President Reagan's funeral music: The official list compiled by the music director of the National Cathedral:
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JFK Funeral 1963 / World leaders / JFK PHOTOGRAPHS / Taps: The Broken Note / JFK's Funeral / JFK Assasination and Funeral / JFK Arlington Cemetery

Also see: Funeral Music Mourning Music compilation

The John F. Kennedy Funeral was watched by millions. MUSIClassical editor, RACampbell was a member of the USAir Force Band. He was part of the military cordon in the streets securing the procession of the JFK caisson from the Capitol to the White House, the White House to St. Matthew's Cathedral, the cathedral to Arlington National Cemetery, and they listened to music for the ceremonies.

     The music they heard

     Campbell recalls some of the music played at the scene.

     Here is a newspaper verification of what was played and sung.

     President Kennedy Funeral.

At the Capitol

     10:48 a.m.: The coffin was placed on the caisson at Capitol Plaza and the Coast Guard Academy Band played "Ruffles and Flourishes" four times, "Hail to the Chief," and the hymn, "O God of Loveliness."

     11:00 a.m: The cortege left Capitol Plaza and joined military units at Constitution Avenue as the funeral procession begans. Three service bands marched- the Marine Band; the Navy Band; the Air Force Band. Each organization had an approved repertory of three pieces played during the 35-minute march. Marine Band selcctions were: "Our Fallen Heroes," "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "The Vanished Army;" Navy Band selections were the Beethoven "Funeral March", the R.B. Hall "Funeral March," and "Onward Christian Soldiers"; Air Force Band selections were the Chopin "Funeral March," the hymn, "Vigor in Arduis" (Hymn to the Holy Name), and "America the Beautiful."

At the White House

     11:35 a.m.: The cortege arrived at the White House. The Naval Academy Catholic Choir sang three selections at the north portico: "Above the Hills of Time the Cross Is Gleaming" (Londonderry Air), "Eternal Father, Strong to Save," and "Dona Nobis Pacem."

11:40 a.m.: The cortege left the White House for St.Matthew's Cathedral. The music was provided by nine pipers from the Black Watch of the Royal Highlanders Regiment, who played "The Brown Haired Maiden," "The Badge of Scotland," "The 51st Highland Division," and "The Barren Rocks of Aden."

     12:08 p.m.: The cortege arrived at the cathedral. The Army Band plays "Ruffles and Flourishes" four times, "Hail to the Chief," and the hymn "Pray for the Dead."

At the Cathedral

      12:13 p.m.: The bronze doors of the cathedral closed and the requiem mass began. The choral music during the mass was sung by the St. Matthew's Choir, Eugene Stewart, organist and choirmaster; the tenor soloist was Luigi Vena. The Program: "Subvenite" (choir); "Pie Jesu," Leybach (tenor solo); "Ave Maria," Shubert (tenor solo); "In Manus Tuus," Novello (tenor solo); "Sanctus and Benedictus," Perosi (choir); "Agnus Dei," Bizet (tenor solo); "In Paradisum" (choir). Mr. Stewart conducted the Perosi "Sanctus and Benedictus," the Gregorian "Subvenite" and the "In Paradisum" were led by James Walsh.

     1:15 p.m.: The bronze doors of the cathedral opened as the requiem mass was concluded. As the coffin was replaced on the caisson, the Army Band played "Ruffles and Flourishes" four times, "Hail to the Chief," and the hymn "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name."

      1:30 p.m.: The funeral procession to Arlington National Cemetery began. The music used was the same as that for the march from the Capitol to the White House, with the service bands proceeding in the same order.

At the Cemetery

     2:43 p.m.: The cortege arrived at Arlington National Cemetery. The Marine Band played "Ruffles and Flourishes" four times and then "The Star Spangled Banner." As the coffin was moved from the caisson to the burial site, the Air Force Pipers played "Mist Covered Mountain."

     3:08 p.m.: Following the 21-gun salute and the three artillery volleys, "Taps" was played by Army bugler Sgt. Keith Clark.

     3:13 p.m.: During the closing flag-folding ceremony, the Marine Band played the hymn, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."

Credits

     The identification of the music played by the service bands was obtained, by The Washington Star, from Capt. Gilbert H. Mitchell of the Army Band, was music coordinator for the Military District of Washington during the ceremonies.

     The Navy Band supplied the titles of the pieces sung by the Naval Academy Catholic Choir at the north portico of the White House.

     The pipe tunes used by the Black Watch were identified by Pipe Maj. Anderson of the Royal Highlanders Regiment through Mr. Merek Day of the British Embassy.

     Mr. Eugene Stewart, organist at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, furnished the names of the musical selections used in the requiem mass.

---permission obtained from the Washington Star to paraphrase their information for this page.