Wedding Music: Where do I Start by Patrick Murphy |
| Posted on Nov 24 2007 |
Selecting the "right" music for your wedding can be an overwhelming task. What pieces will sound the best? How many songs do I need? What needs music in my ceremony? How many people should be in on this decision? Help! These are questions brides ask and fret over once the decision to get married is made. There are a number of resources for wedding music. There are CD's of just wedding music at stores where you could get ideas for pieces of music for your ceremony. Libraries also carry many different collections of CD's that you could listen to and get some ideas.
In the midst of this situation, you should ask the question "Who will be the musician or musicians for this task?" Both of these questions go together and can make the process pleasurable or painful. The best place to start is to decide what style of music you want for the ceremony. Once you decide the style, then you can seek the proper musicians for the task.
The style of the music for the wedding will help you decide whether to use solo organ or piano or an ensemble of instruments. The most traditional wedding music instrument is the solo organ. In the last fifteen years, brides have branched out and used many other groupings of instruments very effectively to perform a broad range of styles that fit their taste and needs. For instance, if you wanted a quiet, simple style, you could use a solo harp. This instrument would provide a delicate sound that would not be oppressive but would permeate the room with gentle music. Another quiet, but different texture would be a string quartet consisting of two violins, viola, and a cello. This configuration would give you more flexibility on the repertoire and could handle both the gentle as well as aggressive pieces. Then on the other end of the spectrum, you could use a solo trumpet with pipe organ (If the church had one.) for a grand or bold style. Another combination is that of a piano with a solo violin. This duet provides the elegant sound of strings, in combination with the rhythm and harmony of a piano. The styles and repertoire for this configuration of instruments is practically limitless.
Once you have chosen the style and thought through the instrumentation, then you could begin to add the pieces of music that would be effective for the instruments you have chosen.
The Prelude should begin as soon as the ushers are ready to seat guests. This music is usually slower and more reserved or quiet. Music from Baroque to Classical to contemporary love songs could fit well into this time of the seating of the guests.
The seating of the grandmothers and mothers. This could range from a family favorite to Ave Maria.
The Processional: The bridal party enters with music of slow to medium tempo. Pieces for this part of the service range from Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring or Pachelbel's Canon to a soft love song.
The Bride's entrance: There is really no particular piece that is right. You have to decide. Some brides have made huge entrances with Trumpet Tune or Trumpet Voluntary, and some have entered with a stunning quiet rendition of "Somewhere in Time". Of course, you could always use the traditional Bridal Chorus by R. Wagner.
The Ceremony: It is also good to have music for parts of the ceremony which have "down time" such as the following: unity candle, presentation of roses, gifts to the Virgin Mary, communion, even readings. This can be accomplished by using many different slower, quieter pieces. A good pianist can also just improvise under that time on the piano.
The Recessional: This music is usually quick tempo big, joyful piece such as Beethoven's Ode to Joy or Handel's Hornpipe from the Water Music. Traditional music for this is called the Wedding March by F. Mendelssohn.
The Postlude: Music of many different styles usually up-tempo. This music should continue until all the guests are released.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me, Patrick Murphy at patrickbmurphy@aol.com. I have been performing weddings since 1975 and I would be glad to offer advice from my experience.
Patrick Murphy
Foland and Murphy Wedding Music
765-426-5964
patrickbmurphy@aol.com
