Funeral March (Songs without Words), Op. 62, No. 3

This work is well-known.

It was played at the funeral of Mendelssohn, and has been used quite widely at grand state funerals in an orchestral version.

Whether played upon the piano, the organ or the orchestra, the work is powerful and moving.

The "Lieder ohne Worte, Op.62" date from the years 1842-1844. They are dedicated to Clara Schumann (1819-1896).

This grand transcription was done by the great William Thomas Best (1826 — 1897) studied at Carlisle Cathedral under John Norman and Abraham Young. Organist of the Pembroke Road Chapel, Liverpool, 1840-55; the Church for the Blind, Liverpool, 1847; the Royal Panopticon, Leicester Square, London, 1853-54; Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, 1854; St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, 1855; St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, 1855-94; Wallasey Parish Church, Birkenhead, 1860-63; Holy Trinity, Liverpool, 1863; West Derby Parish Church, 1879.

He was engaged in 1871 to give recitals at the Royal Albert Hall (stayed for only a short time), and was the solo Organist at the Handel festival at the Crystal Palace. Opened the organ in Sydney Town Hall, 1890. He was one of the greatest English Organists of his time, and received a Civil List pension of £100 per annum. Best composed church services, anthems, as well as many organ transcriptions and solo pieces.

Best was certainly the most famous British organist of the time, and was proclaimed by none other than Franz Liszt to be THE greatest virtuoso on ANY instrument!

I found it powerful to play this, and I hope you will find this moving and rewarding to listen to.

Please note: - there is a "speech issue" with the Solo Tuba in this fine sample set. There is a problem with rapidly repeated notes, and this is heard in the fanfares. I didn't "miss" the notes, but they aren't clear sounding.

The score is attached below, as well as a painting of Mendlessohn, a photo and painting of Clara Schumann, and two photos of W. T. Best.