Advent Wedding Music

[uhhh]

Having trouble deciding on the recessional hymn for my advent wedding. Was originally going to use the Alleluia chorus from Handel’s “Messiah,” but now am worried it’s too overly festive for the advent season.

Suggestions?

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

First of all, please call it the “retiring procession”. The word “recessional” sounds just too economic and not in a nice way.

The Hallelujah Chorus for a wedding? Oh, I suppose you could. But you risk people singing along.

There are any number of excellent organ fanfares. For example, look to Joseph Payne’s Early French Organ Music recordings volume 1 or 2. The pieces are generally liturgical (based on Mass sections) and are quite suitable.

I wouldn’t worry about the wedding being in Advent. Weddings are generally “extra seasonal”. They are, by themselves, their own season for the time of the wedding. I am certain the priest would celebrate in white and not in purple. At least I hope he would.

Having trouble deciding on the recessional hymn for my advent wedding. Was originally going to use the Alleluia chorus from Handel’s “Messiah,” but now am worried it’s too overly festive for the advent season.

Suggestions?

 

[ejlo1]

How about People Look East? Festive, Advent Hymn, and every verse references Love (as in God, but still…)

 

[centurionguard]

First of all, please call it the “retiring procession”. The word “recessional” sounds just too economic and not in a nice way.

The Hallelujah Chorus for a wedding? Oh, I suppose you could. But you risk people singing along.

There are any number of excellent organ fanfares. For example, look to Joseph Payne’s Early French Organ Music recordings volume 1 or 2. The pieces are generally liturgical (based on Mass sections) and are quite suitable.

I wouldn’t worry about the wedding being in Advent. Weddings are generally “extra seasonal”. They are, by themselves, their own season for the time of the wedding. I am certain the priest would celebrate in white and not in purple. At least I hope he would.

I wouldn’t worry about the wedding being in Advent. Weddings are generally “extra seasonal”. They are, by themselves, their own season for the time of the wedding. I am certain the priest would celebrate in white and not in purple. At least I hope he would.

Agreed; the penitential observance of Advent doesn’t necessarily restrict the liturgical music to the tone of the Church season.
Weddings are a joyful celebration. The priest would garb himself in a white cope or alternatively in white chausble if there’s a Wedding Mass.

 

[Ophelia23]

How about People Look East? Festive, Advent Hymn, and every verse references Love (as in God, but still…)

**
I love this suggestion!! It is perfect!!! ** Oooh I just love the thought of the line “Love the Guest is on its way!” being sung at a wedding. How perfect!

 

[uhhh]

First of all, please call it the “retiring procession”. The word “recessional” sounds just too economic and not in a nice way.

The Hallelujah Chorus for a wedding? Oh, I suppose you could. But you risk people singing along.

There are any number of excellent organ fanfares. For example, look to Joseph Payne’s Early French Organ Music recordings volume 1 or 2. The pieces are generally liturgical (based on Mass sections) and are quite suitable.

I wouldn’t worry about the wedding being in Advent. Weddings are generally “extra seasonal”. They are, by themselves, their own season for the time of the wedding. I am certain the priest would celebrate in white and not in purple. At least I hope he would.

First of all, why the condescending tone? You can tell me why you prefer it called one over the other, but unless the Church says that I have to call it the retiring procession then I see no reason why you must be so snobby about it.

I personally wouldn’t ever feel comfortable singing along to the Hallelujah Chorus because it’s much too beautiful. I’ve seen it used for the recessional hymn at a wedding before and thought it was very fitting and joyous.

Aside from that, thank you for your suggestions, sincerely.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

Sorry about the condescending tone. This has been an irritation to me for a long time. Whether the procession is ecclesiastical or academic, the idea of “receding” is just odd.

Do try Marchand, Pieces d’Orgue, youtube.com/watch?v=rr2rtFtbvvg

First of all, why the condescending tone? You can tell me why you prefer it called one over the other, but unless the Church says that I have to call it the retiring procession then I see no reason why you must be so snobby about it.

I personally wouldn’t ever feel comfortable singing along to the Hallelujah Chorus because it’s much too beautiful. I’ve seen it used for the recessional hymn at a wedding before and thought it was very fitting and joyous.

Aside from that, thank you for your suggestions, sincerely.

 

[Denho]

I am perplexed as to why a wedding is being allowed in Advent at all. Most dioceses have canons restricting weddings to outside Advent and Lent.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Agreed; the penitential observance of Advent doesn’t necessarily restrict the liturgical music to the tone of the Church season.
Weddings are a joyful celebration. The priest would garb himself in a white cope or alternatively in white chausble if there’s a Wedding Mass.

It might. I know it does in Lent, which is why it is highly discouraged to have weddings in Lent. Flowers are not permitted, nor is instrumentation, etc.

 

[Phemie]

I am perplexed as to why a wedding is being allowed in Advent at all. Most dioceses have canons restricting weddings to outside Advent and Lent.

Marriages are discouraged during Lent and Advent but they are not forbidden. The Wedding rite says “Advent is not a penitential season, but rather a period of meditative preparation for Christmas, a wedding at this time is more of a distraction from the Church’s prayer. If a wedding takes place during these seasons, however, the Church asks the couple, their families, and their friends to respect the special nature of these seasons.”

 

[Phemie]

First of all, please call it the “retiring procession”. The word “recessional” sounds just too economic and not in a nice way.

As long as the Church uses ‘recessional’ I don’t know why anyone should have a problem. That’s what the marriage rite calls it.

 

[Denho]

Marriages are discouraged during Lent and Advent but they are not forbidden. The Wedding rite says “Advent is not a penitential season, but rather a period of meditative preparation for Christmas, a wedding at this time is more of a distraction from the Church’s prayer. If a wedding takes place during these seasons, however, the Church asks the couple, their families, and their friends to respect the special nature of these seasons.”

The universal law may not absolutely forbid them but the local law of many dioceses in fact does forbid them, respecting the ancient practice.

 

[centurionguard]

It might. I know it does in Lent, which is why it is highly discouraged to have weddings in Lent. Flowers are not permitted, nor is instrumentation, etc.

Given the fact most Catholic Weddings begin in Spring after Easter and most being in the Summer months with a few in early Fall, its very rare in my past tenure in serving as a former full-time sacrastan and custidian in my parish shy of ten years that I’ve witnessed Weddings during Lent and Advent. Sure it may happen but its not a norm.

And your correct it is discouraged.

Peace
Chris

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

First of all, please call it the “retiring procession”. The word “recessional” sounds just too economic and not in a nice way.

The Hallelujah Chorus for a wedding? Oh, I suppose you could. But you risk people singing along.

There are any number of excellent organ fanfares. For example, look to Joseph Payne’s Early French Organ Music recordings volume 1 or 2. The pieces are generally liturgical (based on Mass sections) and are quite suitable.

I wouldn’t worry about the wedding being in Advent. Weddings are generally “extra seasonal”. They are, by themselves, their own season for the time of the wedding. I am certain the priest would celebrate in white and not in purple. At least I hope he would.

Your suggestion is just silly. The term “recessional” is totally appropriate, technically accurate, and is contemplated by the liturgical books. For that matter, “retiring procession” conjures up images of Uncle Joe being led out of his retirement party after getting his gold watch.

 

[Phemie]

Your suggestion is just silly. The term “recessional” is totally appropriate, technically accurate, and is contemplated by the liturgical books. For that matter, “retiring procession” conjures up images of Uncle Joe being led out of his retirement party after getting his gold watch.

 

[CB_Catholic]

It might. I know it does in Lent, which is why it is highly discouraged to have weddings in Lent. Flowers are not permitted, nor is instrumentation, etc.

My daughter was married during Lent, subdued flower arrangements were permitted, and yes, there were instruments played–an organ and a string quintet–all with the permission of the Pastor of the parish and the Bishop, who is the one to rule over these things. There were no restrictions on the reception.

It was a lovely, solemn, dignified wedding.

 

[Elizium23]

My daughter was married during Lent, subdued flower arrangements were permitted, and yes, there were instruments played–an organ and a string quintet–all with the permission of the Pastor of the parish and the Bishop, who is the one to rule over these things. There were no restrictions on the reception.

It was a lovely, solemn, dignified wedding.

I am not aware that the bishop has the authority to dispense from things forbidden by Paschalis Sollemnitatis, namely, flowers at the altar. (This document cites the Caeremoniale Episcoporum as the source for this liturgical law.)

It is not forbidden to play instruments during Lent, as long as they are only played to support the singing.