Would it be strange to sing a cappella at a funeral?

[totherescue]

So my husband's father passed away, and I've caught wind that I'll be asked to sing at the funeral. I'm willing and want to do anything to help with the service, but I don't know anyone that could accompany me. I've never really been fond of prerecorded accompaniments, so I'm wondering if it would be weird to sing a cappella. I have an arrangement of Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide in mind that I think would translate to a cappella really beautifully, and it might be nice to be able to go at my own pace in case I get choked up or anything. I'm just wondering if that would be really uncomfortable or inappropriate? I'm not sure. I can play the piano, but I've never seen anyone play the piano and sing for a musical number in a church so I'm not sure if that's allowed or possible? If nothing else, I could just play a piano arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives. 

I'm also curious if anyone has any tips on singing without letting emotions wreck your performance. Any and all advice appreciated! Thank you!

[Guest]

57 minutes ago, totherescue said:

So my husband's father passed away, and I've caught wind that I'll be asked to sing at the funeral. I'm willing and want to do anything to help with the service, but I don't know anyone that could accompany me. I've never really been fond of prerecorded accompaniments, so I'm wondering if it would be weird to sing a cappella. I have an arrangement of Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide in mind that I think would translate to a cappella really beautifully, and it might be nice to be able to go at my own pace in case I get choked up or anything. I'm just wondering if that would be really uncomfortable or inappropriate? I'm not sure. I can play the piano, but I've never seen anyone play the piano and sing for a musical number in a church so I'm not sure if that's allowed or possible? If nothing else, I could just play a piano arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives. 

I'm also curious if anyone has any tips on singing without letting emotions wreck your performance. Any and all advice appreciated! Thank you!

A Capella is absolutely acceptable at a funeral or any other occasion.  It's a question of whether it's appropriate for the song you're performing.  But I wonder if you mean "Abide with Me"  (hymn #166) rather than "Abide with Me, 'Tis Eventide" (hymn 165).  166 is commonly sung at funerals. I haven't heard that 165 is sung at funerals except when it is confused with 166 or if it was a special song for the deceased or survivors.

As far as singing without letting emotions show, you can go two routes with this.

1) Focus on the technicality of the song.  Don't think about the words.  Focus on tone, tempo, phonetics, dynamics, etc.  Determine the appropriate changes for the words, of course.  But once determined, focus on getting it technically right and forget about the words.  Only make adjustments in the rehearsals.

2) Let your emotions go at particular parts of the song where words are short or quiet.  Then there are more tremulous words of the song that may sound that much more beautiful when sung with an unsteady tone.  If I were sure which song you were talking about I could go line by line with you on that.

 

[seashmore]

I think a capella is perfectly acceptable for a funeral.  If you think you are going to be too emotional to sing the song in a pleasing manner, perhaps go for the piano arrangement.  Or run both ideas past your husband/whoever asks you to sing and see how they feel.

[Lost Boy]

On 4/18/2018 at 4:40 PM, totherescue said:

So my husband's father passed away, and I've caught wind that I'll be asked to sing at the funeral. I'm willing and want to do anything to help with the service, but I don't know anyone that could accompany me. I've never really been fond of prerecorded accompaniments, so I'm wondering if it would be weird to sing a cappella. I have an arrangement of Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide in mind that I think would translate to a cappella really beautifully, and it might be nice to be able to go at my own pace in case I get choked up or anything. I'm just wondering if that would be really uncomfortable or inappropriate? I'm not sure. I can play the piano, but I've never seen anyone play the piano and sing for a musical number in a church so I'm not sure if that's allowed or possible? If nothing else, I could just play a piano arrangement of I Know That My Redeemer Lives. 

I'm also curious if anyone has any tips on singing without letting emotions wreck your performance. Any and all advice appreciated! Thank you!

If you got a good voice, go for it.  I don't know if your ward has a facebook page, but if it does, put a request out there and I bet you could find someone quickly that could accompany you.   As for not letting the emotions get to you....  Try singing it in the car a few times or wherever and cry a few emotions out ahead of time.  And don't think of the words while you sing..