Music by Fine Arts Ensemble
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About Music by Fine Arts Ensemble
Violin, Viola, Cello, Harp, Flute, Trumpet, Trio, String Quartet, singer, piano, organ. We offer live music for all occasions, including weddings, private parties, corporate events, and special family occasions. The Fine Arts Ensemble expands to include other profession...al musicians, including String Quartet, wind instruments, and even harp and bagpipes, according to client’s preferences.
Affordable and unsurpassed performance quality for every budget.
Book early to reserve availability:
ph: 504-931-5450
info@fineartsensemble.com
www.fineartsensemble.com
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Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony
WEEKLY ARTICLE:
Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony
It’s safe to say that out of all the events for which you will gather your friends and family to
celebrate your marriage, the wedding ceremony itself will be the most meaningful and, hopefully,
memorable. Music plays many vital roles in the ceremony, from providing flow and ambiance to
highlighting the deeper emotional meaning. Many former brides and grooms remember the songs played
at their weddings for the rest of their lives, and they can relive that romantic day when hearing those
songs again.
Since music is so important to your wedding ceremony, we always advise hiring one or more live,
experienced, professional musicians to handle it. Qualified, well-researched musicians will be able to
tailor the music in real time to fit what is going on in your ceremony, which will help one part flow
effortlessly into the next. Also, you’ll find it truly ties together all of the visual and verbal elements, from
the flowers to the vows, with timeless style and class.
For the music, most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own
special requirements:
The prelude
The wedding party’s processional
The bride’s processional
The interlude
The recessional
The postlude
If you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony, experienced wedding musicians will
be able to play appropriate songs in the right places. But picking out your own music can be more
meaningful and satisfying. The first decision you should make that will guide you in your choices is
whether you want your music to be traditional and classic or lesser-known but unique. The professional
wedding musicians you hire should have a supply of music from both categories in their repertoire.
The Prelude
The purpose of the prelude music is to welcome guests as they are being seated before the
ceremony. It also should give a cheerful yet subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of
the event. The prelude generally begins 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony start time, and it often
involves quite a few songs. Because of this, it’s best to give the musician(s) an idea of the genre of
music you want and leave the individual song choices up to their discretion. Since the prelude sets the
tone for the rest of the ceremony, it’s a good idea to base your genre choice on the type of music you
will be using later in the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs, Jazz, and
Broadway, and these genres can be mixed together within the prelude to suit your taste. Each of these
genres has sub-categories (Baroque or Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but it’s
safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you have strong feelings one way or another.
The Wedding Party’s Processional
The wedding party’s processional marks the official beginning of the ceremony. It should have a
slow but flowing feel, ushering the beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down
the aisle. Perhaps the classic example here is Canon in D by Pachelbel, but you should listen to various
musical selections to find a song that strikes a chord with you.
The Bride’s Processional
The bride’s processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable to everyone involved as the
vows or any other part of the ceremony. You should choose a very special song here. If you go with
Classical music, the obvious traditional choice is Wagner’s Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”). But
any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly beautiful or meaningful can be used here. If you’re
going with jazz, pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics that are meaningful
to you. Even if you don’t have a singer at your wedding, the lyrics to a popular song will still play in
everyone’s minds when they hear the melody.
The Interlude
The interlude can actually be many different moments in the ceremony, our very loose definition
being any time there are no words being spoken for a minute or more. For most ceremonies, the
interlude is the unity candle, memorial candle, or rose presentation. These are moments of quiet
reflection, and the music you choose should encourage this mood. A popular and appropriate unity
candle choice is The Wedding Song, partly because the lyrics mention the word “union.” Sweet
Classical favorites include Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach, Ave Maria by Schubert, and Meditation
from Thais by Massenet.
The Recessional
At last, time to celebrate! The wedding officiant’s pronouncement of husband and wife is followed
by enthusiastic applause and joyous recessional music as the happy couple leads the way back up the
aisle. The song you choose should be bright and upbeat, inviting everyone to celebrate your union. The
top traditional choice for the recessional is Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. A close second and third are
Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary. But any song with a joyous feel that speaks to
you will work well in this spot.
Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony
It’s safe to say that out of all the events for which you will gather your friends and family to
celebrate your marriage, the wedding ceremony itself will be the most meaningful and, hopefully,
memorable. Music plays many vital roles in the ceremony, from providing flow and ambiance to
highlighting the deeper emotional meaning. Many former brides and grooms remember the songs played
at their weddings for the rest of their lives, and they can relive that romantic day when hearing those
songs again.
Since music is so important to your wedding ceremony, we always advise hiring one or more live,
experienced, professional musicians to handle it. Qualified, well-researched musicians will be able to
tailor the music in real time to fit what is going on in your ceremony, which will help one part flow
effortlessly into the next. Also, you’ll find it truly ties together all of the visual and verbal elements, from
the flowers to the vows, with timeless style and class.
For the music, most American wedding ceremonies have six major parts, each with their own
special requirements:
The prelude
The wedding party’s processional
The bride’s processional
The interlude
The recessional
The postlude
If you do not want to choose individual songs for your ceremony, experienced wedding musicians will
be able to play appropriate songs in the right places. But picking out your own music can be more
meaningful and satisfying. The first decision you should make that will guide you in your choices is
whether you want your music to be traditional and classic or lesser-known but unique. The professional
wedding musicians you hire should have a supply of music from both categories in their repertoire.
The Prelude
The purpose of the prelude music is to welcome guests as they are being seated before the
ceremony. It also should give a cheerful yet subdued atmosphere, setting the stage for the solemnity of
the event. The prelude generally begins 15 to 20 minutes before the ceremony start time, and it often
involves quite a few songs. Because of this, it’s best to give the musician(s) an idea of the genre of
music you want and leave the individual song choices up to their discretion. Since the prelude sets the
tone for the rest of the ceremony, it’s a good idea to base your genre choice on the type of music you
will be using later in the ceremony. Popular genre choices include Classical, Love Songs, Jazz, and
Broadway, and these genres can be mixed together within the prelude to suit your taste. Each of these
genres has sub-categories (Baroque or Romantic Classical music, old or new love songs, etc.), but it’s
safe to leave those choices up to the musicians unless you have strong feelings one way or another.
The Wedding Party’s Processional
The wedding party’s processional marks the official beginning of the ceremony. It should have a
slow but flowing feel, ushering the beautiful bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party down
the aisle. Perhaps the classic example here is Canon in D by Pachelbel, but you should listen to various
musical selections to find a song that strikes a chord with you.
The Bride’s Processional
The bride’s processional can be an incredible moment, as memorable to everyone involved as the
vows or any other part of the ceremony. You should choose a very special song here. If you go with
Classical music, the obvious traditional choice is Wagner’s Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”). But
any Classical piece that strikes you as particularly beautiful or meaningful can be used here. If you’re
going with jazz, pop, or Broadway, use a song with beautiful music as well as lyrics that are meaningful
to you. Even if you don’t have a singer at your wedding, the lyrics to a popular song will still play in
everyone’s minds when they hear the melody.
The Interlude
The interlude can actually be many different moments in the ceremony, our very loose definition
being any time there are no words being spoken for a minute or more. For most ceremonies, the
interlude is the unity candle, memorial candle, or rose presentation. These are moments of quiet
reflection, and the music you choose should encourage this mood. A popular and appropriate unity
candle choice is The Wedding Song, partly because the lyrics mention the word “union.” Sweet
Classical favorites include Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach, Ave Maria by Schubert, and Meditation
from Thais by Massenet.
The Recessional
At last, time to celebrate! The wedding officiant’s pronouncement of husband and wife is followed
by enthusiastic applause and joyous recessional music as the happy couple leads the way back up the
aisle. The song you choose should be bright and upbeat, inviting everyone to celebrate your union. The
top traditional choice for the recessional is Mendelssohn’s Wedding March. A close second and third are
Beethoven’s Ode to Joy and Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary. But any song with a joyous feel that speaks to
you will work well in this spot.
WEEKLY ARTICLE: Planning the Music for Your Wedding Ceremony It’s safe to say that out of all the events for which you will gather your friends and family to celebrate your marriage, the wedding ceremony itself will be the most meaningful and, hopef... Read More
Apr 27, 2009
