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Singing death: why music and grief go hand in hand

Sometimes the music surrounding death tells us as much about the mourners as it does about the dead.

25 Aug 2017 12:00

Helen Maree Hickey and Helen Dell

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Performing Arts

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In the aftermath of the June terrorist attack in Manchester, an unusual thing happened. Mancunians gathered in St Ann’s Square ended a minute’s silence to honour the dead with a spontaneous rendition of Don’t Look Back in Anger by the homegrown rock band Oasis. When grief renders words inadequate, music can give a voice to overwhelming visceral emotion.

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Helen Maree Hickey and Helen Dell

About the Author

Helen M. Hickey is a researcher in the Australian Research Council for the History of Emotions, University of Melbourne. Helen Dell is a research fellow, medieval song and poetry, medievalism, nostalgia, University of Melbourne Helen and Helen are co-editors of Singing Death: Reflections on Music and Mortality, published by Routledge, London