It was hard to get up this morning, after standing for so many hours at last night’s party, so when I did get out of bed, I turned on the TV to see the funeral of President George H. W. Bush. The service was already in progress, but I think I saw most of it.

According to an article on the Washington Post, 

More than 30 selections were listed on the order of service, beginning with preludes by organ and carillon, a keyboard instrument made up of a set of bells. A handful of contemporary composers were included, including John Williams, whose “Hymn to the Fallen” from the film “Saving Private Ryan” was performed by the United States Marine Orchestra. In another cinematic moment, Aaron Copland’s composition for the 1940 film “Our Town,” based on the Thornton Wilder play, was also performed by the Marine Orchestra.

Some performers were familiar.

Ronan Tynan, a member of the Irish Tenors, sang a version of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Albert Hay Malotte with backing from the Marine Orchestra and two choirs.

Michael W. Smith, the Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian artist, performed his 1982 hit “Friends” with orchestra and choir. Smith posted a rehearsal video Tuesday on Instagram with the caption “A farewell tribute!!!!!!”

One of the pieces performed during the prelude was “Lay me low,” by Kevin Siegfried, former singer in the St. Mark’s Seattle Compline Choir, who was thrilled that his composition was going to be performed!

What thrilled me to the core, though, was the final hymn: “For all the saints,” which apparently was one of President Bush’s favorites. The tune, SINE NOMINE, was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and published in the English Hymnal in 1906. He wrote two harmonizations—one for unison stanzas, and the other for choirs, in four parts. SINE NOMINE means “without name,” which means that the tune was newly-composed.

According to Hymnary.org, many consider this tune to be among the finest of twentieth-century hymn tunes.

The main reason I found the performance so thrilling was because of the organ, of course!

Here is the video from CNN, and I have cued it up starting with the Commendation. The organist has to improvise for quite awhile until the retiring procession is ready, and then lets loose! In my opinion, at this point in the service, the organ is the true star.

How great that the organ still has a place of dignity in state funerals.

If you want to see a PDF of the printed program, click here.