Wedding music - alternatives to common selections

[quantum]

We all know those pieces that always get requested by the couple: Canon in D, Wagner March, Mendelssohn March, etc. 

I'd like to explore some lesser known alternatives, that will be appropriate for a church wedding. 

Here are some categories:
Loud processionals / recessionals
Quiet processionals
Voluntaries


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To get things started:

Instead of the Bach/Gounoud or Schubert Ave Maria, one can use the Arcadelt/Liszt Ave Maria. 

[iansinclair]

This can be a real problem.  First off, neither the Wagner nor the Mendelssohn are appropriate in a church (or, IMHO, any) wedding.  In the Wagner, the wedding is doomed from the start.  In the Mendelssohn, it's imaginary.  Is this any way to start wedded life?  But it can be very hard to convince the principals in the ceremony!

Almost anything with a good strong 4 beat will work well as either a processional or recessional.  With any sort of luck at all one can come up with something appropriate!  (For instance, at my own wedding -- many years ago now -- the groom's processional was "Masters in this Hall" -- since the wedding was on Boxing Day).  The trick there is a good solid 4 beat at a reasonable tempo for walking (better slightly faster than slower; too slow and you get the dreaded penguin walk).

Incidental music is another matter.  My only suggestion is to try -- if it is a religious ceremony -- to get the couple to agree to music which is appropiate to the religious ceremony (of whatever faith).

Try to have good recordings of your suggestions for the couple to listen to; very very few people will know them, and even fewer will be able to "hear" them from the score.

Good luck!

[quantum]

This can be a real problem.  First off, neither the Wagner nor the Mendelssohn are appropriate in a church (or, IMHO, any) wedding.  In the Wagner, the wedding is doomed from the start.  In the Mendelssohn, it's imaginary.  Is this any way to start wedded life?  But it can be very hard to convince the principals in the ceremony!

Being a church musician for many years, I'm quite aware of this.  It was just used as an example.  There is much debate about those specific pieces, but such would be better left to another thread. 

I would like to introduce couples, but even more than that, clergy and congregations to pieces that they would like but have never heard before.  Music that keeps with spirit of the occasion. 


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Brahms Op. 118 No. 5  - signing of registry

[werq34ac]

Wedding at Troldhaugen? I have no idea if that will work.

[49410enrique]

c'mon you all knew this was coming...sorry. resi fanboy momment. it's past now. i'll give it another go with something more 'standard' after my exams this week.


(still if you get over the fact that FF music is being played at a wedding, it sorta works, pretty well actually).

[zezhyrule]

I agree with the Final Fantasy music. Do that!

The main theme does work amazingly well.

[j_menz]

I've always wanted to see a bride come down the aisle to Ride of the Valkyries.

Not sure what would be suitable for the return journey, tough.

[redbaron]

If it's a Goth wedding you could always go for Scriabin's Black Mass Sonata