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(More music suggestions are found here)
For the full wedding mass, here are the spots that typically need to be filled:
PRELUDE MUSIC (STARTS 15-30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE BRIDE'S ENTRANCE)- instrumental or vocal tunes or string quartet or piano or other instruments
- classical music and/or pop/jazz standards/ballads/love songs (Frank Sinatra, big band, new-age music, Enya, Kenny G, Jim Brickman, music from 'Amelie', 20's/30's/40's tunes, Gershwin & Cole Porter, ballads from 70's/80's/90's, modern ballads, any of your favorites, etc.)
- Sacred/Christian pop ideas: "Your Love is Extravagant"
SEATING OF THE MOTHERS/OTHERS AND BRIDESMAIDS' PROCESSIONAL (IT'S OFTEN BEST WHEN THIS IS JUST ONE SONG)- instrumental song
- I love putting Vivaldi here or Bach's Air on G or a little new-agey stuff
- A vocal song might be distracting here...I think you want people to witness the special people coming down the aisle
- Classic ideas: "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach, "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, "Autumn" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, "Air on the G String" by Bach
- Other recent ideas: "Clair de Lune", Beyonce's "Halo", "Carl & Ellie" from Pixar's "Up"
BRIDE'S PROCESSIONAL- instrumental song, look also at the tunes above for bridesmaids
- currently, my favorite is 'Lascia ch'io pianga' from Handel's 'Rinaldo' -- some say it's a little dramatic...but I think your walk down the aisle is supposed to be at least a little dramatic!
- Classic ideas: "Here Comes the Bride", "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach, "Canon in D" by Pachelbel
- Other recent ideas: "Morning Has Broken" , "Simple Gifts", "Game of Thrones" theme, "Coro" from Handel's Water Music.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM SUGGESTIONS- this is, ideally, a 'call & response' song, rather than a solo.
- God's Love is Everlasting - a little Irish in flavor, classic-sounding
- Hand in Hand -- contemporary
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Set Me As A Seal -- contemporary, based on Song of Songs!
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Let All the Earth -- contemporary
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Psalm 118 is a good one for weddings
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This is the Day - by B. Fisher
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This is the Day - by S. Soper
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This is the Day - by M. Joncas
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This is the Day - by S. Hart & D. Liles
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This is the Day / Give Thanks - by T. Smith
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Celebration Series--more formal/classic-sounding settings:
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Let All the Earth Cry Out
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Let Us Rejoice
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The Earth is Full of the Goodness of the Lord
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God Has Done Great Things
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Blest Are Those
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I Will Praise Your Name Forever
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The Name of the Lord
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Other Psalms and recent ideas
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When Love is Found set to tune O WALY WALY
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Taste & See - by S. Angrisano
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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (OR 'ALLELUIA')- I often recommend the Celtic Alleluia because it's familiar to a lot of Catholics so they usually end up singing along
- Another OLG favorite is the Alleluia from Mass of Joyful Heart by Angrisano.
- Another OLG favorite is the Alleluia from Misa del Mundo by J. Manibusan.
PREPARATION OF GIFTS- This is a spot for a relatively short instrumental or vocal song to accommodate the processional of the gifts to the altar.
EUCHARISTIC ACCLAMATIONS (HOLY, MEM.ACCL., GREAT AMEN, LAMB OF GOD)- I recommend the Mass of Creation setting by Marty Haugen because it's very familiar to most all Catholics in the U.S.
- The Mass of Renewal by Curtis Stephan is becoming well-known in the U.S., too.
COMMUNION- Music is needed here: either a liturgical/congregational song or a solo (contemporary or traditional).
- Recent ideas: God with Us (Hart/Thompson), Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens), Here I Am, Lord (Schutte)
- Classic ideas: Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod), Ave Maria (Schubert), Hail Mary, Gentle Woman
- Behold the Lamb (Willett)
Behold the Lamb of God (Dufford)
Bread for the World (Farrell) - Bread of Angels (C. Stephan)
Bread of Life (Fisher)
God Will Wipe Away Every Tear
Here At This Table
Gift of Finest Wheat
In This Place (Thomson)
Look Beyond
I Am the Bread of Life (JM Talbot)
I Am the Bread of Life (Toolan)
Prayer of St. Francis
Pan de Vida (Hurd/Moriarty)
Panis Angelicus (Bread of Angels) (solo song, not in hymnals)
Psalm 23 (Conry)
One Bread, One Body (Foley)
Our Blessing Cup (Joncas)
My Soul Is Thirsting (Angrisano)
Song of the Body of Christ
Table of Plenty
Taste and See (many settings)
O Taste and See (Haugen)
Taste and See (Angrisano)
Taste and See (Hurd)
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Ubi Caritas
Unless a Grain of Wheat (Hurd)
We Are Many Parts
We Are One Body (contemporary)
We Come Today (contemporary)
We Praise You
We Remember
You Are Our Living Bread
ADDITIONAL SONG DURING THE CEREMONY, IF WANTED/NEEDED- A) Unity Candle (if done)
- good place for a short-ish song, either instrumental or vocal
- it's good because it's happening in tandem with the movement of the ceremony--it's not a solo performance in the middle of everything.
- If you, however, have a song and a vocalist that you would love to highlight, now is the time
- B) Song after the homily
- this sometimes feels awkward--stopping and watching a performance
- If you, however, have a song and a vocalist that you would love to highlight, now is the time
- C) Song before/after vows
- this sometimes feels awkward--stopping and watching a performance
- If you, however, have a song and a vocalist that you would love to highlight, now is the time
- D) Song for presentation of flowers to Mary
- this is a lovely tradition in many cultures. The movement of the bride and groom to the Mary shrine is nicely accompanied by a sung or instrumental tune. Possibly a Marian tune:
RECESSIONAL (AN INSTRUMENTAL SONG HERE IS USUALLY BEST)- I've seen everything from:
- the traditional Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
- to the Beach Boys' 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'
- to the old Appalachian tune, 'Simple Gifts'
- to Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'
- to Enya
- to Handel's 'Royal Fireworks' or 'Water Music'
- to Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'!
- to Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World"
- to Colbie Caillat's "I Do"
- to Queen's "You're My Best Friend"
- to Scarlatti "Sonata K119"
I have a large email network of singers and instrumentalists. If you'd like to think about adding some strings or a flute or a trumpet or a classical guitar or professional singers or anything else, let me know!
(More music suggestions are found here)
Thanks!
Ann Sager
sager206@msn.com