If you are getting married
in a church, you should discuss with your minister the music
you would like played. The minister will usually have a
list of suitable pieces that can be played according to
the organist's ability and the type of organ in the church.
With the minister's approval, you may be able to have a
competent friend or relative play for you and/or have your
own choice of music played. It would also be possible to
arrange to have professional musicians attend and play for
you, although you will probably need at least a quartet
to give the required strength and depth to the tradition
'orchestral' music played during a church ceremony. It is
for this reason that a church organ is so suitable although
your choice of music may be restricted subject to the competency
of the church's organist
There are four sections
of your church ceremony that you need to consider music
for. They are: The Prelude, The Processional, The Signing
of the Register and The Recessional. We have listed below
many of the popular pieces that are played during each section
The
Prelude:
This is music that is played while guests congregate in
the church and wait for the bride to arrive. The music sets
the mood for the ceremony to come and should be positive
and joyous. Unless you have particular music in mind, the
organist will usually play a selection while your guests
assemble. Popular music played during the prelude include:
Canon in
D by Pachelbel
Holsworthy Church Bells by Wesley
Voce Sapete by Mozart
Nimrod from Enigma Variations by Elgar
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Greensleves by Williams by Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Ave Maria by Schubert
Ave Maria by Gounod
The Swan by Saint Saens
The Processional:
This is music played for the bride's arrival and the bridal
party's procession down the aisle. One piece of music is
chosen, which should be stately and regal and last the duration
of the bridal party's journey to the groom at the altar.
The most popular pieces of music played during the processional
are:
Wedding March from Lohengrin (aka Here Comes The Bride)
by Wagner
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley
Trumpet Minuet by Hollins
Trumpet Tune by Purcell
Trumpet Tune by Charpentier
I Was Glad by Parry
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Morning from Peer Gynt by Grieg
Spring from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
Winter from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi
The Signing of the
Register:
During the time spent in the registry, the organist will
be willing to play any suitable music of your choice, whether
traditional or modern. You may wish, for example, to have
some music played that has a special meaning to you both.
This is also the appropriate time where you can make your
ceremony unique by arranging to have a friend, relative
or group entertain your guests by singing or playing your
own choice of music and tunes. If you propose doing this,
please get your minister's approval before you make any
bookings. If you opt for the church organist to play traditional
music, the following pieces are popular:
Ave Maria
by Schubert
Ave Maria by Gounod
Air on the G String by Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
Flower Duet from Lakmé by Delibes
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
Exsultate Jubilate by Mozart
Laudate Dominum by Mozart
Three Clock Pieces by Haydn
Panis Angelicus by Franck
Wacht Auf by Bach
Clair De Lune by Debussy
Air from the Water Music by Handel
The Lord Bless You And Keep You by Rutter
Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart
The Recessional:
As you leave the registry and walk arm-in-arm down the aisle
as husband and wife, you will want the organ to bellow out
music that is triumphant, joyful and celebratory. Traditional
recessional music includes:
Wedding March
from a Midsummer Night's Dream by Mendelssohn
Toccata from Symphony No 5 by Widor
Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) by Clarke
Overture from The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart
Pomp and Circumstance March No 4 by Elgar
The Rejoicing from Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel
Bridal March by Hollins
Hornpipe from the Water Music by Handel
Carillion De Westminster by Vierne
Rondeau by Joseph Mouret
Grand March from Aida by Verdi
Grand March from Le Prophete by Meyerbeer
Fanfare by Whitlock
Ode to Joy by Beethoven
March from Scipio by Handel
Hallelujah Chorus, from Messiah by Handel
Finale from Symphony No.1 by Widor
Maestoso from Symphony No 3 in C by Saint Saens
Please
note:
Some ministers may object to playing Wagner's Bridal March
from his opera Lohengrin because it celebrates a marriage
that collapses in betrayal, twenty minutes after it is sung
and Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's
Dream accompanies a pretend wedding
Finally, you will need to
discuss your ideas with your church organist to ensure that
the music you like is suitable for the organ and that it
is within the playing capability of the organist. If you
do use the services of your church organist, your minister
will advise you of the cost, which will usually be between
£50 and £100
Remember:
Copyright exists in all creative works such as hymns for
seventy years after the death of the writer. During that
period, it is illegal to reproduce the works in any form
without the permission of the copyright holder (or their
appointed agent). Therefore, should you wish to reproduce
the text of a hymn in your order of service, you will need
the permission of the copyright holder for which a charge
of between £10 and £25 is usually made
You do not need the copyright
holder’s permission if you are only singing the hymns,
since a wedding is a private function. It is only if you
wish to print the hymn words (for example on an order of
service) that permission is required
