Wedding Music
Introduction
The marriage liturgy is unique among the festivities of a wedding, and the music for it should suit its unique role. While the celebrations around it – engagement parties, the reception and honeymoon are significant parts of the celebration of a marriage, the liturgy is seen as the centre of the Christian celebration. Your exchange of vows is an act of public worship; you commit yourselves in the presence of the Church’s minister and the people of God. The vows, prayers, scripture readings, the giving and receiving of rings, the nuptial blessing – all these are for you, and everyone present, an expression of faith in God and in each other. In no other aspect of a wedding is this faith so clearly articulated and celebrated. The music chosen for the wedding liturgy is designed to support this expression of faith.
The Church of Our Lady & the English Martyrs has developed over the years a vibrant music department staffed by professional musicians with all the necessary experience to guide you through the choices of music for your wedding liturgy. A consultation meeting with the Director of Music is strongly recommended. This meeting will provide you with an opportunity to hear a selection of pieces, ask questions (best to prepare a list!) and work can begin on putting together the various components of the liturgy.
Before this meeting, it is worth being aware of some principals that that should always govern the choice of music for your wedding liturgy.
Framework/Musical parameters
When you select music that is in harmony with and in support of the texts, symbols and gestures of the wedding rite, the intent and message of the music becomes apparent. Music that ignores or conflicts with the liturgy cuts across it and sets up a series of mixed messages. For this reason, anything sung in church must be to a sacred (Christian) text. This is not to pass judgement on love songs, film themes, operatic choruses etc, but a basic realisation that they were composed for entertainment not for liturgical purposes. It is important to remember that the Marriage liturgy is one of a sequence of events that make up the whole of the Wedding Celebration. It is not therefore necessary that a favourite poem or song is included within the liturgy; these find a much more suitable home during the wedding reception.Know your congregation
When thinking about the music to be sung at your wedding, it is important to consider the make-up of your guests/congregation. Will there be many or a few? Will the congregation be made up of mostly Catholics, or largely members of other Christian communities? What ethnic backgrounds will be represented? What languages are spoken by your guests? All these are factors you need to consider, if for instance you choose a number of hymns and chants for the congregation to sing.Seasonal appropriateness
The Church’s liturgical calendar, with its various feasts and seasons, is intended to shape all her liturgies, weddings included. During the Easter season it would be entirely appropriate to include music reflecting this most important season of the Church’s year. If you are getting married in December, during the Advent/Christmas season, then carols, which are so well known, could be included in your wedding liturgy.Suitable repertoire for the church building
OLEM, as well as being a very beautiful church is blessed with a fine, resonant acoustic. This means that not every hymn or Christian song ‘works’ well in the building. A hymn with a fast beat and syncopated rhythm might be well best suited performed with a piano/guitar in a smaller space, but in OLEM’s lofty expanse, its impact is largely lost, while trying to get a congregation to sing it is nearby impossible! So, another question to ask is, will the music you both choose reflect the beauty and grandeur of the building and the richness of the wedding rite or conflict with it?
Musicians
It is the custom that the OLEM Music Department provides all the musicians needed for your wedding liturgy, that may include - organist, choir (from a quartet to twelve singers or more) soloist and or cantor. In addition, we are happy to source other instrumentalists, e.g. harpist, violinist, string quartet. Music fees are available on request to the Director of Music. Please note that for additional rehearsal time (i.e. more than an hour) special arrangements of music, attendance at rehearsals, purchase of music, there will be additional fees.
The use of outside musicians / vocalists must be approved by the Director of Music. References and an audition may be requested. Singers should be professionally trained and experienced singing in large spaces and liturgical settings. Amateur musicians may better perform at your wedding reception. If your service is going to be recorded (audio / visual) then OLEM is covered by the Christian Copyright Licence. Permission though is required by all participants in the service (clergy, musicians, readers) if they and their words/music are to be recorded.
Repertoire
There is a huge amount of repertoire to choose from. So, if you decide to book a choir or soloist/cantor, then the Church recommends that the Psalm between the readings, and the Gospel Acclamation should be sung. If you are having a Nuptial Mass, then the various acclamations may also be sung, i.e. Sanctus / Memorial Acclamation / Agnus Dei. As well as hymns (not obligatory), the choir / soloist may sing while you are signing the church register and during Holy Communion. You will also need to choose music for the Bridal Procession into church and the Wedding Procession upon leaving. Below are some suggestions. Most of these, if not all are, are available on YouTube. Extracts can also be demonstrated at your meeting with the Director of Music.
Bridal Procession
Bridal March from ‘Lohengrin’ by Wagner
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke, Stanley or Purcell
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
Alternatively, if singers are engaged, then there is the option of walking into a piece of choral music or a solo.
Hymns
All Creatures of Our God and King
All People That on Earth Do Dwell
Amazing Grace
And did those feet (Jerusalem)
Be Thou My Vision
Be our chief guest Lord
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
Give Me Joy in My Heart
Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer
How Great Thou Art
I Vow to Thee My Country
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Lead Us, Heavenly Father Lead Us
Lord of All Hopefulness
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Morning Has Broken
O Worship the King
Praise My Soul the King of Heaven
Praise To the Lord the Almighty
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Choral Music / Solos
The following pieces are suitable for performance during the signing of the church register and Holy Communion (if you are having a Nuptial Mass)
The Lord Bless you and Keep You by John Rutter
Jesu joy of man’s desiring by J.S. Bach
Ave Maria by Gounod or Schubert
Panis Angelicus by Cesar Franck
A Clare Benediction by John Rutter
If ye Love Me by Thomas Tallis
Laudate Dominum by W.A. Mozart
Ave Verum by W.A. Mozart
Wedding Processional
Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn
Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke/Purcell/Stanley
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
Toccata (from Symphony V) by C.M. Widor
Carillon Sortie by Henri Mulet
Crown Imperial by William Walton
Nun Danket by Karg-Elert
These lists are far from exhaustive, there remain many other pieces of suitable music you may prefer. It is customary for the couple to produce a pew leaflet or a small booklet containing the Order of Service / Mass for their guests, together with the titles of the music accompanying the processional / recessional as well as the hymns etc. The Director of Music is happy to advise on the content/layout this and can provide examples from previous weddings at OLEM.
And finally, we want to make your wedding a special and enjoyable day ‘crowned’ by the celebration of the wedding liturgy adorned by fine music. Do not be daunted, we are here to make the process as smooth, easy and enjoyable as possible at this the planning stage.