Wedding Music help

[Sarabande]

Another idea: Let The Bright Seraphim - Handel

I did this last year for a wedding in which the bridal party and bride processed down the aisle. It was a short aisle, but using it for both worked very well. That particular wedding also used the Schubert “Deutsche Messe” and “Tu Virginum Corona” from Exsultate Jubilate (Mozart) for the Presentation to the Blessed Mother.

There are so many versions of the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei. . .how does one even begin to choose?

Choose what you like the most or from what the parish you are getting married at uses. Some parishes won’t give you a choice, though.

Another question is I didn’t realize there was an entrance hymn in addition to the bridal processional?

That is true, but in my experience, almost none of the weddings I have ever done includes a hymn in addition to the processional. Actually, I can honestly say, at all of the parishes I have ever freelanced in as a wedding cantor, I have never heard a hymn done in addition to the bridal processional. A hymn used as an actual bridal processional, yes, but not as an addition.

With a few of the priests I’ve talked to about it, they don’t see the need to include it because no one sings at weddings and a lot of priests don’t want to prolong the wedding liturgy any longer since most weddings start late and they have to be aware of confessions and the vigil mass start times. Anyway, those are the reasons I have been given.

 

[BeeRod]

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.

Good thing the woman at RCIA invited me to choir on Monday. Her husband works a block away from my house. I’ve heard the organist sing and it’s not pleasant in the ears (she sounds flat). But I haven’t heard the choir yet. In a way, I would love to alternate throughout: some piano, some organ, some choir. However, that might be expensive.

 

[Sarabande]

Good thing the woman at RCIA invited me to choir on Monday. Her husband works a block away from my house. I’ve heard the organist sing and it’s not pleasant in the ears (she sounds flat). But I haven’t heard the choir yet. In a way, I would love to alternate throughout: some piano, some organ, some choir. However, that might be expensive.

I don’t know what kind of church building you have, but a choir can sound different in the actual church than in the practice room, so be aware of that. A church building with good acoustics can be very “forgiving” even for a well-trained singer, instrumentalist, or choir which might make a flub. So I suggest also hearing them at mass some time. If people are flat, there really isn’t much you can do with that, except to be sure you sing on pitch.

If you don’t like the organist’s voice, don’t waste your money and hire her to sing. Just hire her to play the organ, if you like the way she plays.

A volunteer choir usually won’t sound like a professional one, but it doesn’t mean they won’t do well. The choir we had was all volunteer with some trained claassical musicians, but they sang very well beautiful motets, polyphony, chant, etc.

Budget is always a factor. If you have an organist who can play the piano equally well, you’ll be in luck. Some organists don’t play the piano as well in terms of technique. They can play all the notes, but they play the instrument like an organ. Similarly, a pianist can sometimes not play the organ well due to not having a good enough technique. Choirs can be expensive. We were fortunate that we knew the choir having sung with them for several years since our college days, so we didn’t have to pay anything. That said, depending on budget, it could be feasible to hire a vocal quartet. A duo could also be nice… either two women or a woman and a man.

I have always wanted to do this for a wedding, but most people tend to want to use their budget for other things in the wedding rather than an extra singer.

Vivaldi - Laudamus Te
youtube.com/watch?v=eLvECMpdHyc

 

[NSFrame]

We did “Prayer of St. Francis” as the offeratory hymn, and it is actually very appropriate for a wedding.

Ave Maria was for the seating of the mothers and that was really beautiful. (a must-have somewhere in your ceremony)

 

[BeeRod]

We did “Prayer of St. Francis” as the offeratory hymn, and it is actually very appropriate for a wedding.

Ave Maria was for the seating of the mothers and that was really beautiful. (a must-have somewhere in your ceremony)

I do want to use both “Prayer of St. Francis/Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace” and Ave Maria.

Interesting note from today’s Mass: my organist played secular music before Mass. She was playing an instrumental version of “All I Ask Of You” from Phantom of the Opera. She also played a nice variation of “Canon in D” before Mass as well. Since she conducts choir as well (we formally met after Mass), I know learn from here which songs are okay or not.

 

[Allegra]

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.

You will probably not be allowed to have John Lennon song at your wedding, however, if there is one that is meaningful to you, you could give it a place of honor at your reception.

 

[BeeRod]

You will probably not be allowed to have John Lennon song at your wedding, however, if there is one that is meaningful to you, you could give it a place of honor at your reception.

We’ll most likely play a Lennon song (either that, Woman, or Love) at our reception anyway. But we’ll do is add the line “grow old along with me the best is yet to be…” on our wedding program.

Note: Yes, I know it originally came from a poem by Robert Browning.

 

[hcmusicguy]

Interesting note from today’s Mass: my organist played secular music before Mass. She was playing an instrumental version of “All I Ask Of You” from Phantom of the Opera.

:bigyikes::bigyikes::bigyikes:

I’d be canned in a hurry if I started doing that.

 

[hcmusicguy]

We did “Prayer of St. Francis” as the offeratory hymn, and it is actually very appropriate for a wedding.

Good song, and definitely a good message for a wedding. However, we sang that hymn at my grandpa’s funeral in 1998, so for me that will always be a funeral song.

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

Eeeck
No Pachabell Cannon in D??? Sorry, this is my favorite piece … IMO it represents the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit dancing in harmony to balance justice and mercy allowing love to thrive. Music is mathematically complex and to have a round of music to continue as this piece does is mirracioulous.
Eeeck !!!

 

[BeeRod]

Eeeck
No Pachabell Cannon in D??? Sorry, this is my favorite piece … IMO it represents the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit dancing in harmony to balance justice and mercy allowing love to thrive. Music is mathematically complex and to have a round of music to continue as this piece does is mirracioulous.
Eeeck !!!

It’s just that 85% of the weddings I’ve been to or seen on TV was to Canon in D at some part of the ceremony. Love the music but I don’t want to be like every other bride. Same goes for Trumpet Voluntary.

 

[Giggly_Giraffe]

It’s just that 85% of the weddings I’ve been to or seen on TV was to Canon in D at some part of the ceremony. Love the music but I don’t want to be like every other bride. Same goes for Trumpet Voluntary.

I hear your desire for originality … But to me, a wedding without Canon in D is like a Mass without the Eucharist. Oh well, I’m sure with the love & thought you will put in your wedding it will be beautiful.

 

[thewanderer]

Have you thought of including Ubi Caritas? It is a both a very beautiful and meaningful song, and very fitting for a wedding as well.

youtube.com/watch?v=l1BTWCpEFRQ

Here are the lyrics in English:

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

 

[Sarabande]

Have you thought of including Ubi Caritas? It is a both a very beautiful and meaningful song, and very fitting for a wedding as well.

youtube.com/watch?v=l1BTWCpEFRQ

Here are the lyrics in English:

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

I absolutely love Durufle and what he did with the Ubi Caritas. This would be beautiful with a choir.

 

[BeeRod]

I absolutely love Durufle and what he did with the Ubi Caritas. This would be beautiful with a choir.

Listening to it with and without it on Youtube, it sounds better with a choir.

Question to everyone, for those outside of Mass, all you need is music for Prelude, Processional, LOTW, and Recessional? I was watching a wedding on YouTube that was outside of Mass and all I heard was music for only Prelude, Processional, and Recessional.

 

[Sarabande]

Ooo… I just thought of another piece. Cantate Dominum by Monteverdi. The choir I used to sing with sang this and it was one of my favorite pieces to do once a year at mass.

youtube.com/watch?v=5z-Gd_hOSnU

Text:
arvopart.org/composition_text.php?id=11

Ave Verum Corpus - William Byrd - Another one I loved singing in that choir
youtube.com/watch?v=vFZZMF7SRRo&feature=related

Biebl’s “Ave Maria” is beautiful. I’ve always loved Chanticleer’s version:
youtube.com/watch?v=9WSbq3TCcd0

Rachmaninoff’s “Ave Maria”
youtube.com/watch?v=wTH0pcu_t_8&feature=related

 

[Sarabande]

Listening to it with and without it on Youtube, it sounds better with a choir.

Durufle was known to compose such beautiful harmonies to the chants. Just take a listen to his Requiem and you’ll know what I mean. But even if you did want to do the Ubi Caritas just as a chant, you are right, it sounds better with a group of voices.

Question to everyone, for those outside of Mass, all you need is music for Prelude, Processional, LOTW, and Recessional? I was watching a wedding on YouTube that was outside of Mass and all I heard was music for only Prelude, Processional, and Recessional.

Yes, you would usually just have the prelude music, processionals, Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation and the Recessional and postlude music. BUT you can also include the Presentation to the Blessed Mother before the recessional. Some pastors at churches I have freelanced in would allow another “meditation” piece after the homily and before the vows if it was not a mass, but that is not really what you are supposed to do.

 

[Sarabande]

I hear your desire for originality … But to me, a wedding without Canon in D is like a Mass without the Eucharist. Oh well, I’m sure with the love & thought you will put in your wedding it will be beautiful.

I once sang for a wedding where the priest and the bride honestly thought the piece was called the “Taco Bell Canon”.

There is also a hymn set to the music. I can’t remember the title, but it was in the movie of “Ordinary People.”.

 

[Sarabande]

Good song, and definitely a good message for a wedding. However, we sang that hymn at my grandpa’s funeral in 1998, so for me that will always be a funeral song.

My parents had it at their wedding as well, but it is sung often at funerals, too. I feel that way for “On Eagles Wings”. Every once in a while, we’ll get that for a request, although they never follow through with it in the final choices. Usually, it’s because they see the other pieces of repertoire offered and change their minds or family members will tell them that it reminds them of Aunt Edna’s or Grandma Smith’s funerals. Although the same can be said for the Schubert “Ave Maria”. I’ve sung it at almost every Catholic funeral I’ve ever cantored for.

There is a modern composition of the the Prayer of St. Francis by Pote. It was originally for choir, but it’s often done completely as a solo for weddings.

youtube.com/watch?v=zLFF3wQPpq8

 

[BeeRod]

My parents had it at their wedding as well, but it is sung often at funerals, too. I feel that way for “On Eagles Wings”. Every once in a while, we’ll get that for a request, although they never follow through with it in the final choices. Usually, it’s because they see the other pieces of repertoire offered and change their minds or family members will tell them that it reminds them of Aunt Edna’s or Grandma Smith’s funerals. Although the same can be said for the Schubert “Ave Maria”. I’ve sung it at almost every Catholic funeral I’ve ever cantored for.

There is a modern composition of the the Prayer of St. Francis by Pote. It was originally for choir, but it’s often done completely as a solo for weddings.

youtube.com/watch?v=zLFF3wQPpq8

Really nice arrangement. As I wrote on the first page, I’ve thought of that song played during the ceremony. However, I didn’t know there’s a variation to it. But yes, every time I hear the original, I think of funerals especially Princess Diana’s.