With These Strings, I Thee Wed
(From Minnesota Monthly, June 2001)
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Listen to six clips from the
songs listed in this article. Songs included in the audio sample appear in red type,
followed by a number to indicate the order in which they are played.
(All audio is RealAudio; see
how to listen.)
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Clergy. Judges. Carterers. Florists. Planning a wedding is a juggling act.
With the wedding season upon us, we thought we'd lend a hand to brides- and
grooms-to-be by suggesting music for the ceremony.
We asked two of our resident musicians who've played at several weddings—Amy
Hoelmer, pianist and assistant music director at MPR, and Brad Althoff, associate
producer of Pipedreams® and professional organist—to recommend music for the
big event.
Prelude
This is the music that sets the stage for your guests. Choose something that is pleasing
to listen to, and that will contrast a little with the pace of the processionals to follow.
Unless the wedding couple requests selections, the musician(s) will simply perform for a
predetermined period of time prior to the processional.
• Orchestral Suites (slower movements), J.S. Bach
• Airs, Handel 1 or Bach
• Vocalise, Rachmaninoff
"Beautiful and well-known, this one
works with lots of different instrumentations."
—Amy Hoelmer
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• Rhosymedre, Vaughn Williams 2
"A little rarer, but still a really nice gem."
—AH
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• Sonata in G, Jean-Baptiste Loeillet
"An easy, pleasing Baroque piece
that works for trumpet, saxophone (or any soloist)
and piano."
—AH
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• Panis Angelicus, César Franck
"A great piece if you have a vocalist. The Gounod and Schubert versions of 'Ave Maria' are very nice for church settings."
—AH
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• Prelude in C, Well-tempered Clavier, Book I, J.S. Bach
"Very familiar and easy for a pianist or organist to learn if she or he doesn't already know it."
—AH
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• Pathétique Sonata (second movement), Beethoven
"This has a slow, soft, velvety sound which makes it fitting prelude music. It can also be used as a processional for small weddings."
—AH
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Processional
While any good, structured march will lead the wedding party down the aisle, here are some
favorites, along with a few less conventional selections.
• "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (from Cantata No. 147), J.S. Bach
• Canon, Pachelbel 4
"This is probably the most frequently
heard processional. The simple melody and natural
chord progression are so easy for the ear to hear
and enjoy. Plus, it's versatile: It can be played
on organ, piano, by a string quartet or other small
ensemble. It works at weddings of almost any size
and location."
—AH
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• Trumpet Voluntary in D, John Stanley
• Prince of Denmark's March, Jeremiah Clarke 3
"Both of these trumpet voluntaries are fairly popular and can be done by organ solo or
as an organ/trumpet duet."
—Brad Althoff
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• E-Flat Nocturne, Chopin
"A nice, simple melody and a steady beat make this piece appropriate for a processional.
Many pianists know it; if they don't, it's fairly easy to learn."
—AH
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• "Rigaudon," André Campra
"When registered correctly, it can be an enormous, majestic march that's easy to bring
to a conclusion quickly. It can be very impressive."
—BA
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Recessional
This music is usually joyful, buoyant and travels at a swifter pace.
• "Wedding March" (from A Midsummer Night's Dream),
Mendelssohn 5
"Although this is probably the most recognizable recessional march, I try and steer
people away from typical stuff so they can have their own little jewel to
remember."
—BA
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• "Trumpet Tune," Jeremiah Clarke or Henry Purcell
• "Hornpipe" from Water Music Suite, Handel
• Fanfare, Jacques Lemmens
• Final movements of Symphony No. 5 (Toccata) or No.
6 (Final), Charles Marie Widor 6
• Vivaldi Concertos
• Handel Concertos or Sonatas
• Prelude to Te Deum, Charpentier
"This trumpet and organ piece has a full, majestic sound. It can also be used as a
processional."
—AH
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— By Steve Anderson, editor of the Inside MPR supplement
of Minnesota Monthly magazine..
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