Music for church wedding - Organ and soloist

confuddled

Hi I'm getting married in Rome in a few months - the church will provide an organist and a soloist (soprano) who I have heard is fantastic. I'm getting to the point of thinking about music - the church have said that "traditional classical music associated with weddings" should be chosen.

So I need to decide what to have and could do with some help. I always wanted to walk down the aisle to Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (Bach Cantata No. 147) so I think I'm sorted there. I always wanted to walk back out of the church to Mozarts Marriage of Figaro Overture but that simply won't work on an organ I would imagine?

I'm having real trouble imagining what would sound good with an organ and single singer. I also can't go for anything too unusual or they won't know it! I'm considering Ave Maria or Pie Jesu (both of which are beautiful) but I'm stuck for other ideas - help please!!! So many lovely pieces of music and I can't think of any!

tSubh Dearg

Personally I wouldn't go for the Pie Jesu, but that's cause it's funeral piece, the lyrics are literally: Kind Lord Jesus grant them rest, Kind Lord Jesus grant them eternal rest.

I know it's a little cliched but what about The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ

The thing to do though is to have a chat with the organist and discover what they can play and what the soprano can sing. I sang Ave Maria, Ag Criost an Sile and Lascia ch'io pianga from Handel's opera Rinaldo.

Anyway they're just some thoughts, I've been thinking about my own wedding music recently though I still have a year to go

Good Luck!

Doshea3

Having played as an organist at plenty of weddings, I'm always delighted when a couple chooses some unusual music. And I second tSubh's advice on Pie Jesu—not a good idea. The Marriage of Figaro overture would certainly work if you have a versatile organist willing to give it a go—though you may have to pay him/her a bit extra for the work involved! Other organ voluntaries—there's the Widor Toccata (which I've still never been asked to play at a wedding), the old reliable Mendelssohn wedding march, various Handel and Bach arrangements (the "Arioso" and "Sheep may safely graze" from cantata 208 by Bach are popular, and also the hornpipe from Handel's Water Music). Arrival of Queen of Sheba is also a good one! But best thing to do is talk to the organist and see what is in his/her usual repertoire. I personally would charge a bit extra if I were required to learn something new and obscure.

As for vocal pieces, there are plenty of lovely pieces out there which deviate from the norm, though I am so rarely asked to play them. There is of course the old reliables, such as Bach/Gounod Ave Maria, Schubert Ave Maria, Franck Panis Angelicus, and plenty of Handel arias. I generally just play whatever the singer puts in front of me!

lootle

Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincere is a nice light one by Vivaldi that would require a good soprano.

Jesu joy of mans desiring is nice for the recessional (coming out of the Church) or it could also be used with singing for during the ceremony. Laudate dominum by mozart is another nice one and can be done on organ.

confuddled

Thanks to all for those ideas - I will spend some time on youtube tonight!

Kevster

Felix Mendelssohn - Wedding March
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqsFvz1bWFk