Wedding Music help

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BeeRod

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I know I haven’t gone through that stage yet but I want to be prepared. I know certain secular music is not allowed during a Nuptial Mass but I want to stay away from the usual Canon In D/Trumpet Voluntary/Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring picks. I’m not saying they are not beautiful pieces of music (they are), but my fiance and I want to be different.

Here’s what I want to use:

Prelude: Malher’s 5th Symphony, 4th movement (hope I can use this, the music is beautiful)
Processional: Ave Maria (the Bach version, not the Schubert) and The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Liturgy of the Word Hymn: Morning Has Broken, Turn, Turn, Turn, or I Can Only Imagine (to appease the non-Catholic family members)
Rite of Marriage: Grow Old Along With me (another song I hope to use if it’s allowed)
Recessional: Ode To Joy

Any other suggestions if I can’t use a couple of songs. Like I said, I want to stay away from the usual songs played at weddings. :harp:
 
I always thought if I got married my recessional would be the Halleluia Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Just overall one of my most favorite pieces of music ever written.
 
Aggie414 said:
I always thought if I got married my recessional would be the Halleluia Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Just overall one of my most favorite pieces of music ever written.
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It reminded me of high school choir! 😛 I’ve thought of that as another choice for the recessional. I know my fiance would easily veto the Masterpiece Theatre theme song at anytime during the ceremony.

Oh to be clear, most likely will use a string quartet. The organ at the church is very overpowering (plus she can’t sing).

Another song I’ve thought about playing during the ceremony is “Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace”. Beautiful song but sometimes reminds me of Princess Diana’s funeral.
 
I would certainly meet with your parish’s music director. You have some good selections there, but also some that would get a big fat red “no” stamp from this music director. Secular music is not allowed in Catholic Mass at any time, including weddings. There are many good, quality songs of all musical styles that are off the beaten path and are more than appropriate for worship.

Here is what my wife and I had at our wedding this past June:

Prelude: Trumpet Minuet (Hollins); “Adagio” from Organ Sonata No. 1 (Mendelssohn); Fanfare (Lemmens); Cantilene Nuptiale (Dubois); Laudate Dominum (Mozart)

Processional: “March” from Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (Handel)

Entrance Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King

Kyrie: “An English Mass,” (Rev. Thomas Reardon, 1963)

Gloria: Mass for a Servant Church (Guimont)

Psalm: A setting of Ps. 104 that I wrote.

Gospel Acclamation: Mass of Remembrance (Haugen)

Devotion to the Madonna: Ave Maria (Gounod)

Offertory Hymn: Lord of All Hopefulness

Sanctus/Agnus Dei: “An English Mass” (Reardon, 1963)
Memorial Acclamation/Amen: ICEL chant

Communion Hymn: Eat This Bread (Taize)
Communion Meditation: Panis Angelicus (Franck)

Recessional: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 (Widor)

Obviously this is a bit more involved than most people ask for, but my wife and I have both been involved in church music for many years (me professionally). Also some of our selections are a little beyond what many average parish organists are capable of. Our musicians consisted of an organist (we both decided early on that we wanted organ only, no piano), and a small choir of church music friends and colleagues.

Remember that, above all, you and your future spouse are there to make a covenant to one another and to worship the Lord. Not to appease the musical tastes of your guests. Best of luck to both of you!
 
I’m sure that the others posting here know much more about it than I do, but I love Ubi Caritas (I’m planning on having it as the processional or the meditation at my wedding 🙂 ). I’ll see if I can find the arrangement for you if you’re interested!
 
Interesting song choices. For a moment, I thought you were saying Adagio in G Minor (a piece of music I’m very familiar with). I should check it out.

Another one I’ve thought about is Meditation from Thais.

I really want to add a John Lennon song in there because my fiance is a huge fan of his. But I know there’s a good chance that will be denied.

Good thing we have a long way to go before officially deciding on ceremony music, much less if we’re having a full Mass or not.
 
Just to second another poster, as a long-time music minister, I can tell you that secular music is not allowed during liturgy. In fact, I declined to play at my aunt’s wedding becuase she insisted on having some secular music, and I wouldn’t play it. She is older, it was her 2nd wedding, but she just didn’t understand why secular music wasn’t allowed. She thought that by asking her neice that I would cave and do the music she wanted (the organist at the church refused, which is why she asked me). Unfortunately, it created a rift between us (more from her than from me). She got super mad at me. She ended up having to hire someone to play the piano during mass, and I don’t know how she got her song choices past the priest.

Anyway, if you really would like some of those secular pieces to be played on your wedding day, try to fit them in during the reception or dinner, rather than the mass.

Any of the suggestions listed above by the other poster would be just beautiful, and quite appropriate.

Happy planning!
 
BeeRod said:
Another one I’ve thought about is Meditation from Thais.
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That is a lovely piece.

I do applaud your decision to veer OFF the tried and true (and…well…exhausted) such as Canon in D, Trumpet Voluntary, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Hornpipe, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. 😃

I would make a suggestion regarding Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. That piece is quite long. Much too long, certainly, for only the bride’s procession. My organ arrangement (manuals only, without the pedal line) is 6 or 8 pages long. Unless your organist can effectively and seamlessly end the piece early, I would maybe put that as a prelude. It is a great piece though, and fun to play.
 
hcmusicguy said:
That is a lovely piece.

I do applaud your decision to veer OFF the tried and true (and…well…exhausted) such as Canon in D, Trumpet Voluntary, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, Hornpipe, etc, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. 😃

I would make a suggestion regarding Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. That piece is quite long. Much too long, certainly, for only the bride’s procession. My organ arrangement (manuals only, without the pedal line) is 6 or 8 pages long. Unless your organist can effectively and seamlessly end the piece early, I would maybe put that as a prelude. It is a great piece though, and fun to play.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll ask when the time comes. I thought it would be a nice piece to walk down to if there is a way to cut it down to only the beginning. The aisle is not too long but we’ll see.

If we get the no for Lennon (which I said it’s highly likely it’ll be denied), I would include that in our wedding program instead. We’re already planning to dance to a Lennon song (either “Woman” or “Love”) but it would’ve been nice to add that to the ceremony as well.

Good thing we’re big music lovers, even though I’m more of a classical expert. I thank the years of watching figure skating. 😃
 
🙂 I want to walk down the asile to the St. Teresa of Avila / Taise chant “Nada te turbe.” I fell in love with it as soon as I heard it.

It seems really appropriate - and calming.

youtube.com/watch?v=6B5AuCaDSwM

I also want to have:

Morning Has Broken
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (just a beautiful hymn)

I also like Joyful Joyful as a sung psalm, but sung without all the Gospel choir bits - just as a straightforward hymn.
 
You’ll want to talk to who ever coordinates wedding music at your church about your selections. When I was just recently married I was under the impression that at my parish at least, secular songs could be reviewed for inclusion as long as the lyrics were not contrary to any church teachings or irrerverant, the group or piece was not related to any anti Catholic messages or groups that could cause scandel, and that the piece was played at an appropriate place within the ceremony. For instance no secular songs during communion. However, your own parish would have more info and you’d need to meet with them to discuss this further. I hope this helps!
 
Rose71 said:
🙂 I want to walk down the asile to the St. Teresa of Avila / Taise chant “Nada te turbe.” I fell in love with it as soon as I heard it.

It seems really appropriate - and calming.

youtube.com/watch?v=6B5AuCaDSwM

I also want to have:

Morning Has Broken
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (just a beautiful hymn)

I also like Joyful Joyful as a sung psalm, but sung without all the Gospel choir bits - just as a straightforward hymn.
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I was surprised to learn Morning Has Broken is actually a hymn. I thought it was just a Cat Stevens song
 
BeeRod said:
ILiturgy of the Word Hymn: Morning Has Broken, Turn, Turn, Turn, or I Can Only Imagine (to appease the non-Catholic family members)
Rite of Marriage: Grow Old Along With me (another song I hope to use if it’s allowed)
:
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These are totally inappropriate. The Liturgy of the Word contains a Responsorial Psalm which is scripture.

There is not place for secular songs. Even though Morning has Broken is not particularly secular and is in the LIturgy of the Hours, it is not a psalm. Even though Turn, Turn, Turn is based on Scripture it too is not a Psalm and is not a accurate translation of the text and has words added.

Save the Lennon song for the reception.
 
hcmusicguy said:
Here is what my wife and I had at our wedding this past June:

Prelude: Trumpet Minuet (Hollins); “Adagio” from Organ Sonata No. 1 (Mendelssohn); Fanfare (Lemmens); Cantilene Nuptiale (Dubois); Laudate Dominum (Mozart)

Processional: “March” from Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (Handel)

Entrance Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King

Kyrie: “An English Mass,” (Rev. Thomas Reardon, 1963)

Gloria: Mass for a Servant Church (Guimont)

Psalm: A setting of Ps. 104 that I wrote.

Gospel Acclamation: Mass of Remembrance (Haugen)

Devotion to the Madonna: Ave Maria (Gounod)

Offertory Hymn: Lord of All Hopefulness

Sanctus/Agnus Dei: “An English Mass” (Reardon, 1963)
Memorial Acclamation/Amen: ICEL chant

Communion Hymn: Eat This Bread (Taize)
Communion Meditation: Panis Angelicus (Franck)

Recessional: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 (Widor)
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You have excellent taste. I love Widor’s 5th symphony and it’s my dream recessional song. Eat this Bread is always a very moving song for me as well.

There are so many versions of the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei. . .how does one even begin to choose? Another question is I didn’t realize there was an entrance hymn in addition to the bridal processional?
 
hcmusicguy said:
I would certainly meet with your parish’s music director. You have some good selections there, but also some that would get a big fat red “no” stamp from this music director. Secular music is not allowed in Catholic Mass at any time, including weddings. There are many good, quality songs of all musical styles that are off the beaten path and are more than appropriate for worship.

Here is what my wife and I had at our wedding this past June:

Prelude: Trumpet Minuet (Hollins); “Adagio” from Organ Sonata No. 1 (Mendelssohn); Fanfare (Lemmens); Cantilene Nuptiale (Dubois); Laudate Dominum (Mozart)

Processional: “March” from Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (Handel)

Entrance Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King

Kyrie: “An English Mass,” (Rev. Thomas Reardon, 1963)

Gloria: Mass for a Servant Church (Guimont)

Psalm: A setting of Ps. 104 that I wrote.

Gospel Acclamation: Mass of Remembrance (Haugen)

Devotion to the Madonna: Ave Maria (Gounod)

Offertory Hymn: Lord of All Hopefulness

Sanctus/Agnus Dei: “An English Mass” (Reardon, 1963)
Memorial Acclamation/Amen: ICEL chant

Communion Hymn: Eat This Bread (Taize)
Communion Meditation: Panis Angelicus (Franck)

Recessional: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 (Widor)

Obviously this is a bit more involved than most people ask for, but my wife and I have both been involved in church music for many years (me professionally). Also some of our selections are a little beyond what many average parish organists are capable of. Our musicians consisted of an organist (we both decided early on that we wanted organ only, no piano), and a small choir of church music friends and colleagues.

Remember that, above all, you and your future spouse are there to make a covenant to one another and to worship the Lord. Not to appease the musical tastes of your guests. Best of luck to both of you!
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What simply marvelous music!

Our older daughter chose Widor’s Toccata as the recessional, as the Cathedral organist was very talented and pleased that someone had requested it. Simply magnificent!

Sadly, at our younger daughter’s wedding, the same organist was unable to find the sheet music for the processional in time and - after the initial trumpet fanfare - she walked down the aisle to 30 seconds of NOTHING until he located the music. To this day I can’t watch the video. (The marriage, however, is a very good one.) 😉
 
BeeRod said:
I know I haven’t gone through that stage yet but I want to be prepared. I know certain secular music is not allowed during a Nuptial Mass but I want to stay away from the usual Canon In D/Trumpet Voluntary/Jesu Joy Of Man’s Desiring picks. I’m not saying they are not beautiful pieces of music (they are), but my fiance and I want to be different.

Here’s what I want to use:

Prelude: Malher’s 5th Symphony, 4th movement (hope I can use this, the music is beautiful)
Processional: Ave Maria (the Bach version, not the Schubert) and The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Liturgy of the Word Hymn: Morning Has Broken, Turn, Turn, Turn, or I Can Only Imagine (to appease the non-Catholic family members)
Rite of Marriage: Grow Old Along With me (another song I hope to use if it’s allowed)
Recessional: Ode To Joy

Any other suggestions if I can’t use a couple of songs. Like I said, I want to stay away from the usual songs played at weddings. :harp:
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As others have mentioned already, secular music isn’t permitted. Having worked and freelanced for numerous weddings, most churches will not bend the rules for that.

Some comments and suggestions:
  1. 4th Movement, Symphony No. 5 - Mahler
    Translates very well for the organ, but this is something that many organists at Catholic parishes, especially, would probably not have in their repertoire, so you’d have to be sure that the organist at your parish can play it or is willing to learn it. Otherwise, you may have to hire an outside organist (if it is permitted or if you are willing to pay a bench fee if that is required).
youtube.com/watch?v=a7D3N_PglAU
  1. Ave Maria - Bach/Gounod - One thing you need to ask is if you would be permitted to have this played during the processional. A few parishes I have freelanced in will not permit a Marian composition played anywhere except during the Presentation to the Blessed Mother OR if the wedding is taking place during a Marian month. Were you planning on having it sung or as an instrumental? Another thing to be aware of… although it is not as played as the Schubert, this is still a common “Ave Maria” for weddings, so if you were looking for something different, this may not be the piece to play unless you and your fiance really love it.
  2. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Love the piece, but I think it might work better as a recessional. A lot of string groups use if for weddings, but I think it would still work nice on an organ.
youtube.com/watch?v=ZSebgWG-1YQ

This person had a short organ transcription of it:
youtube.com/watch?v=NIuj7TiZnnU
  1. I have never heard of having a hymn played for the Liturgy of the Word. Is that something you are allowed to add at your parish because you are having a ceremony without the mass and won’t have much music? I would suggest maybe just adding the hymn to your prelude lineup. As someone mentioned, “Morning Has Broken” is a hymn. The others are secular songs.
    … just realized that you probably meant the Responsorial Psalm… A hymn would be inappropriate for that part of the liturgy. You would need to use an appropriate psalm and whatever setting the musicians at your parish uses.
  2. Ode to Joy - Again, very nice, but I can safely say that this is not uncommon for use at weddings. So, if you want something different, then I would stay away from that.
  3. Meditation from Massenet’s “Thais”. I love this piece, but since it is from an opera, it is technically a secular piece of music. If it was considered “absolute music” like the Mahler or other organ/instrumental works with no secular or sacred connotation, I’d totally say go for it. That said, I have seen this listed on some wedding music reps at parishes.
Some ideas and suggestions I have not seen often at weddings (and I sing at least one wedding almost every weekend from mid-April through December.)
  • Nulla in mundo pax sincera, 1st movement - Vivaldi. In the 10+ years I have sung for weddings, I have only done this twice. It works better for a string quartet who knows what they are doing. I love this piece, although I do not know where you could place this as you are not having a mass.
youtube.com/watch?v=JFDFcOp-5fM

Translation: In this world there is no honest peace
free from bitterness; pure and true (i.e. peace)
sweet Jesus, lies in Thee.

Amidst punishment and torment
lives the contented soul,
chaste love its only hope.
  • Zadok the Priest - Handel
    Most people don’t have choirs for weddings, but if by chance you are, I think this was so powerful, especially when you wait for the bride to process down when the chorus comes in.
youtube.com/watch?v=g0jIU8Q7FW4&feature=related

I did find an organ transcription of it. He plays it a little too hard when the chorus part come in, but I think if it wasn’t played as hard, it would sound beautiful.

youtube.com/watch?v=3hmvLprIwq8
  • Laudate Dominum (Solemn Vespers) - Mozart Can be done without the choir with it played just as an instrumental or you can use a version which has the choral part abridged. My husband and I had this done as a second communion piece when we were married. It’s not commonly done. I suggest it to my couples because my expertise is singing Mozart, along with music from the Classical period in general, but most of the time, a lot of parishes either don’t suggest it for weddings because they don’t think you can do it without the choir or they don’t have it in their repertoire.
youtube.com/watch?v=mabt7GI1FuI
 
What we did for our wedding. Feel free to take from here. Most of our music was choral, but some can still be done as solos.

We are both musicians and music lovers, so we took a lot of time. We were also very fortunate the choir sang for our wedding, so we had more to choose from in terms of repertoire.

Prelude: Mix of organ instrumental and choral works, two of which included Palestrina’s “Sicut Cervus” (one of my requests) and Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus”. I let the director choose everything else.

youtube.com/watch?v=Nsw1kdLqfec

Processionals:
Bridal Party -
18th Variation from Goldberg Variations - J.S. Bach (The organist took it slow and it was so beautiful to hear all of the nuances in the music that you tend to miss when Bach is played fast. I can’t find anything on YouTube that represents how it was heard at the wedding)

Bride -
O God Beyond All Praising (organ instrumental) - G. Holst It’s my favorite hymn and makes me cry whenever I hear it or sing it. This uses the trumpet and organ. If we could have afforded it, we would have hired a trumpet player as well, since my father used to play it and we love the sound.
youtube.com/watch?v=iLV_bJmC-w8&feature=related

Palestrina - Missa Aeterna Christi in Munera (Kyrie and Gloria)
youtube.com/watch?v=OhXCZ29pb9E

Offertory - “A New Commandment” - Thomas Tallis Starts at 2:20 mark, although we almost went with “If Ye Love Me”.
youtube.com/watch?v=yxfsAEqsebo

Chants - Sanctus, Mortem Tuam, Pater Noster; Amen was from the Danish Mass with choral expansion by Victoria.

Agnus Dei - Missa Aeterna Christi in Munera
youtube.com/watch?v=WdSAIUX-fbg

Communion -
  1. Ave Verum Corpus - Gabriel Faure (can easily be done just with two voices)
    youtube.com/watch?v=WCELV_BnRnc&feature=related
  2. Laudate Dominum - Mozart
Blessed Mother -
Ave Maria - Gabriel Faure (I chose this because I absolutely adore Faure and also because I had sung the Schubert and Bach/Gounod too many times for weddings. I had my former voice teacher sing it as a solo rather than the choir.)
youtube.com/watch?v=dk6cLqUnTUQ&feature=related

Recessional -
Fugue in D-Major - Bach (There are so many different ones and I couldn’t find the one we had on YouTube. It’s NOT from the Well-Tempered Clavier)
 
Sarabande said:
  • Zadok the Priest - Handel
    Most people don’t have choirs for weddings, but if by chance you are, I think this was so powerful, especially when you wait for the bride to process down when the chorus comes in.
youtube.com/watch?v=g0jIU8Q7FW4&feature=related

I did find an organ transcription of it. He plays it a little too hard when the chorus part come in, but I think if it wasn’t played as hard, it would sound beautiful.

youtube.com/watch?v=3hmvLprIwq8
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Really good suggestion. I’ve also heard it from Frederik and Mary of Denmark’s wedding several years back. Not sure that’s allowed at a Catholic wedding. On the other hand, it also reminds me of English Premier Football. LOL

Good thing we have a year to decide on music but good to think about it now. I’m also planning to participate in choir so I sneak a peek of the song list. :thankyou:
 
BeeRod said:
Really good suggestion. I’ve also heard it from Frederik and Mary of Denmark’s wedding several years back. Not sure that’s allowed at a Catholic wedding. On the other hand, it also reminds me of English Premier Football. LOL

Good thing we have a year to decide on music but good to think about it now. I’m also planning to participate in choir so I sneak a peek of the song list. :thankyou:
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LOL!

The text is taken from 1 Kings, so it’s really not much different than taking a piece like the Queen of Sheba which is from his sacred oratorio “Solomon”. It’s not part of an opera or ballet like “Thais”. Coincidentally, the text for Zadock the Priest is also in regards to the annointing of Solomon. I can see it not being encouraged as it says “God save the King,” etc. since it was a coronation anthem used for their liturgy and the annointing. I read that the text was used for every English monarch since the 900s. But if it is used just as an organ instrumental, it would make better sense. But, yes, you’d have to check with the parish and if it is even on the repertoire list.

That said, if we wanted to be very strict with the music choices, we wouldn’t take anything from the sacred oratorios either because they were not composed for liturgy. Some parishes are like that, so you always have to double check.

I remember hearing it for the first time at a choir concert at my university. My now husband and I were not expecting the choir to come in that powerfully. We looked at each other and were like, “Holy Moly! That is so gorgeous and awesome!!!”

Very nice that you will be joining the choir. It is important that if you are planning on hiring them, you use what is on their repertoire list. That’s the same for the organist.
 
hcmusicguy said:
Here is what my wife and I had at our wedding this past June:

Prelude: Trumpet Minuet (Hollins); “Adagio” from Organ Sonata No. 1 (Mendelssohn); Fanfare (Lemmens); Cantilene Nuptiale (Dubois); Laudate Dominum (Mozart)

Processional: “March” from Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day (Handel)

Entrance Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King

Kyrie: “An English Mass,” (Rev. Thomas Reardon, 1963)

Gloria: Mass for a Servant Church (Guimont)

Psalm: A setting of Ps. 104 that I wrote.

Gospel Acclamation: Mass of Remembrance (Haugen)

Devotion to the Madonna: Ave Maria (Gounod)

Offertory Hymn: Lord of All Hopefulness

Sanctus/Agnus Dei: “An English Mass” (Reardon, 1963)
Memorial Acclamation/Amen: ICEL chant

Communion Hymn: Eat This Bread (Taize)
Communion Meditation: Panis Angelicus (Franck)

Recessional: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 (Widor)
Click to expand...
Beautiful selections and can definitely tell you put a lot of thought into it!!! Congratulations on your recent marriage, too!!! 🙂
hcmusicguy said:
Obviously this is a bit more involved than most people ask for, but my wife and I have both been involved in church music for many years (me professionally). Also some of our selections are a little beyond what many average parish organists are capable of. Our musicians consisted of an organist (we both decided early on that we wanted organ only, no piano), and a small choir of church music friends and colleagues.
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You and your wife sound like my husband and I, except I’m the one who works professionally as a musician and not the other way around. Yet, he is a very good musician and good composer in his own right. We took a lot of time to plan the liturgy because it really is the most important part of the day. You and your wife and my husband and I were very fortunate that we could have a choir. It really does add to the liturgy.

So many times, it’s only the bride who plans everything, including the liturgy, so it was very nice to have my husband wanting to be involved in the liturgy planning. Whenever I work with bridal couples I always tell them to go with the repertoire of the instrumentalists, unless you know them to be willing and able to learn new works.
hcmusicguy said:
that, above all, you and your future spouse are there to make a covenant to one another and to worship the Lord. Not to appease the musical tastes of your guests. Best of luck to both of you!
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This is the most important piece of advice. 👍 Don’t worry about what your guests want and like in regards to the music for the liturgy and the sacrament. That is what the reception is for.
 
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