Traditional Wedding Music (please help!)

[D0UBTFIRE]

Okay…so straight to the point.

Firstly, I was told that a nuptial mass does not include all the parts of a mass that we celebrate on Sunday. Is this true? The music director’s office told me no Gloria and Kyrie, but yes to the Sanctus and yes to Agnus Dei.

I love Gregorian Chant but the music director’s office told me it’s generally a 4 part harmony. Is this true? Can one person sing the melody and it still sound nice? I would really like to incorporate Gregorian Chant into the wedding without breaking the bank.

So here’s what already in my brain, but I don’t have all the specifics, which is what I need help with:

Prelude: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Instrumental)

         Air on the G string (Instrumental....but I feel it's too secular?)

Seating of the mothers: Ave Maria (in Latin)

Processional: Trumpet Voluntary (this is secular, right?)

Responsorial Psalm: (Having a really hard time here…don’t know where to start!)

Sanctus sung in Latin but which version??

Agnus Dei sung in Latin but which version??

Communion: Panis Angelicus (in Latin)

Recessional: Would “The Entrance to the Queen of Sheba” be to weird?

I highlighted in red the ones that I don’t know where to find the music for…my church may have it…but there seem to be many versions so how would I choose??

Am I missing any parts where music is required?

Suggestions???

Thanks!!!

 

[1ke]

Correct regarding order of the mass.

Entrance Rite
Liturgy of the Word
Rite of Marriage
Liturgy of the Eucharist with Nuptial Blessing following the Our Father
Concluding Rite

So, yes, parts of the mass where you might have singing or instrumental music would be:

Prelude
Entrance
Responsorial Psalm
Presentation of the Gifts
Sanctus
Memorial Acclamation
Great Amen
Agnus Dei
Communion Hymn
Any optional tradition you choose to do, such as flowers for the Virgin Mary
Recessional

 

[benedictgal]

This is what I chose for my cousin’s wedding this past November:

Entrance Processional: Jesu, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
(what we do is we have the parents enter with the groom first and then the parents enter with the bride)
Responsorial Psalm: Blessed are they who fear the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia (if not during Lent–it needs to be sung)
Offertory: Ubi Caritas (Where Charity and Love Prevail) (in Spanish, Donde Hay Caridad y Amor is what we used)
Sanctus: A Community Mass
Memorial Acclamation: A Community Mass
Great Amen: A Community Mass
Agnus Dei: Latin Chant VII Setting
Communion: Panis Angelicus
Presentation of the Flowers to the BVM: Ave Maria
Recessional: Sing with all the Saints in Glory

Jubilatae Deo is an easy chant setting to learn. Missa D’Angellis is a little harder, but, it is the setting used at the Papal Masses. It also has its own Memorial Acclamation.

 

[1ke]

Ah, Gospel Acclimation, yes. Forgot that one. We used the Celtic Alleluia.

 

[Shin]

How about Wagner’s wedding march?

 

[baltobetsy]

How about Wagner’s wedding march?

Naughty, naughty!

 

[Shin]

Naughty, naughty!

But I -like- Wagner.

 

[mswood]

How about Wagner’s wedding march?

Some parishes (including mine) do allow this, but most do not and I am not using it in my wedding.

This is what we where given by our priest to use to make our wedding programs, we did select the readings and music and he put it in order for us:

Prelude Music: Organist Choice
Music for Special Seating: Arioso, Bach
Solo: Ave Maria

INTRODUCTORY RITES
Processional: Canon in D; Johann Pachelbel
Bride’s Processional: Trumpet Voluntary; Jeremiah Clark
**Light Memorial Candle by Bride

LITURGY OF THE WORD
1st Reading: Tobit 8:4b-8.
Responsorial Psalm 128: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord”
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:8a .
Gospel Acclamation: “God is love. If God loved us, we also must love one another.”
Gospel: John 15:9-12
Homily

RITE OF MARRIAGE
Address and Statement of Intentions
Consent and Exchange of Vows
Blessing and Exchange of Rings
General Intercessions

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of the Altar & Gifts – Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring; Bach
Gift Bearers: Bride and Groom
Holy, Holy
Memorial Acclamation
The Lord’s Prayer
Nuptial Blessing
Communion
Communion Song: “One Bread One Body”; instrumental
Communion Meditation: “I Have Loved You”; Joncas . . . Sung by: Marcia Buster

CONCLUDING RITE
Final Blessing
Dismissal
Recessional: With Trumpets and Horns; G.F. Handel Ode to Joy; Beethoven

 

[D0UBTFIRE]

This is what I chose for my cousin’s wedding this past November:

Entrance Processional: Jesu, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
(what we do is we have the parents enter with the groom first and then the parents enter with the bride)
Responsorial Psalm: Blessed are they who fear the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia (if not during Lent–it needs to be sung)
Offertory: Ubi Caritas (Where Charity and Love Prevail) (in Spanish, Donde Hay Caridad y Amor is what we used)
Sanctus: A Community Mass
Memorial Acclamation: A Community Mass
Great Amen: A Community Mass
Agnus Dei: Latin Chant VII Setting
Communion: Panis Angelicus
Presentation of the Flowers to the BVM: Ave Maria
Recessional: Sing with all the Saints in Glory

Jubilatae Deo is an easy chant setting to learn. Missa D’Angellis is a little harder, but, it is the setting used at the Papal Masses. It also has its own Memorial Acclamation.

When you say “A Community Mass” what is that?

 

[1ke]

When you say “A Community Mass” what is that?

The accompaniment.

If you look closely in your hymnals or missalette, each of the various musical compositions has a name, such as “A Community Mass,” “Mass of Creation,” etc.

 

[1ke]

While we can suggest things on here, ultimately you need to run it all by your music minister in your parish.

Some parishes make distinctions between “secuar” and “not secular” that defy logic.

My old parish up and banned Ode To Joy since the European Union’s anthem uses the melody. Who the heck in Texas knows what the European Union’s anthem is? Nobody. Uh, hello, there are a TON of hymns set to that melody. But suddenly, that can’t be used in weddings. But, yet, in the parish down the road, Ode to Joy is a-okay.

 

[D0UBTFIRE]

While we can suggest things on here, ultimately you need to run it all by your music minister in your parish.

Some parishes make distinctions between “secuar” and “not secular” that defy logic.

My old parish up and banned Ode To Joy since the European Union’s anthem uses the melody. Who the heck in Texas knows what the European Union’s anthem is? Nobody. Uh, hello, there are a TON of hymns set to that melody. But suddenly, that can’t be used in weddings. But, yet, in the parish down the road, Ode to Joy is a-okay.

My parish is very liberal, they don’t seem to care that much. I’m the one who doesn’t really want secular music at the mass, with the exception of perhaps the processional and the recessional because I can’t think of any religious tunes to march to. lol But hey, I’m open to suggestions!

Does anyone know if the Entrance of the Queen of Sheba is considered secular or not? How do you define a song as secular or sacred?

 

[D0UBTFIRE]

Out of curiousity, could all the music in the mass be instrumental? Is the responsorial psalm required? Or could something be played during that time that has no words?

 

[benedictgal]

Out of curiousity, could all the music in the mass be instrumental? Is the responsorial psalm required? Or could something be played during that time that has no words?

The parts of the Mass (of which the Responsorial, the Gospel Acclamation and the Sanctus, et al comprise) should be sung. While you can read the psalm, it is better to have the cantor sing it and the faithful join in on the response. The psalm is a required part of the Mass. You cannot omit it nor replace it with a hymn nor a musical interlude. The same holds true for the Gospel Acclamation, although, if it is not sung, it is to be omitted.

You could have an instrumental played if the celebrant is using incense. However, the celebrant and the organist should coordinate. What happened in my cousin’s case was that she wanted my parochial vicar to chant a hymn to the Blessed Mother as he incensed the altar and the couple.

 

[Chatter163]

I would be OK with the Queen of Sheba processional, as it was written by Handel and was based on stories of Solomon. Since Trumpet Voluntary (aka The Prince of Denmark’s March) was composed for use inside of a cathedral (albeit an Anglican one), I do not consider it as secular as Wagner’s processional, which was for opera.

Panis Angelicus has many settings. The most well known is the one by Cesar Francke, and is probably the one that you are thinking of, but there are other well-known settings, such as the ones by Lambilotte, Meurer, et al.

The Gloria is not normally part of the nuptial Mass, but there is a penitential rite, so there is no reason that the Kyrie need not be.

 

[benedictgal]

Perhaps this section from Musicam Sacram, the authoritative document of the Holy See on Sacred Music could prove helpful to the OP:

1. The following belong to the first degree:

(a) In the entrance rites: the greeting of the priest together with the reply of the people; the prayer.

(b) In the Liturgy of the Word: the acclamations at the Gospel.

(c) In the Eucharistic Liturgy: the prayer over the offerings; the preface with its dialogue and the Sanctus; the final doxology of the Canon, the Lord’s Prayer with its introduction and embolism; the Pax Domini; the prayer after the Communion; the formulas of dismissal.

1. The following belong to the second degree:

(a) the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei;

(b) the Creed;

(c) the prayer of the faithful.

1. The following belong to the third degree:

(a) the songs at the Entrance and Communion processions;

(b) the songs after the Lesson or Epistle;

(c) the Alleluia before the Gospel;

(d) the song at the Offertory;

(e) the readings of Sacred Scripture, unless it seems more suitable to proclaim them without singing.

1. The custom legitimately in use in certain places and widely confirmed by indults, of substituting other songs for the songs given in the Graduale for the Entrance, Offertory and Communion, can be retained according to the judgment of the competent territorial authority, as long as songs of this sort are in keeping with the parts of the Mass, with the feast or with the liturgical season. It is for the same territorial authority to approve the texts of these songs.

1. It is desirable that the assembly of the faithful should participate in the songs of the Proper as much as possible, especially through simple responses and other suitable settings.

The song after the lessons, be it in the form of gradual or responsorial psalm, has a special importance among the songs of the Proper. By its very nature, it forms part of the Liturgy, of the Word. It should be performed with all seated and listening to it – and, what is more, participating in it as far as possible.

1. The songs which are called the “Ordinary of the Mass”, if they are sung by musical settings written for several voices may be performed by the choir according to the customary norms, either a capella, or with instrumental accompaniment, as long as the people are not completely excluded from taking part in the singing.

In other cases, the parts of the Ordinary of the Mass can be divided between the choir and the people or even between two sections of the people themselves: one can alternate by verses, or one can follow other suitable divisions which divide the text into larger sections. In these cases, the following points are to be noted: it is preferable that the Creed, since it is a formula of profession of faith, should be sung by all, or in such a way as to permit a fitting participation by the faithful; it is preferable that the Sanctus, as the concluding acclamation of the Preface, should normally be sung by the whole congregation together with the priest; the Agnus Dei may be repeated as often as necessary, especially in concelebrations, where it accompanies the Fraction; it is desirable that the people should participate in this song, as least by the final invocation.

1. The Lord’s Prayer is best performed by the people together with the priest.22

If it is sung in Latin, the melodies already legitimately existing should be used; if, however, it is sung in the vernacular, the settings are to be approved by the competent territorial authority.

1. There is no reason why some of the Proper or Ordinary should not be sung in said Masses. Moreover, some other song can also, on occasions, be sung at the beginning, at the Offertory, at the Communion and at the end of Mass. It is not sufficient, however, that these songs be merely “Eucharistic” – they must be in keeping with the parts of the Mass, with the feast, or with the liturgical season.

The parts of the Mass should be sung. This is what we would tell the engaged couples planning their wedding Masses at the Cathedral. We advised them that whoever they picked to do their music needed to be familiar with the parts of the Mass and use settings that had the official texts and not paraphrases.

 

[benedictgal]

The OP might find this article helpful:

adoremus.org/1105WeddingsSongs.html

The author makes some interesting points, some of which have already been brought up in this thread:

While we are on this topic, it is to be remembered that the Responsorial Psalm should be a Psalm, not a song. Use the correct sacred text without wild alterations, inclusive language, or tweaking.

The wedding marches are an interesting topic, sure to spark debate. It has become really traditional to use the Bridal Chorus from Wagner’s opera Lohengrin for the Procession, and the Wedding March from Mendelssohn’s ballet Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Recession. Observe the words “opera” and “ballet”. Both of these marches were written for the theater stage. Both are fine pieces of music, but are tied into stories of fantasy, murder, sex, and other delights. Are they suitable for Catholic weddings? It should be an easy answer, but it is not. Back in the 1930s or so when the Society of Saint Gregory published its Black List and White List of Catholic Music, those marches were absolutely forbidden, sent to the Black List, and no more discussion, thank you. Today it is left to the local Ordinary (the head of your diocese). Some places have no restrictions, since that music has become so traditional, but some still forbid them. Some have made no statements one way or the other.

Are those pieces truly traditional? I remember attending a marvelous performance of the Mendelssohn ballet. When all the odd creatures came dancing out of the forest, a woman behind me gasped, “They’re playing There Goes the Bride! Why are they playing There Goes the Bride?” In the popular culture, those two pieces are universally known, incorrectly, as Here Comes the Bride, and There Goes the Bride. Most Americans, alas, are unfamiliar with classic opera and ballet and do not know the dramatic references in the music. Even trained musicians I know will call the Bridal Chorus by its Here Comes the Bride alias.

There are lots of good choices for marches, including the Purcell Trumpet Tune, the Trumpet Voluntary in D, the Pachelbel Canon, The Grand March by Alexandre Guilmant, and a host of others that any trained organist can play for you.

In many churches, it is still permitted for the bride to leave her bouquet (or a small symbolic bouquet) at the statue of Our Lady. Since this takes place after the Mass, any sacred Marian antiphon, motet, or hymn will suffice. Some possibilities are an Ave Maria, Salve Regina, or On This Day, O Beautiful Mother.

I hope this helps put things into a better perspective.

 

[D0UBTFIRE]

I would be OK with the Queen of Sheba processional, as it was written by Handel and was based on stories of Solomon. Since Trumpet Voluntary (aka The Prince of Denmark’s March) was composed for use inside of a cathedral (albeit an Anglican one), I do not consider it as secular as Wagner’s processional, which was for opera.

Panis Angelicus has many settings. The most well known is the one by Cesar Francke, and is probably the one that you are thinking of, but there are other well-known settings, such as the ones by Lambilotte, Meurer, et al.

The Gloria is not normally part of the nuptial Mass, but there is a penitential rite, so there is no reason that the Kyrie need not be.

Thank you for addressing these questions!

 

[Sarabande]

Firstly, I was told that a nuptial mass does not include all the parts of a mass that we celebrate on Sunday. Is this true?

It usually is not included for a nuptial mass, but my husband and I were permitted to have both. Our choir sung the Kyrie and Gloria from a Palestrina mass.

I love Gregorian Chant but the music director’s office told me it’s generally a 4 part harmony. Is this true? Can one person sing the melody and it still sound nice? I would really like to incorporate Gregorian Chant into the wedding without breaking the bank.

I don’t know why you were told this. Gregorian chant is typically sung in a single melody line, although you can do organum with it to have multiple parts. We had the choir and congregation chant in Latin the Sanctus, Mortem Tuaam and the Pater Noster. And you don’t have to have a choir, especially for the simple chants. I’ve cantored a few weddings where they requested chanted mass parts in Latin. It was just me leading the congregation (usually for those weddings the guests would actually chant along).

So here’s what already in my brain, but I don’t have all the specifics, which is what I need help with:

Best to always consult your music director. Many parishes I’ve worked as a wedding musician are pretty much uniform with most of the requirements, but there will be some differences.

Prelude: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Instrumental)

This is a common one at many of the weddings I’ve been hired to do and is lovely. You could even have it sung.

Air on the G string (Instrumental…but I feel it’s too secular?)

I think this would go into the category of “absolute music” - meaning no secular or sacred connotation. A lot of instrumental works played in church are considered “absolute music”. If it came from an opera, ballet, play, etc. then you couldn’t do it, but just ask your music director. This is in one of the categories where the pastor or music director may consider it as part of the purely secular group.

Seating of the mothers: Ave Maria (in Latin)

There are many different settings of this. The most common for weddings is the Schubert. The second most common is the Bach/Gounod. Your music director would most likely have sheet music to both - and in various keys. There are some other beautiful ones as well. We used a setting by Faure. The Elgar setting is also nice. The chant is simple and lovely as well.

Processional: Trumpet Voluntary (this is secular, right?)

Absolute music, but check with your music director.

Responsorial Psalm: (Having a really hard time here…don’t know where to start!)

The music director will probably have musical settings for the psalms which they are comfortable playing, so you probably don’t have to worry about that, except to choose the psalm. The “Together for LIfe” booklet will have the common suggestions, although you don’t necessarily have to choose a psalm from there.

Sanctus sung in Latin but which version??

Agnus Dei sung in Latin but which version??

I don’t have my music with me, but if it is not sung much at your parish, try using the simple ones that are printed in the red Worship hymnal, We Celebrate hymnal and I think they even have it in the OCP hymnal. I can’t remember the numbers.

Communion: Panis Angelicus (in Latin)

The Franck and Lambilotte are most common, so the music director should have music for both. There are also other settings.

Recessional: Would “The Entrance to the Queen of Sheba” be to weird?

 It's from a sacred oratorio, so not really weird, but you might want to check if the music director can play it - and you also would want to see if it would sound good on an organ (if it is going to be on an organ).  I can't really hear it in my head on an organ, but I could be totally off the mark with that.  It might work on the piano, but I personally think it sounds best with strings or with the orchestra that it was originally scored for.

Am I missing any parts where music is required?

Do you have something for the Offertory and the Gospel Acclamation?