Debussy, the Co-Op and my late Uncle.
Last year didn't begin especially well for my family. We lost two relatives in the space of about a month and a half. My parents dealt with most of the arrangements: in both cases they were kept simple, with a short service at a crematorium, with some music to start and to finish.

For my grandmother's funeral, we were asked to give the funeral directors a CD with the music we wanted. My parents chose Satie's 2ème Gymnopédie and Debussy's 1ère Arabesque, two pieces that my sister had learnt on the piano that my grandmother was quite fond of.

For context, this is the Debussy. They're playing it a bit too fast for my liking on this recording, but I'm sure you'll agree it's a beautiful piece of music.

My uncle's funeral was directed by the Co-Op. Again, we wanted the same pieces of music, but this time we were asked not to bring a CD. Just give us the titles of the pieces, they told us, and we'll download them for you.

Fair enough, we thought. We have perfectly good recordings of both pieces we could bring along, but if they insist... (and they really did insist)

So the funeral begins and the family are led into the creamtorium. The music begins to play. Something's wrong. I realise they've made a mistake and downloaded the wrong piece of music: they're playing the 1st Gymnopèdie, not the second. Fair enough, I suppose, it's still a lovely piece of music and it's an easy mistake to have made...but it's not the one we asked for. This is why you should have let us give you a CD...

So the funeral proceeds. The eulogy is read, and our final view is the curtain drawing round the casket. The second piece of music begins and only then does the true extent of their gaffe become apparent. It's Debussy alright, but it's no Arabesque. Unless I'm much mistaken, it was this piece of music.

You daft buggers. This is why you should have let us give you a CD.
_{Well, I suppose at least they managed not to accidentally download "I Love Horses"...}
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 2 Feb 2010, 14:40, 8 replies)

That's quite jaunty.
Wonder how pc it is?
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Tue 2 Feb 2010, 15:03, closed)

Oh, it's a great tune
And my uncle wasn't black.
We were just hoping for something a bit more dignified...
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 2 Feb 2010, 15:05, closed)

Yeah.
But I bet the puzzled looks and smiles were a fine compensation. And it makes a good story.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Tue 2 Feb 2010, 16:05, closed)

Co-op don't do a good funeral. At my Dads they left the orders of service behind and then gave us someone elses cards from the wreaths.
They Donated £150 to charity to make up for the distress though.
(jono_h, Tue 2 Feb 2010, 17:39, closed)

oof!
As soon as you mentioned Debussy, I had a feeling they might play that piece instead of the correct one.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Tue 2 Feb 2010, 17:48, closed)

your sig
have you been watching mythbusters, by any chance?
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Tue 2 Feb 2010, 18:44, closed)

I would have chosen "La Mer".

( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 2 Feb 2010, 23:37, closed)

Yeah, but if we'd asked for that
You just know they'd have put on the Charles Trenét chanson instead...
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 3 Feb 2010, 10:08, closed)