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Wedding Music
A wedding without music is
like a cake without
icing - it's incomplete. The right music helps to create the
mood of solemnity and joy important to a marriage ceremony,
no matter where it takes place. Music also adds a festive and
sentimental touch to a wedding reception.
The rules on wedding music vary according to the religious
faith and the individual clergyman, but there is one thing on
which all agree-secular music has no place at a religious
ceremony. Some churches insist that all music be in praise of
or a prayer to God. Others allow secular music to be played
but not sung. Still others permit selected pieces of secular
music if the bride insists, but do so reluctantly.
The familiar wedding marches-the ''Bridal Chorus'' from
Wagner's "Lohengrin'' ( popularly known as "Here Comes the
bride" and the wedding march from Mendelssohn's "Midsummer
night's Dream''-are both secular music. According
to some music authorities, they are trite, undistinguished
works which owe much of their popularity to Hollywood.
Others object to their context in the works from which they
are taken. The "bridal Chorus'' is sung after the doomed
wedding of Elsa and Lohengrin, while the Mendelssohn
march accompanies the clowning of Bottom and Flute. Even
those who are unfamiliar with the original works may find,
when they hear the organ play ''Here Comes the bride" that
their minds supply the words, ''big, fat and wide".
Despite all the objections, the wedding marches continue
to be played. Many brides are unaware of the wealth of
beautiful, appropriate music available. A1l might do well to
solicit the advice and suggestions of the church organist or
choir director (who will probably have to approve your
choice of music in any event) .
MUSIC FOR PROTESTANT WEDDINGS
At a formal church wedding, it's customary to have a
recital of organ music starting about thirty minutes before the
ceremony. This music is usually played softly, but should not
be monotonous in mood or tone. Among the many suitable
feces you might want to consider are: "Adagio,'' ''Sheep May
Safely graze", and ''Sleepers Awake'' by Bach, ''Adagio in E
from Violin Sonata'' and "Air'' by Handel, ''Prelude Number Two'' by Mendelssohn, and "My Jesus Calls to Me'' by
Brahms.
A choir ( which may or may not lead the processional) is
permitted in many Protestant churches. but vocal solos are
more usual. The permission of the minister is, of course,
required for any vocal music. Some clergymen feel that a
solo-especially one as dramatic as Malotte's ''Lord's Prayer''
-is more in the line of entertainment than worship. Others
allow solos during the pre-wedding recital, but consider any
music played during the actual service to be an intrusion
upon the solemnity of the marriage ceremony Itself. Such old
favorites as "0 Promise Me '' "Be cause '' "I Love You Truly''
and ''Through the Years'' are stall sung at some Protestant
weddings, but their secular and sentimental nature is really
mole suitable for a reception.
Processional music should be joyous and triumphal, but it
needn't be in march tempo since the wedding party walks at a
natural pace. A number of hymns have organ arrangements
which meet the requirements beautifully. Among the most
widely recommended selections for processionals are
Purcell's "Voluntary'' and "Trumpet Tunes. Other good
Voices are Franck's "'Fantasie in C,'' Bach's ''Sinfonia'' from
''Wedding Cantata,'' and Brahms' "St Anthony Chorale''
from variations on a Theme by Haydn '' You may also want
to consider "Praise, My Soul, the King of heaven's" the
processional hymn chosen by Queen Elizabeth for her Westminster
Abbey wedding in 1947.
Many of the pieces suggested for the wedding processional
are suitable for the recessional, as well. Also excellent are
Handel's "Allegro'' Purcell's ''Bell symphonys" and Marcello's psalm 19.:' Your organist will probably be able to suggest
many others.
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MUSIC FOR CATHOLIC WEDDINGS
Secular music of all kinds-including the usual wedding
marches-is prohibited in most Catholic churches. Liturgical
music and the hymns sung at regular Masses are the general
rule. A choir sometimes sings the music at a high Mass, but
this is entirely optional Solos are usually permitted at
appropriate times before and during the ceremony. In addition
to the many versions of the "Ave Maria" you might want
to consider Franck's "Panis Angelicus'' Mozart's ''Ave
Verum,'' or Ravello's "Deo Gratias.'' The processional and
recessional pieces recommended for Protestant weddings are
also generally acceptable.
MUSIC FOR JEWISH WEDDINGS
Although instrumental music has been an essential part of
Jewish weddings for centuries, there was never any music
specifically created for this purpose. Contemporary Jewish
musicians have attempted to fill this void, but their compositions
have not gained full acceptance and popularity as yet.
The wedding marches are permitted at many Reform
weddings, but Orthodox and Conservative rabbis generally
frown upon their use.
MUSIC FOR WEDDING RECEPTIONS
Whether you plan to have dancing or not, you'll probably
want to have some kind of music at your wedding reception-even
if it's only from a phonograph. You may have a pianist playing in the background, an accordionist circulating
among the guests, a string trio in the corner, or a small
orchestra on a raised platform. You may also have a soloist
singing some of your favorite sentimental ballads, if you wish.
Almost any popular tunes or old standards are appropriate
at a wedding reception, but jazz and rock 'n' roll are not in the
best taste. It's advisable to give the musicians a list of
your favorites in advance. If you're fond of "Here Comes the
bride" have them play it as you and your groom enter the
room. Also be sure to specify what ( if anything) you want
played while you cut the cake. Otherwise, the musicians may
lay "The Bride Cuts the Cake'' (to the tune of "Farmer in the Dell" whether you want it or not.
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