Music for weddings

[Nick Baty]

Is that necessarily always a bad thing?
Music can move people in so many ways.
Having said that, if you ever see me within 50ft of a wedding or civil partnership I owe you a tenner.

[alan29]

The main problem I have found is the vast majority of the congregation are not church-goers, so they don't have a scooby-doo and don't sing along anyway. So such "celebrations" are reduced to the sound of Father Baritune and his housekeeper, the Widow Tenoroon, warbling in exact unison, just that annoying fraction of a beat ahead of the organ. Meanwhile the congregation send each other texts and look for places to stick the chewy.

Alan

[Southern Comfort]

The main problem I have found is the vast majority of the congregation are not church-goers, so they don't have a scooby-doo and don't sing along anyway. So such "celebrations" are reduced to the sound of Father Baritune and his housekeeper, the Widow Tenoroon, warbling in exact unison, just that annoying fraction of a beat ahead of the organ. Meanwhile the congregation send each other texts and look for places to stick the chewy.

Alan

That's precisely why a cantor is essential at all weddings - someone to warm up the folks ahead of time and lead them to pastures green....

[Claire B]

Of course, if a wedding couple want the (anglican) church choir, they have to pay £100. But they do get a group of people who will lead the singing and the responses and pray for them while the minster talks to the troops. Outreach/mission.

I thought I should regard occasional attendance in the nature of choir 'dues', so turned up on Saturday. 45 mins long (that's short, the minister forgot to announce one of the hymns - Amazing Grace).

I thoroughly enjoyed singing David Ogden's 'Song of Ruth'. Just had problems with remebering when to turn to the coda.

And Tim the organist was rehearsing Wachet auf while waiting for the troops to arrive.

[oopsorganist]

Well all things are moving along and PP has even spoken to the happy couple (fearfully he did not get their names right even after an immediate introduction, .. what is it with Catholic priests that they can't remember names for the duration of a conversation? Or is it just in our parish where Baptisms run the risk of changing babies' names randomly.)

But it is to be just a wedding and no Mass, which may or may not be the right decision. Not mine to make anyway. And they can have three hymns. Outside of the normal Mass structure I am struggling to think what on earth would be appropriate. There is just one in Laudate - to the tune of Morning has broken, Lord of all loving we stand before you etc. That would do but at what point? I have never been to a wedding like this, or if I have, I have forgotten.
Would Everyday God be appropriate? Or is this too Goddy? What about Come to the Water? What about no hymns. That could easily be arranged. The groom to be, (lovely boy he is) likes One bread one body, or as he calls it, "The one about the Gentiles and Jews". Should I just revert to Amazing Grace? I was listening to Haugen's Song at the Centre last night, nicely ethnic. (COurtesy of Youtube. Do look at the Church of the Angels, search for One Bread One body that should bring it up, this is a real cracker, especially good for when things have fouled up or gone badly).
I suppose I should start by wheedling the wedding service out of Father to see the format and where the hymns go.
Or pray. Maybe that would help.
It's a big wedding but very informal. The reception venue is truly squalid, (we're having ghetto gateau) so I want the service bit to be plausible. A lot of young people, but very few Catholics. Help!

[oopsorganist]

google Queen of the angels (sh)

[Southern Comfort]

Laudate 418 (Surprised by joy) is a good text to start with. If Melcombe is likely to be unfamiliar, Tallis's Canon will do.

Laudate 416 (When love is found) is an excellent and challenging and realistic text. Don't sing it to O waly, waly, which no one will know, but a brisk Old 100th would be OK (Angels' Song would be even better, but probably no one will know it).

[docmattc]

There is more in Laudate, have a look at 414 and 421 if you're looking for well known tunes. (and SC's suggestions I've just spotted)

Usual batting order (at least here) is:
1. Entrance of Bride
2. Presider's greeting
3. Opening hymn
4. Liturgy of the Word (reading - psalm - (2nd reading) - Gospel Acc - Gospel)
5. Rite of Marriage (consent, vows, rings etc)
6. Prayer of Faithful
7. Nuptial Blessing
8. Lord's Prayer
9. Final Blessing
10. Procession


Fit in the signing of the register before any one of 6, 9 or 10. A 2nd hymn could go somewhere in the 2nd half too. Our usual is either before or after the final blessing.

[Southern Comfort]

Usual batting order (at least here) is:
1. Entrance of Bride
2. Presider's greeting
3. Opening hymn
4. Liturgy of the Word (reading - psalm - (2nd reading) - Gospel Acc - Gospel)
5. Rite of Marriage (consent, vows, rings etc)
6. Prayer of Faithful
7. Nuptial Blessing
8. Lord's Prayer
9. Final Blessing
10. Procession


Fit in the signing of the register before any one of 6, 9 or 10. A 2nd hymn could go somewhere in the 2nd half too. Our usual is either before or after the final blessing.

Is there no homily as part of 4 ?

If you have a cantor, Laudate 410 is an acclamation for use after 5. (It's in the new rite of marriage which we don't have yet ─ languishing in Rome for years, I believe.) Although the full music edition omits any copyright info regarding the music of this piece, it's actually published as an OCP octavo and so is covered by Calamus. You'd need the cantor to run through the refrain with the congregation beforehand.

[Nick Baty]

Slightly off-topic but highly recommended: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_WVqqQI ... re=related

[NorthernTenor]

Personally, I think no-one should be allowed a Catholic wedding without they can demonstrate they're a trained liturgist.

ps Nick's link is very funny.

[Nick Baty]

Personally, I think no-one should be allowed a Catholic wedding without they can demonstrate they're a trained liturgist.

Presume your tongue is firmly planted in your cheek!

[NorthernTenor]

About the trained liturgist thing, maybe.

About your link, not in the slightest. Is it from a TV series?

[Southern Comfort]

About the trained liturgist thing, maybe.

You mean you think no one should be allowed a Catholic wedding, full stop ?

[NorthernTenor]

About the trained liturgist thing, maybe.

You mean you think no one should be allowed a Catholic wedding, full stop ?

Not quite