Wedding Music Selections

[benedictgal]

I am in the process of planning my cousin’s wedding, which is about three weeks ago. So far, I have this:

Processional: Jesu, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Psalm (Spanish) Dichoso el que teme al Senor
Gospel Acclamation Setting 1 from GIA
Offertory: Panis Angelicus
Communion: Donde Hay Caridad y Amor
Meditation: Ave Maria
Recessional: Sing With all the Saints in Glory

The readings are from the Song of Songs, Revelation and St. John’s account of the Wedding at Cana.

I found out that the groom’s family does not speak English, so I told my cousin that we needed to make adjustments. Her future mother-in-law made comments that she did not understand the games at the showers because they were in Englsih. Thus, the first reading and the responsorial psalm will be in Spanish. I have made provisions in the wedding booklet to include translations of the readings. If the readings are proclaimed in Spanish, then, I will put them in English and vice-versa.

I spoke to the Cathedral organist and gave him the selections, adding that I wanted some sort of prelude. The prelude I chose was the Litany of the Saints. He thought that the selections were a bit strange, especially the recessional. He found my pick of the Litany rather odd as well, as did the Cathedral’s former wedding coordinator. Of course, her suggestion was Gather Us In, which I quickly tanked and sank.

The other issue comes in the parts of the Mass. My parochial vicar will be the celebrant and he is not exactly a fan of doing this for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I would love to have the cantor do the parts of the Mass in Latin (simple) and just place these in the booklet. If that is not possible, then, my default setting will be A Community Mass by Proulx, which is probably the most suitable. I am trying to be considerate of the groom’s family, but, I also want to take into account what Pope Benedict wrote in Sacramentum Caritatis.

When I was directing liturgy at the Cathedral, I worked with this particular organist. I told him that I wanted a liturgically correct Mass.

 

[benedictgal]

Actually, what I meant to say is that the wedding is three weeks from now. Anyhow, I am trying to avoid the stereotypical wedding stuff and make it as liturgically beautiful as possible.

My friend the wedding coordinator panned my selection of the Litany of the Saints and the organist is not too keen on Sing With all The Saints in Glory. Someone else told me that the placements of the Panis Angelicus and the Ave Maria were rather odd.

Would it really be that odd to have the Litany of the Saints as the prelude?

 

[msugeotech]

I don’t see Amazing Grace on the list…

 

[benedictgal]

I don’t see Amazing Grace on the list…

I’m afraid that the only time you will find “Amazing Grace” associated with me is when I spritz it on as my perfume.

In all seriousness, this has gotten somewhat complicated. While there are no major issues with the Liturgy of the Word being bilingual, I do not believe my parochial vicar is too keen on having the Liturgy of the Eucharist bilingual. So, I am going between Proulx and simple Latin chant. It is going to be interesting.

 

[Phemie]

I’m sorry, Benedictgal, but I too find your choice of prelude and recessional a bit odd. There’s wanting a liturgically beautiful celebration and one that feels ‘weird’ to everyone but you.

The post Communion hymn is supposed to be congregational per the GIRM so Ave Maria isn’t a great choice. Aren’t there ‘marriage’ choices that you can use?

I’d use Rutter’s “For the Beauty of the Earth” somewhere, and “O Perfect Love” seems quite appropriate.

 

[benedictgal]

I’m sorry, Benedictgal, but I too find your choice of prelude and recessional a bit odd. There’s wanting a liturgically beautiful celebration and one that feels ‘weird’ to everyone but you.

The post Communion hymn is supposed to be congregational per the GIRM so Ave Maria isn’t a great choice. Aren’t there ‘marriage’ choices that you can use?

I’d use Rutter’s “For the Beauty of the Earth” somewhere, and “O Perfect Love” seems quite appropriate.

I can count on one hand the times when people have sung the meditation hymn at a wedding, let alone, sung at all. During this particular time, the bride is going to present a bouquet to the Blessed Mother. My cousin was fine with Sing with All the Saints in Glory as, I should have mentioned, is going to be instrumental.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

My wife is an organist and does a lot of weddings. [She is on the conservative side in choices] I asked her re:

. …
Processional: Jesu, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
. .
Meditation: Ave Maria
Recessional: Sing With all the Saints in Glory
…

She thinks they are great.

I didn’t ask re the rest since she does mostly English weddings.

 

[Through_Him]

I think Canon D for weddings, there are many selections would be a nice march in or out or both. I always like that instrumental.

I did see a couple sing a very lovely hymn at Mass one day. He sang the Italian and she followed each verse in english. It was just gorgeous and of course they had to time it and sing slower than normal. I believe they finished together in english. It was so nice.
You could have the Latin of Ave Maria and then have the Spanish followed each verse as there is a lot of pausing in that hymn. Of course I like the combo of man and woman.

Here is a combo of man and woman singing the hail Mary but not sure if you want to use that at a wedding.
kandle.ie/2008/12/07/musical-setting-of-hail-mary/

My niece at her wedding sang with her fiance’ but I don’t remember what they sang but they sang about three songs as they love music.

God bless they are fortunate to have you

 

[Sarabande]

I am in the process of planning my cousin’s wedding, which is about three weeks ago. So far, I have this:

Processional: Jesu, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
Psalm (Spanish) Dichoso el que teme al Senor
Gospel Acclamation Setting 1 from GIA
Offertory: Panis Angelicus
Communion: Donde Hay Caridad y Amor
Meditation: Ave Maria
Recessional: Sing With all the Saints in Glory

Hi Benedictgal! I’m not familiar with the Spanish hymn for communion, but I think that the rest of the choices for the wedding mass is great.

The Bach “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is used often as a processional in most of the Catholic weddings I’m hired to do and I’m a musician for weddings in a few states and various dioceses. The piece has either been sung or done as an instrumental.
Various settings of “Panis Angelicus” is fine for either the Offertory or during Communion, and again, I’ve done many weddings in which a setting of “Panis Angelicus” has been used for either the offertory or communion.

A meditation of “Ave Maria” for after communion is also common in the churches I’ve cantored - for weddings (whether or not there is a presentation to the Blessed Mother) or for funerals or other special masses. Almost every bride I’ve worked for who does the Presentation to the Blessed Mother, always chooses a setting of the “Ave Maria”. There was only one bride I worked for who didn’t use an “Ave Maria” setting. She chose, instead, “Hail Queen of Heaven” from the St. Gregory Hymnal.

Although I’ve never seen “Sing With All the Saints in Glory” as a wedding recessional, it doesn’t mean it can’t be or shouldn’t be done. I think it is appropriate and if it is something your cousin wants, why shouldn’t it be done? It’s not like it is a secular piece of music like the Mendelssohn “Wedding March”.

I don’t understand why anyone at the church would be giving a hard time about these choices. Most of them were very common choices, but I suppose it depends on the area/parish/diocese. I guess they are works which are not done often at that church? Do you know if the organist can play them well?

For the Litany of Saints as a prelude, I don’t know which one you are referring to. I’ve only chanted the Litany of Saints as a cantor for a bishop’s ordination during the actual mass and other special masses - not as a prelude, though. I’m not sure if it is appropriate or not to use a prelude.

 

[Sarabande]

Benedictgal,

Technically, you should not sing a Marian piece during Communion/Meditation. I like to keep the Marian pieces at the Offertory. I would sing the Panis Angelicus at Communion, and the Ave Maria at Offertory. (Also, which Ave Maria is this? Schubert, Bach-Gounod, etc…?)

As a Recessional, what about “Joyful, Joyful” ? Or is that one of the stereotypical wedding pieces? Perhaps a nice instrumental piece? Just offering my suggestions…

God bless you for helping with your cousin’s wedding!

Benedictgal mentioned in one of the posts that the “Ave Maria” is being used as a presentation to the Blessed Mother.

At least in my area, “Joyful, Joyful” (Ode to Joy) is a common recessional, although nice. At the same time, we’ve actually sung the text of “Sing With All the Saints in Glory” set to the “Ode to Joy” melody, so I’m not sure which melody will be used.

 

[ac_claire]

Sounds good, benedictgal. And please keep the Ave Maria right where it is! It’s my favorite part of the whole program.

 

[PacoG]

I’m just a bachelor so shoot me down if it’s a dumb idea…as the prelude…At the Lamb’s High Feast.

 

[brotherhrolf]

I’m gonna probably get slammed on this. DW and I thirty plus years ago had arranged for a lutenist. MIL had apoplexy. Our recessional was the Agincourt Carol (played here on my cathedral’s Reuter). Our entire music selection was medieval/renaissance.

youtube.com/watch?v=IdmwH_I21xY

 

[benedictgal]

Benedictgal mentioned in one of the posts that the “Ave Maria” is being used as a presentation to the Blessed Mother.

At least in my area, “Joyful, Joyful” (Ode to Joy) is a common recessional, although nice. At the same time, we’ve actually sung the text of “Sing With All the Saints in Glory” set to the “Ode to Joy” melody, so I’m not sure which melody will be used.

Yes, it is the Ode to Joy melody. It is quite joyful, for obvious reasons, and I think that it sounds a lot better than what is normally played. I suppose you and Phemie are right, the Litany does sound strange. I just wanted something as a prelude to keep the vandals (guests) from making a lot of noise and get them prayerful. I ahve seen too many weddings where the noise beforehand ruins the effect.

 

[baltobetsy]

get them prayerful.

Not gonna happen.

We had “All Creatures of Our God and King” for a recessional. I also like “Now Thank We All Our God,” which we did not have sung, but played in the wonderful organ setting by Sigfried Karg-Elert as the postlude.

Another beautiful hymn we included was, “God Who Gives To Life Its Goodness,” with the tune, “Abbott’s Leigh.” It’s a wonderful text that applies beautifully to marriage.

Betsy

 

[CatholicZ09]

For the recessional, how about

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise - In Verse 2 it explains what happened at Cana.

(The hymn is set to the tune of “Salzburg” aka “At the Lamb’s High Feast”

Hear Us Now, Our God and Father - Good wedding song that is all about sending God’s graces on the married couple.

(The hymn is set to the tune of “Hyfrydol” aka “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus”

Now Thank We All Our God - Can’t go wrong with this one

Indeed, when I read “Sing With All The Saints In Glory” it seamed that it would be in better use for a funeral.

Just a few suggestions.

EDIT: What would you think about “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”?

 

[baltobetsy]

Indeed, when I read “Sing With All The Saints In Glory” it seamed that it would be in better use for a funeral.

I do that frequently for funerals.

Betsy

 

[CatholicZ09]

I do that frequently for funerals.

Betsy

It’s also a good choice for All Saints Day

 

[Sarabande]

Yes, it is the Ode to Joy melody. It is quite joyful, for obvious reasons, and I think that it sounds a lot better than what is normally played.

Yes, I agree. The melody is very joyous and I think it works very well.

I suppose you and Phemie are right, the Litany does sound strange. I just wanted something as a prelude to keep the vandals (guests) from making a lot of noise and get them prayerful. I ahve seen too many weddings where the noise beforehand ruins the effect.

Now, that is a little tricky. It all depends on the guests. When we were married, I really thought that my family would be super-loquacious, because that is how they are in almost every family event. I wasn’t there until about 10 minutes prior to the start of the mass, but from what I was told, our families were actually very respectful. It seems as if the size and the beauty of the cathedral where we were married placed them in “awe” and we had a choir singing sacred motets mostly from the Renaissance and Classical periods, so it turns out many of them were listening to the choir since they never experienced that kind of sacred music in church.

I have sometimes been asked to sing during the prelude. Many times, once we begin to sing or when there is another solo instrument playing with the organ, etc., there will be a hush to the room. BUT there are always those weddings in which the guests will just keep talking - and not just talk. They will get LOUDER if any kind of music is playing. You know your family best. The atmosphere of the cathedral where your cousin is getting married might induce them to be more respectful and quiet, though.

What kind of voice is the cantor? I might be able to suggest some nice prelude music for her/him to sing, which, in my experience, has been able to hush the guests.

 

[Sarabande]

P.S. I forgot to mention that I loved your idea of using the Latin mass parts. We had that at our wedding, and I’ve actually been asked to do them at various wedding masses, as well. Often times, the priest celebrating will be happy to have them chanted and will chant along.