Let There Be Music

Today's Blog is coming after a Bridal Consultation yesterday where music for the ceremony was discussed, and I realized that I needed to address Music both for the ceremony and the reception. Often times music is an afterthought, but is one of the most important parts of any ceremony and reception. Music adds joy, solemnity, fun and a sense of tradition to a wedding. It serves as ceremony cue, as pleasant background to conversation, as a call to dance the night away. In fact, no other single element of your celebration has the power to engage the emotions the way music does.

Music at the Ceremony

If you are having your wedding ceremony at a church. be sure to check for any restrictions. Your officiant may refer you to the church music director, who can review the parameters of the musical scores available to you and provide you with acceptable options.

The following are some guidelines to use when planning your ceremony music:

*Ask about Acoustics. Your choice of music may not be the best selections for the acoustics of your ceremony site.

*Find out if you can use visiting musicians. If you are bringing in your own musicians just make sure that is allowed, some churches require you to use their church musicians.

*Consider you guests' preferences. Make sure that your music selection does not offend a guests' sensibilities. Some Guests' make consider a popular secular tune disrespectful in a church ceremony. If you are having your ceremony in a church plan on including hymns in your music selection.

*Consider the services of the house organist. Plan on using the services of the church organist. He or She will know the acoustics better.

*Discuss how and when payment is made. If a church includes a bill, the fee for the organist is often included and you can write one check. If not he or she must be paid directly, either cash or check, before or directly after the service.

*List the songs and players. On your program for the ceremony you will want to list the music that is performed during the prelude as well as during the ceremony. Be sure to get the correct names of each piece and add the composer.

The Order of Ceremony Music

When working with the music director or organist, organize your choices into the following components of your ceremony.

The Prelude

It is a happy beginning when guests arrive at a wedding to the joyful sounds of music. The prelude music should begin at least a half hour before the ceremony begins. It can be played simply by just the organist or performed by a string quartet; it can showcase the smooth strokes of a harpist or the woodwind ensemble.

Samples of Prelude Music

*Air (Handel)

*Rondo (Mozart)

*"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Bach)

*Largo (Handel)

*Concerto No.1 (From Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, "Spring")

*Pavane (Faure)

The Processional

The processional music begins as the Grandparents and Mother's are seated, the groom and his best man enter, the bridesmaids and the bride and her father enter (or other escort) and her attendants are ready to begin their walk. The music can simply be an organ or piano. You may have a trumpeter accompany the organ, adding a joyful touch to the processional. Music played during the entrance of the bride and her attendants should be joyous and formal at the same time. The same piece can be played throughout the processional; sometimes the bride's entrance is accompanied by a different piece of music.

Samples of Processional Music

* "The Bridal Chorus" (Lohengrin)

* "Wedding March" (from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream)

* "The Prince of Denmark's March" (Clark)

* "Wedding March" (Gulimant)

* "Air (Bach)

* "Canon in D Major" (Pachelbel)

* " Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" (Handel)

* "Trumpet Voluntary" (Clark)

* "Trumpet Tune" (Purcell)

The Ceremony

Work with your officiant and music director or organist to determine where in the service music should be placed. Make sure that if you do use soloists that practice time with the organist or other instrumentalist is scheduled.

* "Ave Maria" (Schubert)

* "One Hand, One Heart" (Bernstein and Sondheim)

* "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Bach)

* "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (Beethoven)

* "The King of Love My Shepherd" (Hinsworth)

* "The Lord's Prayer" (Malotte)

* Biblical Songs (Dvorak)

* Libestraum (Liszt)

* " In Thee is Joy" (Bach)

The Recessional

The music you choose for your recessional should be the most joyous of all. It is a jubilant time, and the music should reflect that jubilation. Often the bell note on the organ or bells in the bell tower are rung to add to the festive ambiance. Look for upbeat, joyous music.

Samples of Recessional Music

* "Ode to Joy" (Beethoven)

* " Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)

* " Wedding March" (From Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream0

* "Trumpet Tune" (Purcell)

The Postlude

Samples of Postlude Music

* Overture (Handel)

* Rondeau (Mouret)

* "Le Rejouissance" (Handel)

Make the music at your Wedding a Forethought and not an afterthought. It is a lot more important that you think. I am hoping that this is helpful to everyone.