No Sad Songs - live music for funerals & memorial services

These prices are intended as a general guide only. Although based in London, No Sad Songs services the whole of the UK and whenever possible we will try to use musicians from the nearest main city in order to reduce travel costs. It is worth pointing out that you may well be able to find musicians at a cheaper rate, but No Sad Songs only uses the most highly skilled available and also we have to take a commission for the service we provide: this can involve many hours on the phone trying to find the right musicians for the job, (the good ones are generally very busy recording and performing in concert-halls all round the country and abroad); preparing and arranging the music and parts and ensuring that they get to the musicians in time; liaising with all parties involved to ensure everything runs smoothly (which may also include attending the funeral personally); free use of our own extensive library of sheet music, so that for standard repertory, you do not have the additional trouble of locating and buying the relevant music yourself. Taking everything into consideration, we do believe that the above prices are fair. You only have to reflect on how much your plumber or electrician charges to realise this. There are many factors that can influence the cost, but everything is fully explained as the discussion develops. For your information, some of these are as follows:

A bulky or heavy instrument costs a little more for “porterage” and possibly congestion charge allowance in London;
A travel allowance will need to be paid if the event is outside central London;
If there is a solo or duo within a group of three or more musicians, then the appropriate solo or duo fee is paid to the musician concerned;
A harpsichord or electronic keyboard must be hired in and so if used will incur additional cost;
If the request is for an unusual piece, No Sad Songs may have to pass on the expenses of purchasing the specific sheet music, since it may lie outside our own extensive library. In this case the sheet music will of course belong to you;
Pipers charge for appearing in full regalia;
Sometimes a requested piece of music may have to be arranged specifically for the musicians concerned. The arranger’s fee will then have to be passed on;

We cannot quote prices for internationally known individuals or groups booked by No Sad Songs, as these are negotiated individually and not within our control.

As we are not yet registered for VAT, all these prices are VAT free. Also, it may be worth noting that all your expenses incurred for the funeral, including those for the music, can be paid for free of tax out of the estate of the deceased.