Here it is again, and I always find it difficult to strike the right mood.

I think I noodled around a hymn tune last year, only I can't remember what it was. This year I have been tinkering with the Adagio from BWV 564. The difficulty level is about right for me, but it occurred to me that it might be carrying the solemnity a bit too far; a bit Victoria-and-Albert-on-a-bier, if you know what I mean.

If I'm going to bring on a substitute I need to start choosing one pdq.

Any ideas?

In previous years I have played (as a recessional):

"Spitfire" Prelude (Walton arr. Gower) - in the OUP Walton Album
Nimrod (Elgar arr. W.H.Harris)
"Dambusters" March (Coates) - in the ?Novello Coates Organ Album
RAF March Past (Walford Davies)
The 'St Anne' Fugue (J.S.Bach) since it reminds everyone a bit of "O God our help in ages past"

Bit of a RAF slant there, but the Army and Navy don't seem to have such good tunes, do they?

I oftern churn out the St Anne Fugue as recessional .
Last year I was asked to play Nimrod as an Organ solo in the service.

Thanks for suggestions so far; have tried to find a Novello Coates organ album on the interweb but nothing is coming up so far apart from something for mixed ensemble.

All I need is a preamble. Voluntary at the end probably not required as they will no doubt all troop out to the memorial after the Queen.

I lied (sorry!) ... it is a Coates Piano album which I used:

http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/057119/details.html

Mystery solved. And I've got a Musicroom points card thingy.

(Why have you gone all German?)

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned Elgar's 'Solemn Prelude - In Memoriam' (from For the Fallen). I think it is an orchestral piece, as I play it from an arrangement by Harvey Grace.

Other than that and Nimrod I like playing - on the piano - Schumann's 'Remembrance'. He wrote it on hearing of Mendelssohn's death, and most moving it is too.

I dont know that piece, but I know the last movement in Schumanns 'Waldscenen' for piano (the piece is called Abschied , or Farewell) was also written after he heard of Mendelssohns death, indeed it is in the style of a 'Song without Words'. Could it be the same thing ?? I played it at a Leeds forum event.

Hmm, I definitely won't need anything for afterwards as we all, incl. the choir, troop out to the War Memorial for a hymn and the N.Anthem.

Prior to the service there needs to be half an hour or so of music whilst the packed (600-700) congregation assembles, so there will definitely be such things as Nimrod, the Angel's Farewell from Gerontius, Dead march from Saul, Barber Adagio, etc., building up to quite loud towards service time. So, probably some Guilmant leading to possibly Vierne. Almost certainly an impro. for the last couple of minutes as last minute delays, or even jumping the gun, can occur. Not sure yet whether the service will be relayed outside - apparently there was quite a crowd who couldn't get in last year.

There's a Mendelssohn song without words which would do nicely for this type of occasion as well - it may or may not be a funeral march but all you keyboard ppl probably know which one I mean.

Re. RAF bias, if the RAF marchpast is appropriate, then why not Hearts of Oak? They're both jolly...(though why I am suggesting something dark rather than light blue is beyond me)

Not a problem for us as the entire town assembles at the war memorial, the same hymns are used each year and the Sally Army Band plays for the service. And we all get bad backs from standing on a hill with an uneven pavement Oh and our new hymnbooks were about 3 weeks old the first time they got rained on and now they all fall open at "oh god our help in ages past" because that double page is corrugated.

Sorry to be super picky - but "Heart of Oak" was the regimental quick march of my regiment - the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters. It was inherited from the Worcestershires, who adopted it after fighting as Marines on board ships in 1794.

So it's a green march as well as a Royal blue march!