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Wedding Music Planning
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Wedding Music Planning
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Wedding Music Guidelines
The music for your wedding can be both a source of great beauty and a strong unifying force to draw your guests together in prayer and celebration. Your wedding music is governed by the liturgical guidelines of the church. In general, the music for your wedding should resemble the music done for a Sunday Mass. All music selections must be sacred, in keeping with the sanctity of the sacrament.
The overall principles in selecting music are as follows:
- In the Roman Catholic Nuptial Liturgy, every effort should be made to involve the Assembly in "full, conscious, and active participation" in the Liturgy, including elements of the music.
- The text of the music chosen should ideally speak of the love between husband and wife as a reflection of God's love for us, his Church. Secular love songs may not be used in the liturgy.
- A wedding liturgy is not a "wedding with concert attached." The music selection and the musicians must be servants of the liturgy, not the other way around.
- In Roman Catholic Liturgy, we worship together, here and now. Therefore, the Church does not allow recordings, taped music, CD's, or accompaniment tracks in the Liturgy.
- Our parish policy calls for at least one of the musicians present for a wedding to be one of our regular parish ministers of music. They also know the workings of the sound system and can operate it properly to avoid audio problems.
Wedding Music Samples
We are delighted to help you prepare for the sacred day of your Sacrament of Matrimony. We hope the music listed on this page will help you make music choices that will honor God and his central role in your life together. We also hope that this music will uplift you and your guests, help you and them participate in the liturgy, and contribute significantly to the beauty and holiness of your wedding. May God bless you as you prepare for your life together.
Click on each song title to listen!
Prelude Music:
Musicians use about 15-20 minutes of instrumental and/or vocal sacred music before the wedding liturgy begins. This "sets the tone" of reverence and prayer as your guests arrive and are seated.Title Composer Notes Air Bach Particulary beautiful with violin Arioso Bach Ave Maria Schubert May be solely instrumental or sung Ave Maria Bach/Gounod May be solely instrumental or sung He Shall Feed His Flock Handel Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts Warner Sheep May Safely Graze Handel Largo Handel
Processionals / Gathering Hymns:
Processional songs for weddings are often instrumental, alothough a sung antiphon or hymn sung by the cantor and the assembly is certainly appropriate as well. You may choose one song for both the bridal party and the entrance of the bride, or a different song may be selected for the bride's entrance. See prelude music above for additional options.Title Composer Notes Entrance Antiphon: "God is in His Holy Dwelling Place" Bartlett The official entrance antiphon text for a wedding liturgy. May be sung a capella or with instrumentation. Canon in D Pachelbel One of the most popular wedding processionals, beautiful on either organ or piano. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring Bach Another very popular choice, that is a bit more upbeat than Canon in D. Beautiful with organ and violin. Ode to Joy Beethoven A well-known, classic, joyful, triumphant processional. Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark's March) Clarke A triumphant bridal processional that can be done with trumpet, violin, or with organ. Love Divine, All Love's Excelling Text: Wesley A well-known hymn tune and text that can be done instrumentally or sung by all. All Creatures of Our God and King Tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN A well-known hymn tune and text that can be done instrumentally or sung by all. La Grace Telemann A lesser-known processional, that is beautiful with organ and either trumpet or violin.
Gloria:Title Composer Notes Roman Missal Chant The official English chant found in the Roman Missal. May be acompanied by the organ or sung a capella. Simple Latin Chant The most well-known chanted setting of the Gloria in Latin from Mass 8. May be accompanied by the organ or sung a capella. Mass of Wisdom Janco SLDM uses this Mass setting frequently for weekend Masses and it is used in many parishes in the Diocese. Beuaitful on either organ or piano. Violin/Trumpet parts are available as well. Heritage Mass Alstott SLDM also uses this Mass setting frequently for weekend Masses. Beuatiful on either organ or piano. Violin/Trumpet parts are available as well.
Responsorial Psalm:
Below are a few recordings of some of the options for the responsorial psalm. There are many other text options and musical settings available. See the "Together for Life" booklet for more text options.Title Composer Psalm 34: Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord Guimont Psalm 34: Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord Keil Psalm 34: Tase and See the Goodness of the Lord Chabanel/Ostrowski Psalm 34: I Will Bless the Lord at All Times Chabanel/Ostrowski Psalm 103: The Lord is Kind and Merciful Guimont Psalm 112: Blessed the man who greatly delights in the Lord's commands Chabanel/Ostrowski Psalm 128: Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways Guimont Psalm 128: Blessed are those who fear the Lord Chabanel/Ostrowski Psalm 128: Blest are those who love you Haugen Psalm 145: Let all praise the name of the Lord Chabanel/Ostrowski
Gospel Acclamation:Title Composer Mass of Wisdom Janco Celtic Alleluia Walker Alleluia VII (Time stamp 6:27) Alstott Simple Chanted Alleluia
Offertory Hymn:
As the gifts are brought forward and the altar is prepared, a song may be sung by all or played instruemntally. See hymn options in the processional section above for more options.Title Composer Notes Offertory Chant: "The angel of the Lord..." Bartlett Offertory Chant: "In you I have put my trust..." Bartlett Be Thou My Vision Tune: SLANE God Who Created Hearts to Love Text: Ridge The Servant Song Gillard Where Charity and Love Prevail Text: Ubi Caritas
Eucharistic Acclamations:Title Composer Roman Missal English Chants (Holy, Mem. Accl.) Latin Chants (Holy, Mem. Accl.) Latin Chants (De Angelis) (Holy) Mass of Wisdom (Holy, Mem. Accl., Amen) Janco Heritage Mass (Holy, Mem. Accl., Amen) Alstott
Lamb of God:Title Composer Roman Missal English Chant Simple Latin Chant Latin Chant (De Angelis) Mass of Wisdom Janco Heritage Mass Alstott
Communion:
Usually one communion song is sufficient, altough for larger weddings, two may be used. See Entrance and Offertory hymns for more options.Title Composer Communion Antiphon: "Blessed are the pure of heart..." Bartlett Communion Antiphon: "Seek first the kingdom of God..." Bartlett Ubi Caritas Hurd Ubi Caritas (Chant) 9th C. Chant Lord, Who at Your First Eucharist Tune: UNDE ET MEMORES O Sacrament Most Holy Tune: FULDA MELODY Panis Angelicus Text: St. Thomas Aquinas Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All Faber Ave Verum Corpus (Chant) 13th C. Chant Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart) Mozart
Optional - Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary:
There is an optional opportunity to place flowers in front of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and take a moment as a couple to pray for her motherly intercession. Usually a Marian-themed song is used during this time of offering and prayer.Title Composer Notes Ave Maria Schubert The most familiar setting of the Ave Maria (Hail Mary prayer in Latin). Beautiful on either organ or piano, sung or just instrumental. Ave Maria Bach/Gounod The second most-familiar setting of the Ave Maria. A beautiful choice for either piano or organ, sung or instrumental (ex: violin and piano are particularly lovely). Ave Maria Chant 13th Century Latin chant of the Hail Mary prayer. Salve Regina Chant (Simple Tone) This 12th century chant is perhaps one of the most beloved Marian hymns in the Church. The Latin text translates to the he Hail, Holy Queen prayer in English. Ave Maris Stella Chant Latin for "Hail, Star of the sea", click here to learn more about this 9th century text.
Recessional:
The recessional is a joyous, triumphant piece. It is often instrumental, but can be a hymn sung by all. See below for options or refer to the above section for processionals for additional ideas.Title Composer Notes Hornpipe from Water Music Handel Probably the most popular recessional choice. Beautiful with organ and violin/trumpet. Prelude to Te Deum Charpentier Trumpet Tune Purcell Rondeau Mouret Eccossaise Clarke The Rejoicing from The Royal Fireworks Handel Choral Song Wesley O God, Beyond All Praising Tune: THAXTED May be instrumental or sung by all