The Famous Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner from his Romantic Opera Lohengrin composed in 1848. Also known as the Wedding March or simply as - Here comes the Bride. This well known wedding processional march is played here on Technics electronic PR60 Keyboard in synthesised church organ mode by Transgendered Musician - Denise Hewitt - wearing full white lace wedding costume, tiara and veil. This wonderful chorus was played at the Royal Wedding Service of British Princess Victoria (eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert) and the Prussian Prince Frederick William in 1858. In Lohengrin, the wedding party sing: Faithfully guided, draw near to where the blessing of love shall preserve you! Triumphant courage, the reward of love, joins you in faith as the happiest of couples! Champion of virtue, proceed! Jewel of youth, proceed! Flee now the splendour of the wedding feast, may the delights of the heart be yours! This sweet-smelling room, decked for love, now takes you in, away from the splendour. Faithfully guided, draw now near to where the blessing of love shall preserve you! Triumphant courage, love so pure, joins you in faith as the happiest of couples!
Showing posts with label Wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wedding Songs - Building the Perfect Playlist
Setting your Wedding's Special Moments to Music
Behind every good wedding is a great soundtrack, one that can move guests to dance, to dine and sometimes, even to cry. Choosing the right melody for every moment, from the ceremony prelude and processional to the cocktail hour and couple's departure, can create a romantic, festive or even fun atmosphere for the event. Though often overlooked, music is an important and individual detail that can serve to truly distinguish your special day. So, here are a few hints on how to select the best songs for your bridal experience.
The Ceremony
Despite any notions that they many have about being "different," most brides still lean towards tradition when it come to selecting the wedding songs for their ceremony. This means that much of the wedding's music is also likely to be a little more standard. For this reason, classics like "The Wedding March" by Mendelssohn will never fall out of fashion. Some variation still occurs however, often caused by cultural, personal or religious preference. Among the most common selections though, are these contemporary favorites and traditional tunes:
Prelude (played just prior to the ceremony):
"Clair de Lune" - Claude Debussy
"Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey (instrumental)
"Four Seasons" - Antonio Vivaldi
Processional (played as the bridal party enters and proceeds down the aisle):
"Bridal Chorus" - Richard Wagner
"Canon in D" - Johann Pachelbel
"Mahtovu" (Jewish)
Interlude (played during any transitional moments in the ceremony with optional music):
"Ave Maria" - Franz Schubert
"The Lord's Prayer" - Ken Davies
"You Raise Me Up" - Josh Groban
Special Ceremony (played during any special ceremonies included in the wedding, such as the Unity Candle):
"Candle on the Water" (from Disney's Pete's Dragon") - Helen Reddy
"The Gift" - Jim Brickman
"The Rose" - Bette Midler
Recessional (played at the conclusion of the ceremony as the couple and bridal party depart):
"Hornpipe" (Water Music) - George Frideric Handel
"Ode to Joy" - Ludwig van Beethoven
"Wedding March" - Felix Mendelssohn
Postlude (played after the recessional for any remaining guests to enjoy as they depart):
"Allegro Maestoso for Organ in C Major" - Felix Mendelssohn
"Beauty and the Beast" - Angela Lansbury
"Trumpet Voluntary" - Jeremiah Clarke
The Reception
When it comes to selecting songs for a reception, there is an almost endless array of choices. However, much like any other article of decor, the reception music is usually a reflection of the bridal couple's unique sense of creativity and style. Depending on the wedding's theme, there may be obvious options for everything from background ballads to show-stopping swing numbers. Sticking to a particular musical style can help to narrow the focus, but should never be done to the exclusion of classic crowd pleasers like "The Hokey Pokey" or "Shout." Go ahead, dare to be different, but remember, these favorites are always appropriate too:
Cocktail Hour
"Days of Wine and Roses" - Andy Williams
"Escape" (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
"Margaritaville" - Jimmy Buffet
Reception Entrance (wedding party)
"All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" - Hank Williams, Jr.
"Let's Get It Started" - Black Eyed Peas
"Alabama Jubilee" (Hail, Hail, the Gang's All here - Fred Astaire
Bride and Groom's First Dance
"Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley
"Here and Now" - Luther Vandross
"I Cross My Heart" - George Strait
Father / Daughter Dance
"Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
"I Loved Her First" - Heartland
"My Girl" - The Temptations
Mother / Son Dance
"Have I Told You Lately" - Rod Stewart
"I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack
"In My Life" - The Beatles
Dinner Hour
"Always" - Frank Sinatra
"Forever and Ever, Amen" - Randy Travis
"The Chapel of Love" - Dixie Cups
Cake Cutting
"Cuts Like a Knife" - Bryan Adams
"Eat It" - Weird Al Yankovic
"Sweetest Thing" - U2
Bouquet Toss
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper
"It's Raining Men" - The Weather Girls
"Single Ladies" (Put a Ring on It) - Beyonce
Garter Toss
"Fever" - Peggy Lee
"I Know What Boys Like" - The Waitresses
"She's Got Legs" - ZZ Top
Reception Departure (couple)
"Bye, Bye, Bye" - 'N Sync
"Happy Trails" - Roy Rogers
"See You Later, Alligator" - Bill Hailey and His Comets
Last Dance of the Evening
"At Last" - Etta James
"I've had the Time of My Life" - Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
"What a Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Wedding March Music
Wedding march music refers to the music played for the processional (entrance of the bride) and the recessional (exit of the bride and groom following the ceremony).
The processional has typically been Richard Wagner's melody from "Lohengrin." Known as "Here Comes the Bride," this tune is nearly synonymous with walking down the aisle and is wildly popular throughout the western world with a few exceptions...
Jewish weddings - Wagner was a self-proclaimed anti-semite
Catholic weddings - this music is secular in nature
Lutheran weddings - pagan themes in Wagner's operas
In addition, the opera "Lohengrin" depicted the marriage of Elsa and Lohengrin, a union that failed almost immediately. Who would want that sentiment played at their wedding? Millions of brides do, though, obviously not knowing the full origins of this music.
The wedding march music for the recessional is often Felix Mendelssohn's Wedding March from his incidental music for Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream. Here again, if brides knew the origins of the music, they would never consider using it. The play was first performed in Potsdam in 1842, and 16 years later in 1858, the march was performed for a royal wedding as the recessional for the marriage of princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, the oldest child of Queen Victoria, when she married Frederick William IV of Prussia. These royals set the standard for brides for the next 150 years.
If you want to break with tradition, there are many other fabulous pieces that can accompany your walk up and down the wedding aisle...
Processional music...
Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clark - This is one of the most popular non-Here Come the Bride processionals. It's even more majestic when played by a trumpet with organ.
Trumpet Voluntary by Henry Purcell, also known as The Prince of Denmark's March
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach - This is nice as a pre-processional for the seating of the mothers and entrance of the bridesmaids, followed by the Trumpet Voluntary.
Vivaldi "Spring" from The Four Seasons
Recessional music...
Widor's Toccata from Symphony No.5
Mouret Rondeau - Also known as the theme from PBS TV's Masterpiece Theater.
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
La Rejouissance from Royal Fireworks Music by G.F. Handel
This is just a short list, but stately, majestic marches and fanfares work well for both processing and recessing. Adding in a trumpet, brass quintet, or string quartet can make the music even more elegant and joyous.
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