Funeral Day SteelBand

Steel Band •|• DJ-Ambience Music •|• PA System Hire

Funeral Music Steel Band Hire

One of the most emotional, heart wrenching situations one has to experience.

Saying goodbye is never easy, all you want for your loved one is the perfect send off.

Adding live music is a personal, touching way to do this and we would love to help you.

We know that arranging a funeral can be a difficult task. We take the pressure of organising the music off your shoulders so that you can concentrate on celebrating the life of your loved one.

Our tailored service will create the perfect musical experience and help you and your congregation, through music, to cope with feelings that are sometimes beyond words.

Our unique Steel Band and Audio DJ service operates without the need for power, battery packs nor noisy generator, so can be located at any location.

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Funeral Service (Per – During – Post)

Cremation / Graveside Burial (No power required)

Wake –(Family & Friends Gathering)

Funeral Day Steelband

Funeral Day Steelband by Gary Trotman Steelasophical. 

A celebration of life.

Funeral Day Steelband by Gary Trotman Steelasophical. “The very first funeral service I ever played at was for my very own mother – the second service was for her her sister my aunty. This places me in very unique position of truly understanding the balance between grieving and celebration of life by means of music!

Funeral band funeral music steelband

Music 

From the traditional Caribbean songs such as Yellow Bird, Island in the Sun to more uplifting and up tempo songs such as Bob Marley Reggae selection to well known pop songs. Trust in Steelasophical to create and maintain just the right atmosphere.

funeral day steel band hire wake
funeral day steelband for hire

Picture BELOW taken at St Anselms Church, The Green Southall

– the morning of my mothers funeral

As an experienced musician, Gary travels throughout the UK in order to play at Funerals and other events.

Gary is the founder of Steelasophical, a leading provider of Caribbean musical services based in the UK

By its very nature, a funeral is a very emotive event, and the most appropriate time for family and loved ones to say a final farewell to the deceased person.

No two funerals are the same, and sometimes he receives requests for tunes that are not usually associated with funerals or the loss of a loved one, but none the less are important to the family.

Gary also knows that everything has to be right first time, and from the moment of the initial enquiry, he will listen and understand individual requirements and give immediate and initial advice without obligation

Should you appoint him, he will then work with the undertaker and/or the family advising on appropriate protocols and actions, and where appropriate advising on music choice.

 

funeral day steelband

Suggested Options for Funeral Day Music

Suggested Options for Funeral Day Music

Funeral Service

To provide the uplifting musical backdrop to the service as friends and family arrive. This can be up to 90-mins prior to the arrival of the dearly newly departed. Also entrance and recessional music.

Graveside / Crematorium 

Steelasophical performs with backing music and Steel drums, but no power is required as our PA system is battery powered. Music to be played as and when required

Wake

A very popular choice is to have Steelasophical perform music during the wake. It will create just the right mood while family and friends gather and together celebrate in the memories of the departed, in a uplifting but respectful way.

The gathering after the funeral is commonly known as ‘the wake’. It is also referred to as ‘the reception’.

There is no requirement to have a wake but it is a long-standing tradition and mourners may want to meet up after the ritual of the funeral service to remember the deceased in a more informal setting. 

Funeral Day Steelband

When you suffer a bereavement, a funeral for a member of your family can be one of the most emotional times of your life. Everything your family and friends thought about a loved one is expressed on that day.

Contact Gary Trotman to discuss your requirements: Click here

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Steelasophical Funeral-Day SteelBand DJ
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Funeral Day Steel Band for hire Steelasophical

Do’s and Do not’s 

Funeral Day Steelband

Texting and making or receiving phone calls during a service is a big no-no. It is very disruptive to those around you, and gives the impression that you are not especially interested in the events going on.

Such behaviour can easily be construed as hurtful to those who are grieving, even if that is not your intention. So just to ere on the side of caution, it is best to power off your phone and keep it tucked away.

Offering words of kindness is perhaps the best thing that one can do when attending a funeral.

However, though sharing condolences face-to-face is more personal, if you are unable to attend a funeral service, sending a message of sympathy can be a thoughtful alternative.

Funeral Day Steelband

Sending flowers is generally seen as a more heartfelt way to show you care than simply sending a card.

Furthermore, though offering money is often understood as impersonal, it is thoughtful to send a charitable donation to a foundation in honor of the deceased.

At the end of the day, you are there to pay your respects to the deceased and their family. Simply being there and observing the ceremony is appreciated- don’t sweat the small stuff.

Funeral Day Steelband

It is very common to hold a reception for friends and family after the funeral or cremation.

As these are often arranged at short notice, there are a few points to consider:

  • How many people are you going to invite, as this will dictate the size of the venue required.
  • Will you you require catering and a bar.
  • If relatives have travelled a long distance will they require accommodation.

Funeral procession

The funeral procession typically begins at the home of the person who has sadly passed away, though you may choose a different location if you wish. Your chosen Funeral Director will arrive in good time, ensuring you can view any flowers and floral tributes before leaving for the service.

You will need to arrange for family and friends who are travelling in the limousines or guests who wish to follow the funeral procession to arrive at your home or the home or wherever the procession will start.

This will ensure everyone is ready to leave for the funeral service on time.  It is also possible to choose a specific route for the procession to take. This may be comprised of a journey which includes treasured memories or personal landmarks.

When you are ready to leave, we will escort you and your family to our chauffeur driven limousines and ensure you have everything you need for the service. Our Funeral Directors often lead the cortege on foot for a short distance before getting into the hearse. Upon arrival at the church or crematorium, they will lead the cortege on foot once more.

The funeral ceremony

The order of the funeral ceremony will be completely up to you, though please keep in mind that there may be a time limit at the venue you have chosen. The service may include funeral music, funeral hymns, prayers, funeral poems and readings from family and close friends.

The funeral ceremony can be held at a religious venue or at a crematorium which provides a chapel for you to use.

The Funeral Director may stand just outside or at the back of the church or crematorium during the service. Once the service has finished, you will be taken over to where flowers and floral tributes have been laid, before escorting you and your family to the committal service, if you are having one. DIGNITY FUNERALS

If you are having a reception after

The funeral ask either the funeral director or a family member of friend to make an announcement to let people know when and where it is either at the funeral home or at the end of the memorial service.

However if you only want a family only reception just tell the appropriate guests and make sure that they are aware that it is a closed event.

The reception is a final send off for a loved one, and you do what you feel is right for you and your family. there are no wrongs or rights as what you can or can’t do just what feels right and respectful. 

You can also have a open speaking platform where friends and family can say a few words about the deceased and share memories of them with everyone.

The main thing to remember is it should reflect the person you are saying goodbye too

Price Guide – Funeral Day Steelband

Impossible to give a fixed price as this depends on many factors such as band size, location, duration of performances etc.

To the right is a base guide to prices that may help frame your budget expectations.

Let us know which option(s) you would like to consider and also, the location.

Steelasophical Steel Band Contact Us

Funeral Day Steelband

Service up to 1 hour from £POA

Crematorium/Graveside up to 1 hour from £POA

Wake up to 2 hours from £POA

Gary Trotman

Creative Director

Steelasophical Steel Band Dj

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Music at a funeral or memorial service can be particularly special and important as it can help to express a variety of emotions that go beyond words. Perhaps for this reason the choice of music can make or break a ceremony.

Few funeral and or services take place without any music at all, even if it’s only before and after a service. Often the choice of music for a funeral is the area or personal choice that people feel most confident about but this is not so in every case. The deceased may have had a particular favourite song, hymn or piece of music that meant something special, perhaps from years ago.

Sometimes a hymn is chosen that the deceased had at their wedding, or some other special service. We would suggest that, unless a piece of music is terribly unsuitable (very rude words for instance!) there is no reason why it could not be played at the beginning or end of a service, or even during the service subject to the agreement of the person officiating.

Music that is ‘live’ i.e. not recorded, is more flexible and can ‘fade in’ or out as appropriate. To a certain extent that can be done with recorded music and some items such as some of the more modern pieces; Heavy Metal for instance certainly would not work with just an organ playing it. Having said that, it is surprising just how much music written for other instruments can sound very effective played on the organ.

Music in a non-religious service still has a vital role. 

The nation’s favourite funeral songs
1 “My Way”
2 “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
3 “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”
4 “Time to Say Goodbye”
5 “Don’t Stop Me Now”
6 “Going Underground”
7 “Who Wants to Live Forever”
8 “Comfortably Numb”
9 “Bat out of Hell”
10 “In My Life”
11 “Wish You Were Here”
12 “Imagine”
13 “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
14 “Angels”
15 “Highway to Hell”
16 “Star Wars theme”
17 “Wind Beneath My Wings”
18 “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
19 “We’ll Meet Again”
20 “Simply the Best”
21 “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
22 “Another One Bites the Dust”
23 “Stairway to Heaven”
24 “What a Wonderful World”
25 “One Moment in Time”

Classical music for funerals
Ave Maria – Schubert
1812 Overture (conclusion) – Tchaikovsky
Cello concerto (3rd mvt) – Elgar
Grand March (AIDA) – Verdi
Greensleeves – Mantovani
Land of my fathers – Band of the Welsh Guards
Hymn to the fallen – Katherine Jenkins
Jerusalem – Blake
Popular music for funerals
Angels – Robbie Williams
Candle in the wind – Elton John
Let it be – The Beatles
See you again – Wiz Kalifa
Someone like you – Adele
Supermarket flowers – Ed Sheeran
I’ll be missing you – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans
Somewhere over the rainbow – Eva Cassidy
You raise me up – Westlife
Sad/reflective music for funerals
A million love songs – Take That
Bitter sweet symphony – The Verve
Bring him home (Les Misérables) – Colm Wilkinson
Can you feel the love tonight – Elton John
Every breath you take – The Police
Come away with me – Norah Jones
How am I supposed to live without you – Michael Bolton
If I could turn back time – Cher
Kiss from a rose – Seal
Knockin’ on Heaven’s door – Bob Dylan
Uplifting music for funerals
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and Papas
Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Brown eyed girl – Van Morrison
Come on Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Don’t rain on my parade – Bobby Darin
Fly me to the moon – Frank Sinatra
Good vibrations – The Beach Boys
I wanna dance with somebody – Whitney Houston
I say a little prayer – Aretha Franklin
Funny music for funerals
Always look on the bright side of life – Monty Python
Another one bites the dust – Queen
Big Spender – Shirley Bassey
Bring me sunshine – Morecambe and Wise
Dancing Queen – Abba
Dad’s army theme – Bud Flanagan
Don’t worry be happy – Bobby McFerin
Highway to hell – ACDC
Match of the day theme song

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