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Music
For Your Wedding |
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If you are getting married in a church, you
should discuss with your minister the music you would like played.
The minister will usually have a list of suitable pieces that
can be played according to the organist's ability and the type
of organ in the church. With the minister's approval, you may
be able to have a competent friend or relative play for you
and/or have your own choice of music played. It would also be
possible to arrange to have professional musicians attend and
play for you, although you will probably need at least a quartet
to give the required strength and depth to the tradition 'orchestral'
music played during a church ceremony. It is for this reason
that a church organ is so suitable although your choice of music
may be restricted subject to the competency of the church's
organist.
There are four sections of your church ceremony that you need
to consider music for. They are: The Prelude, The Processional,
The Signing of the Register and The Recessional. We have listed
below many of the popular pieces that are played during each
section.
This
is music that is played while guests congregate in the church
and wait for the bride to arrive. The music sets the mood
for the ceremony to come and should be positive and joyous.
Unless you have particular music in mind, the organist will
usually play a selection while your guests assemble. Popular
music played during the prelude include:
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Holsworthy Church Bells by Wesley
Voce Sapete by Mozart
Nimrod from Enigma Variations by Elgar
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Greensleves by Williams
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Ave Maria by Schubert
Ave Maria by Gounod
The Swan by Saint Saens
This
is music played for the bride's arrival and the bridal party's
procession down the aisle. One piece of music is chosen, which
should be stately and regal and last the duration of the bridal
party's journey to the groom at the altar. The most popular
pieces of music played during the processional are:
Wedding March from Lohengrin (aka Here Comes The Bride) by
Wagner
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Minuet by Hollins
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Trumpet Tune by Charpentier
I Was Glad by Parry
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Morning from Peer Gynt by Grieg
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Winter from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
During
the time spent in the registry, the organist will be willing
to play any suitable music of your choice, whether traditional
or modern. You may wish, for example, to have some music played
that has a special meaning to you both. This is also the appropriate
time where you can make your ceremony unique by arranging
to have a friend, relative or group entertain your guests
by singing or playing your own choice of music and tunes.
If you propose doing this, please get your minister's approval
before you make any bookings. If you opt for the church organist
to play traditional music, the following pieces are popular:
Ave Maria by Schubert
Ave Maria by Gounod
Air on the G String by Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Exsultate Jubilate by Mozart
Laudate Dominum by Mozart
Three Clock Pieces by Haydn
Panis Angelicus by Franck
Wacht Auf by Bach
Clair De Lune by Debussy
Air from the Water Music by Handel
The Lord Bless You And Keep You by Rutter
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
As
you leave the registry and walk arm-in-arm down the
aisle as husband and wife, you will want the organ to bellow
out music that is triumphant, joyful and celebratory. Traditional
recessional music includes:
Wedding March from a Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
Toccata from Symphony No 5 by Widor
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 by Elgar
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Bridal March by Hollins
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
Carillion De Westminster by Vierne
Rondeau by Joseph Mouret
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Grand March from Le Prophete by Meyerbeer
Fanfare by Whitlock
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
March from Scipio by Handel
Hallelujah Chorus , from Messiah by Handel
Finale from Symphony No.1 by Widor
Maestoso from Symphony No 3 in C by Saint Saens
Please
note, some ministers may object to playing Wagner's Bridal
March from his opera Lohengrin because it celebrates a marriage
that collapses in betrayal no more than 20 minutes after it
is sung! While Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer
Night's Dream accompanies a pretend wedding.
Finally, you will need to discuss your ideas with your church
organist to ensure that the music you like is suitable for the
organ and is within the playing ability of the organist. If
you do use the services of your church organist, your minister
will advise you of the cost, which will usually be between £50
and £100.
For details of music CDs that are available to help you choose
suitable music for your church service, please visit our recorded
music page in Confetti's online shop.
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