DR. PAUL EMLYN JESSEN

Wedding Music Planning
Selecting the Music

 

Welcome to my page on wedding music planning. I hope you will find something here of interest to you. Please take time to read down the list of opportunities for music during your ceremony to familiarize yourself with what music is performed during the ceremony. Music selections are made at our meeting together with the vocal soloist several weeks before the wedding. If you need to find a vocal soloist, or other instrumentalists I can help you with that.
Feel free to
contact me for more information, or a consultation.

Roman Catholic Wedding Mass Music

• Preludes
• Processional
• The Psalm
• Gospel Acclamation
• Offertory * a solo if there is no mass
• Mass Setting * omitted if there is no mass
• The Peace * omitted if there is no mass
• Communion * omitted if there is no mass
• Signing the Register
• Recessional

·         Preludes:

o        Played by the organist to entertain the congregation while they wait for the service.

o        Usually background organ music chosen by me.

o        You may choose any particular music you wish.

o        A solo may be sung just before the bride enters.

o        There may be special music for the entry of the mothers.

o        This music may be secular.

 

·         Processional:

o        This may be in two parts: (1) while the bridesmaids enter and (2) while the bride enters.

o        Usually organ music chosen by you.

o        You may choose any particular music you wish.

o        If there are many bridesmaids you may select different entrance music for them.

o        This music may be secular (a popular song), although it is usually sacred (religious).

o        Common Quiet Choices:

§         Canon in D by Pachelbel

§         Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S.Bach

§         Air on a G String by J.S.Bach

o        Common Loud Choices:

§         Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke

§         Trumpet Tune by Purcell

§         Bridal Chorus by Wagner

§         Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel

§         Hornpipe by Handel

§         Te Deum by Charpentier

§         Rondeau by Mouret (Masterpiece Theatre Theme)

 

·         Offertory:

o        A solo sung by the vocal soloist.

o        The selection is made in consultation with the soloist.

o        This music must be sacred.

o        You may choose any particular sacred music you wish.

o        Common Choices:

§         Ave Maria by Schubert

§         Ave Maria by Gounod

 

·         Psalm:

o        This you choose from the selection in your wedding preparation booklet.

o        The psalm is usually sung by the soloist.

o        The music is taken from Catholic Book of Worship III.

 

·         Gospel Acclamation:

o        This you choose from the selection in your wedding preparation booklet.

o        The Acclamation is usually sung by the soloist.

o        The music is taken from Catholic Book of Worship III.

 

·         Mass Setting:

o        The “Ordinary” of the Mass: Holy, Holy, Holy; Memorial Acclamations; Lamb of God.

o        Sung by the vocal soloist.

o        The music is taken from Catholic Book of Worship III.

 

·         The Peace:

o        If this might be long a vocal solo may be chosen, if not, an organ solo will be played.

o        The selection is made in consultation with the vocal soloist.

o        This music must be sacred.

o        You may choose any particular sacred music you wish.

 

·         Communion:

o        A solo sung by the vocal soloist.

o        The selection is made in consultation with the soloist.

o        This music must be sacred.

o        You may choose any particular sacred music you wish.

o        Common Choices:

§         Panis Angelicus by Franck

§         Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S.Bach

§         Bridal Prayer

§         Dicosi

 

·         Signing the Register:

o        A solo sung by the vocal soloist.

o        The selection is made in consultation with the soloist.

o        This music may be either sacred or popular music.

o        You may choose any particular music you wish.

o        Common Sacred Choices:

§         Ave Maria by Schubert

§         Ave Maria by Gounod

§         Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S.Bach

o        Common Secular Choices:

§         “Say You’ll Love Me” from Phantom of the Opera by Webber

§         “Endless Love”

§         “The Prayer” as sung by Celine Dion

§         “Now Joined Together”

§         Wedding Song “There is Love”

§         “Everything I Do”

 

·         Recessional:

o        Usually organ music chosen by you.

o        You may also choose to have the soloist sing.

o        You may choose any particular music you wish.

o        This music may be secular (a popular song), although it is usually sacred (religious).

o        Common Organ Choices:

§         Wedding March by Mendelssohn

§         Toccata by Widor

§         Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke

§         Trumpet Tune by Purcell

§         Arrival of the Queen of Sheba by Handel

§         Hornpipe by Handel

 

Please feel free to contact me by phone or email to talk further about your questions.

 


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This page last Updated on January 14, 2008 by Dr Paul Jessen