At many modern weddings you can still expect to hear some classical music played during the ceremony. Although the selection of classical music that can be played at weddings is vast, you can typically guess which songs a particular couple is going to select. The same songs are played over and over again, as the once beautiful song loses some of its charm with each listen. For my own wedding, I went to great lengths to make sure I selected beautiful, meaningful organ music that people haven’t heard a million times before. Here is a look at the music selections I chose for my wedding ceremony, any why going off the beaten path was the right choice for me.
Prelude
While I was selecting music for my wedding ceremony, I came across many great pieces of music but none that fit just right for the prelude. The prelude is the period before the wedding when the guests are being ushered in. Prelude music helps set the mood for the ceremony, and I knew exactly what songs to play. During the prelude, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” was playing, along with Bach’s “Air on the G String.” The mood was set perfectly.
Processional
I made one thing very clear to everyone involved in my wedding planning. I did not want to march down the aisle to Wagner’s “Bridal March.” Although the bridal march is the traditional tune of choice for most brides, I was not a typical bride, and chose a song I found to be utterly moving and beautiful. I walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.” Although the song starts off slow, it builds momentum until its burst with intensity, excitement and passion.
Interlude
During the interlude, I decided to play a piece of music that was a bit unexpected, but very close to my heart. My mother walked down the aisle to the song “Hymne” by Vangelis, and I felt it was very important to include this song somewhere in my ceremony and the interlude proved to be the perfect place for it. “Hymne” is the one piece of music from my ceremony that does not have roots in the Classical era.
Recessional
One of my favorite pieces of music of all time was proudly displayed as my husband and I departed the altar. “La Rejouissance” is a piece from “Music for the Royal Fireworks” by George Frederic Handel. The song is booming, regal and you feel your chest puff out in pride while listening to it. Best of all, the tone and intensity of the piece when played on a pipe organ echoed through the church and the surrounding grounds beautifully.
More from this Contributor:
New Technology with Old School Flair: Amazing Podcasts for Classic Rock Fans
The Life of Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Musical Genius
Decoding the Classics: How to Identify and Date a Piece of Instrumental Music
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