Cantor and Accompanist for a Funeral Mass
Cantico provides a cantor, alone or with an accompanist, for Catholic Funeral Masses and wake services in Singapore. Message us with the date and venue, and we'll tell you quickly whether we can be there.
What we provide
A cantor leads the hymns and sings the Responsorial Psalm, so the family and congregation can pray together without having to think about the music. With an accompanist on piano, organ or guitar, the singing is fuller and better supported. We’ll do our best even with a few days’ notice. Our singers work during the week, so we’ll check at once and let you know either way. For more, see Catholic funeral music.
Hymns families often ask for
These are some of the hymns families most often request. We sing each with care, and we’ll help you place them in the Mass.
- Ave Maria (Franz Schubert, or the Bach and Gounod setting). A prayer to Our Lady, often sung after communion or at the end of the Mass. Most parishes welcome it at a Funeral Mass.
- The Lord’s My Shepherd (usually sung to Crimond). A setting of Psalm 23, speaking of God’s care through the darkest valley.
- On Eagle’s Wings (Michael Joncas). Drawn from Psalm 91, a hymn of trust and protection.
- Be Not Afraid (Bob Dufford). Based on Isaiah 43, offering reassurance in grief.
- I Am the Bread of Life (Suzanne Toolan). A communion hymn on Christ’s promise of eternal life, from John 6.
- Here I Am, Lord (Dan Schutte). Often chosen for someone who served in the parish or community.
- Song of Farewell. Sung at the final commendation, as the congregation entrusts the person to God.
- In Paradisum. The ancient chant traditionally sung as the body is carried from the church.
Other hymns are welcome too. Tell us what mattered to your loved one.
Wake services as well as the Funeral Mass
We can lead hymns and sung prayers at the wake, whether at a funeral parlour, a Catholic wake chapel, a void deck or at home. Many families find that singing together at the wake brings comfort and draws in relatives and friends who may not attend the Mass. The wake service is an additional contribution, listed below.
Requesting specific hymns
Yes, you can. Hymns chosen for the Funeral Mass should be sacred music suited to the liturgy, and some parishes keep a list. We’ll check your choices with the parish. If a favourite song isn’t suitable for the Mass, it can often be sung at the wake instead, and we’ll suggest that gently.
Contribution
| Arrangement | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Cantor | $120 to $180 |
| Cantor and accompanist | $200 to $300 |
| Wake service, in addition | $80 to $120 |
There is no extra charge for short notice. What the contribution covers.
If the contribution is a difficulty
Please write to us. No one should be without music at their wedding or a funeral because of cost. We’ll work something out, and we won’t ask you to explain.
Questions families ask
Can you sing Ave Maria at a Catholic funeral?
Yes. Ave Maria is one of the hymns families most often ask for, and we sing both the Schubert and the Bach and Gounod settings. It is commonly sung after communion or at the end of the Funeral Mass. Most parishes welcome it, but we'll confirm with yours and let you know where it fits best.
Do you provide a choir for funerals?
For funerals we provide a cantor, or a cantor with an accompanist, because they can be arranged at short notice. A larger ensemble may be possible when there is more notice, by arrangement. Message us with the date and we'll tell you honestly what we can offer.
Can you sing at a void deck or funeral parlour wake?
Yes. We can lead hymns and sung prayers at a wake at a void deck, a funeral parlour, a Catholic wake chapel or at home. Let us know the venue and whether there is an instrument, and we'll plan around it. Music at the wake is an additional contribution of $80 to $120.