Haltemprice Crematorium, East Yorks.

[S_L]

My mother died yesterday morning - and I find myself having to play for the funeral at the above crematorium. It was something I didn't want to do but my son, who is conducting the funeral rang them and they couldn't recommend anyone and "we don't usually have an organist" - "just some music for in and out".

 

I suspect it is an electronic, I suspect it will be a journey of discovery - but there's nothing worse than making a fool of yourself in front of all those relations who have been told by the occupant of the coffin what a wonderful musician you are!

 

I know what is going to happen - I'm going to just turn up and hope for the best but it's worth asking the questions:

 

Has anyone ever been there?

Does anyone know anything about the instrument?

Has anyone ever played it?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

SL

[Contrabombarde]

My mother died yesterday morning - and I find myself having to play for the funeral at the above crematorium. It was something I didn't want to do but my son, who is conducting the funeral rang them and they couldn't recommend anyone and "we don't usually have an organist" - "just some music for in and out".

 

I suspect it is an electronic, I suspect it will be a journey of discovery - but there's nothing worse than making a fool of yourself in front of all those relations who have been told by the occupant of the coffin what a wonderful musician you are!

 

I know what is going to happen - I'm going to just turn up and hope for the best but it's worth asking the questions:

 

Has anyone ever been there?

Does anyone know anything about the instrument?

Has anyone ever played it?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

SL

 

Firstly my condolences to you - the period between death and funeral is often one of manic preparation with an awful lull once everyone goes home at the end of the wake and reality sets in.

 

Secondly, on playing - I was asked if I'd play at my mother's funeral but until you're actually there it's impossible to know how one will hold up and I decided on balance not to. We were very blessed that the organist of her church (a professor of organ performance no less) offered to play instead. But I'd written a Nunc Dimitis many years previously that until then had never been aired in public, so I somehow found time to dust it off, rewrite it for the parts I could actually muster together in time for the funeral, transpose it so they could actually sing it, and rehearse it. That on balance was easier to cope with - though it was a hassle rearranging and rehearsing it at such very short notice. Maybe there's an idea for you if you've ever written music?

 

Finally, nothing shows up either on NPOR or Google but I did find a phone number - 01482 671212 - and a photo of an alarmly gothic Victorian

building: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/405091

 

Best wishes,

 

Contrabombarde

[S_L]

Firstly my condolences to you - the period between death and funeral is often one of manic preparation with an awful lull once everyone goes home at the end of the wake and reality sets in.

 

Secondly, on playing - I was asked if I'd play at my mother's funeral but until you're actually there it's impossible to know how one will hold up and I decided on balance not to. We were very blessed that the organist of her church (a professor of organ performance no less) offered to play instead. But I'd written a Nunc Dimitis many years previously that until then had never been aired in public, so I somehow found time to dust it off, rewrite it for the parts I could actually muster together in time for the funeral, transpose it so they could actually sing it, and rehearse it. That on balance was easier to cope with - though it was a hassle rearranging and rehearsing it at such very short notice. Maybe there's an idea for you if you've ever written music?

 

Finally, nothing shows up either on NPOR or Google but I did find a phone number - 01482 671212 - and a photo of an alarmly gothic Victorian

building: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/405091

 

Best wishes,

 

Contrabombarde

 

 

Thanks for that - the picture was a little alarming - but I know now where the place is!!

 

In truth we weren't that close - although she was my mother! I never discussed religion with her and I don't think she approved of my 'high church' leanings! She didn't practice but I do suspect she had some belief.

 

I've got quite a lot of experience of playing for difficult, often very difficult, events - though, obviously, I've never played for my own mother. I'm sure I won't have a problem playing although I would prefer not to have to - as for performing any of my music - I write a lot - but most of it, in truth, wouldn't be suitable!!!

[Barry Oakley]

My mother died yesterday morning - and I find myself having to play for the funeral at the above crematorium. It was something I didn't want to do but my son, who is conducting the funeral rang them and they couldn't recommend anyone and "we don't usually have an organist" - "just some music for in and out".

 

I suspect it is an electronic, I suspect it will be a journey of discovery - but there's nothing worse than making a fool of yourself in front of all those relations who have been told by the occupant of the coffin what a wonderful musician you are!

 

I know what is going to happen - I'm going to just turn up and hope for the best but it's worth asking the questions:

 

Has anyone ever been there?

Does anyone know anything about the instrument?

Has anyone ever played it?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

SL

Sorry to learn of your mother's death.

 

The Haltemprice crematorium was originally a chapel for the De la Pole psychiatric hospital and was later a hospital specialising in orthopeadic medicine. It probably has an electronic toaster of some sort, but maybe, just maybe the pipe organ is still there.

[Classic car man]

I played for my Uncle's funeral there a couple of months ago. It is a reasonable sounding 2 manual Allen - I forget the model. It is at the back and a little remote from the proceedings up at the front.

Hope it goes well for you.

[S_L]

I played for my Uncle's funeral there a couple of months ago. It is a reasonable sounding 2 manual Allen - I forget the model. It is at the back and a little remote from the proceedings up at the front.

Hope it goes well for you.

 

 

Many thanks for that - as long as it does what it says on the tin thats ok!

 

I'd rather play on a strange toaster that worked than a strange pipe organ that sounded dire and was unpredictable, unreliable and unplayable!!

[Eric Richards]

Many thanks for that - as long as it does what it says on the tin thats ok!

 

I'd rather play on a strange toaster that worked than a strange pipe organ that sounded dire and was unpredictable, unreliable and unplayable!!

 

I specified this top-end Allen. A half-decent organist can perform a full-scale recital on it. The particular physical situation would have turned the tuning and maintenance of a proper pipe organ into a nightmare.

[Christopher Price]

My mother died yesterday morning - and I find myself having to play for the funeral at the above crematorium. It was something I didn't want to do but my son, who is conducting the funeral rang them and they couldn't recommend anyone and "we don't usually have an organist" - "just some music for in and out".

 

I suspect it is an electronic, I suspect it will be a journey of discovery - but there's nothing worse than making a fool of yourself in front of all those relations who have been told by the occupant of the coffin what a wonderful musician you are!

 

I know what is going to happen - I'm going to just turn up and hope for the best but it's worth asking the questions:

 

Has anyone ever been there?

Does anyone know anything about the instrument?

Has anyone ever played it?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

SL

 

I also commend you for your willingness to serve in this way. I too lost my own mother a few months ago, and on the basis that the only music available would be 'a lady on a keyboard' I promptly stood in and provided pre-recorded hymns and suitable music from our own church organ, 140 miles away. The tiny church where the funeral was held has no proper instrument, and the congregation was made up of those known to me as hearty singers so they needed a decent accompaniment. It worked a treat!

 

CP

[S_L]

I also commend you for your willingness to serve in this way. I too lost my own mother a few months ago, and on the basis that the only music available would be 'a lady on a keyboard' I promptly stood in and provided pre-recorded hymns and suitable music from our own church organ, 140 miles away. The tiny church where the funeral was held has no proper instrument, and the congregation was made up of those known to me as hearty singers so they needed a decent accompaniment. It worked a treat!

 

CP

 

Thanks for your comment - it was kind - but my mother's death is now over a year ago. This thread I began in 2010.

 

As to the organ - it was an Allen - I wouldn't have described it as 'top end' but, I suppose it did the job it was required to.

[Adnosad]

Thanks for that - the picture was a little alarming - but I know now where the place is!!

 

In truth we weren't that close - although she was my mother! I never discussed religion with her and I don't think she approved of my 'high church' leanings! She didn't practice but I do suspect she had some belief.

 

I've got quite a lot of experience of playing for difficult, often very difficult, events - though, obviously, I've never played for my own mother. I'm sure I won't have a problem playing although I would prefer not to have to - as for performing any of my music - I write a lot - but most of it, in truth, wouldn't be suitable!!!

 

Condolences to your recent bereavment and bravo to your style in playing for the send off. I am sure your Mother would have approved.

 

I couldn`t resist perusing the pic of the departure terminal supplied by another user and must say I thought it to be a very tasteful building, but that is only my opinion. Pity the same cannot be said for the soulless edifices created by Municipal architects, to which I have attended send offs.

 

Seriously, maybe someone could recommend a publication on " Civic Crematoria "