Wedding Music Where Do I Start
Patrick Murphy
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
|
