Calling all Classical Music Lovers - I need your help please.

[ladybirder]

Some very dear young friends of mine have lost their fifth child (at 17 weeks) and will be holding a short secular service for him at the hospital. They have decided they would like two pieces of classical music played during the service, probably of no more than 4-5 minutes each. The choice is left to him and as he is a bit of a novice where classical is concerned and is only just learning to appreciate it, he has asked me to send him some suitable pieces he can choose from. We have discussed it and decided on a piece for cello and the other for piano but if there is anything else I think he might like I can include it. For instance I think Schubert's Serenade is uplifting and will probably include that on my shortlist. They are adamant they don't want any vocals. The obvious cello piece would be J du Pre/Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor Opus 85 but is it suitable? I suggested one of Chopin's Nocturnes but he said that he loved it BUT it was in the Silence of the Lambs. Eek, I didn't know.
So ABers, any suggestions that would fit this sad occasion would be most welcome; I haven't got long to decide. Thank you.

[emmie]

Brahms Lullaby,
for no reason i can see i can't get the youtube links to work, open.

[emmie]

see if this does, but it doesn't work when i try it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t894eGoymio

[emmie]

nope try again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t894eGoymio

[emmie]

apologies but i have pasted it both times in the youtube link, but it's not going there?

[ladybirder]

Thank you em, link's working for me. I'd forgotten all about that one, I shall definitely put that on my list. Any more?

[emmie]

give me a moment to think. mainly instrumental i take it. Have you thought of Elgar enigma variations, quite sad but very beautiful if you use the piece they always play, apologies for not being about to post the link..

[emmie]

Nimrod by Elgar is what i meant to say, it has a lot of emotion, and is a stunning piece. And no cannot get any youtube clip to open at all.

[emmie]

Pachebel's Canon another lovely piece.

[ladybirder]

Em I'm looking for a couple of piano pieces now, he likes the Moonlight as it's nice and peaceful.
Nimrod - beautiful.

[emmie]

Moonlight sonata, good choice, if that is what you meant. I can think of any number of solemn pieces but some are just too long. We had Elgar's Nimrod and Jerusalem at my o/h funeral. I get choked up still when listening to both.

[emmie]

tell you what is stunning, and it's not long, Bach cello suite no 1 Prelude, by Yo Yo Ma, my favourite piece, sorry wish sincerely could link it
i know you want piano, but this is definitely worth a listen

[emmie]

see if it will open

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZn_VBgkPNY

[marval]

That is sad news, my heart goes out to them.

These two are lovely pieces.

[emmie]

Indeed it is incredibly sad.

By the way i cannot see that link either.

[ladybirder]

I was listening to Yo-yo ma earlier em, playing Elgar. Fantastic.

Marvel that link says "The video is currently unavailable". What was it and I'll have a look, (after Emmerdale).

Thank you both. XX

[marval]

Hopefully these links will work.

[marval]

Hopefully this is better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYjqnlc7MRw

[abstibus]

Vladimir Ashkenazy: Chopin Nocturne in C sharp minor

So sorry to hear the sad news.

[Ellipsis]

I own a copy of this CD:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I think there are many suitable cello pieces on it. If you don't want to buy a copy on Amazon, I'll give you mine.

The sounds of the lullaby have soothed our children to sleep for centuries. Julian Lloyd Webber plays his own selection of the world's favourite "cradle songs" from Brahms to Dvorak as well as his own Song for Baba inspired by the birth of his son, David.

[VHG]

Ravel - Pavane for a dead infant (also known as Pavane for a dead princess)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ov4Hg-ql0s&feature=related