Music for My Wedding
Posted by Christian Carey in File Under?, Nils Vigeland, Uncategorized, classical, composerLast December, Kay and I were at a Locrian Chamber Players concert. Beaming about our recent engagement, we shared the news with a number of friends at intermission.
Nils Vigeland fixed Kay with a penetrating stare, saying, “You’re really going to let him handle the music for your wedding? You must love this guy!”
We’re having our wedding outdoors. We’ve picked a lovely spot at a nature preserve near where I work. However, an outdoor wedding means no organ.
So, with two months to go, I’ve settled on the selections, hired a string quartet with the help of friend Jody Redhage, and started to work on the arrangements.
Here’s how it looks thus far.
Prelude Music: String Quartet by Maurice Ravel
Processional: from Cantata #140, “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,” by J.S. Bach
Bridal Processional: Trumpet Tune in C by Henry Purcell
Hymn: “O God Beyond All Praising;” Text: Michael Perry; Music: Gustav Holst
Offertory: “The Call;” Text: George Herbert; Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Anthem by Carey
Hymn: “Kingsfold Amazing Grace;” Text: John Newton (adapted by Carey); Tune: Down Ampney; Music Vaughan Williams
Recessional: Trumpet Tune in D by Jeremiah Clarke
After playing many weddings for other couples, with widely varying programs, it’s exciting to pick the music for your own!
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My daughter let me suggest music for her wedding and we also decided on “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme,†for the processional.
Word of warning: it is not a tune that is easy to process to – when played correctly, as you know, it has no square beats. I was a bit worried that a nervous daughter might be distracted even more by the awkward pacing to the music, but happily it worked out. And it is perfectly appropriate – all about bridegrooms and anticipation. It was a great gift she gave me to suggest that piece.
When my wife wants to get even during an argument, she starts naming the tunes she will have played at my funeral. I’m staying alive just to forestall her plans…
Have a joyous wedding – your musical choices are a good start.
This all sounds great to me — as long as we don’t take Trumpet Tune in C at the tempo of that early music recording. I can’t foresee sprinting down the aisle in my heels!