Wedding music question

[felicity07]

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m getting married in November The problem I am having at the moment is finding good vocal wedding music.

My church doesn’t have an organist-or even a pianist anymore-it is a small choir that has a few people playing guitar. I believe for the wedding that it will be about three female voices, about two strong male voices, and a couple weaker male voices. Typically they don’t sing in SATB or anything, just in unison with the females an octave higher.

So, my problem is that I can’t seem to find much in the way of vocal wedding music that sounds good with just guitar but I’m sure it’s out there. Any suggestions?

 

[coyotekate77]

Well, my first suggestion would be to hire somebody ‘outside’.

If that can’t be done, another suggestion would be for them to do something ‘a capella’. No guitars. Perhaps some ‘chant’ (which is usually ‘unison’ or ‘one voice’). Are you having a full nuptial Mass? You do not have to have a huge ‘setting’ for the processional. In fact, the choir could ‘chant’ the Entrance Antiphon. . .and repeat while you walk up the aisle. They could then use the ‘regular Mass settings’ to sing the Kyrie, the Gloria, Sanctus, etc. (even do one of the easier Latin settings). Again, they can ‘chant’ the Offertory hymn or sing (unison) Pange Lingua. No need to have any ‘music’ at communion, either; and then after communion, chant the Communion antiphon. . .and finish up with either the chanted Te Deum or else a nice benediction type song like Tantum Ergo.

All nice ‘unison’ music, yet with enough ‘mystery’ (if the Latin is used) yet familiarity (tunes) to be challenging enough to be enjoyable to sing and hear, yet not too complicated.

 

[felicity07]

thank you for the suggestions. I can’t hire somebody “outside” because I am close to these people personally since I sing with them at general mass. It’s not a full nuptial mass though, I should’ve mentioned that in the first post

 

[coyotekate77]

Ah. Then what about the hymns mentioned as possible ‘entrance’ and ‘recessional’ along with a chanted ‘response’ between the readings if you’re having any particular gospel or epistle read before the vows, etc?

Could do them in English, too: The Te Deum: You are God, We Praise You for the recessional. . .often used at the end of British royal coronations and weddings, veddy proper! And for the entrance, something like Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring? (that one could actually be done with the guitar and sound quite pretty).

 

[felicity07]

Thanks! I’ll definitely have to look into those. I love Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring! I totally forgot about it

 

[coyotekate77]

Jesu is one of my favorites, too, and I think it makes a nice entrance for a bride. And if the guitar player ‘picks’ the tune (DA-da-DA-da-da-da-DA-da-da-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA) etc. it sounds very ‘lute’ like for the instrumental parts, and then can ‘strum’ quietly during the ‘sung’ bits.