreds of people who had turned up to pay their respects, together with quite a few members of the press.

However, the Crematorium had only allowed the standard 20 minute slot, (I don't think they will allow two slots even if you pay for them), so by the time our party could get into the chapel the service had already started, and when the end of the service came we were shepherded out of a side door because the next party was already being ushered in through the back door. How awful is that?

It was appalling. The Crematorium then had the cheek to charge £28 for the organist.

This is quite normal, and not just at crematoria. The Organist is probably paid a contract rate per funeral, and that contract may stipulate that he or she will be paid regardless of who actually plays. I suppose from their point of view they would make a slim living if too many families provided their own organist, and there is not a great deal else they could do in the time.

Indeed, a friend's daughter is getting married later this year, and we understand that the Organist at their church has negotiated a similar contract with his PCC. However, they specifically didn’t want him to play for the wedding for a number of reasons, (mainly his lack of playing ability), but they have been told that they will still have to pay £140, which is the Organists agreed rate for weddings with a video.

SB

[mrbouffant]

Indeed, a friend's daughter is getting married later this year, and we understand that the Organist at their church has negotiated a similar contract with his PCC. However, they specifically didn’t want him to play for the wedding for a number of reasons, (mainly his lack of playing ability), but they have been told that they will still have to pay £140, which is the Organists agreed rate for weddings with a video.

Quite right too.
btw, the contract is typically with the incumbent, not the PCC, as I understand it.

[Swell Box]

Indeed, a friend's daughter is getting married later this year, and we understand that the Organist at their church has negotiated a similar contract with his PCC. However, they specifically didn’t want him to play for the wedding for a number of reasons, (mainly his lack of playing ability), but they have been told that they will still have to pay £140, which is the Organists agreed rate for weddings with a video.

Quite right too.
btw, the contract is typically with the incumbent, not the PCC, as I understand it.

Now you mention it I think that is correct, although Im not sure if it still applies in enlarged parishes with several churches and clergy?

SB