hey everyone, i had recently been asked to play a tune or a few tunes for my sisters wedding in the summer. i'm hoping to avoid playing 'the wedding march' as it just might kill me. any ideas for some songs that might work? has anyone had to do this in the past?
...about a million times, it seems like.
Mairi's Wedding? (not sure about the spelling...)
If it's for the processional, you need to watch the tempo, and be ready to end it as soon as the happy couple arrive at the altar, so they're not standing around cooling their heels while you finish the "B" part.
The jokes about "I Buried My Wife..." and "Old Hag..." can begin now...
Have Fun,
Tom
Only problem with the titles above is that nobody will know they have anything to do with a wedding (except the ITM literate). If you want ITM just play anything that sounds nice. If you want more traditional (WITHOUT the wedding march, you can play Trumpet Tune or Trumpet Voluntary on a D whistle.
i played for my friends' outdoor wedding, and went through several tunes with them ahead of time.Basically, I picked a bunch of tunes that I like playing and play well, and I let them choose which ones they wanted for the processional and recessional. We ended up with Si Beag Si Mhor for the processional and Silver Spear/The High Drive for the recessional. Not typical wedding tunes, I'd say, but it was what they wanted.
Maybe you could have your sister choose the tunes from your repertoire?
Tabhair Dom Do Lámh 'Give me you hand' - As the bride goes up the church
'O'Carolan's Concerto' - As the couple come down the aisle, maybe ending with Haste to the Wedding.
A few Slow Airs played during the Service
Always worked for us at weddings that required an Irish theme.
I have used "Blind Mary" as the processional- just the right blend of stateliness, beauty, and sadness for a wedding. Played it on my cello, it was well received, with phrases independent enough and short enough to be cut off when the couple gets where they're going.
For the recessional I used "Calliope House" on the octave mandolin to boot them down the aisle.
i'll be playing a fiddle and maybe have someone playing guitar as well, though its possible i might just be flying solo at that point. these are some great choices, and i like the idea of getting my sister to choose one or two from my repertoire, i'll just have to add some of these songs to it first.
thanks for all the replies!
"Blind Mary," or the Morris tune "The Idiot" are perfect for the processional. "Kitchen Girl" is a fun one for the recessional. The titles of tunes doesn't matter as much as the kind of emotion and sentiment that the tune evokes for the event.
As stated above, O'Carolan tunes and even waltzes played at the right pace work as processionals or recessionals. A nice bright reel can be used for recessional, or shift from slower tune to reel once the bride goes down the aisle, and you are clearing out the wedding party, something like Wind that Shakes the Barley or Merry Blacksmith. Also as stated above, Haste to the Wedding and Tripping Up the Stairs are favorite wedding jigs.
Don't be afraid to do non-trad tunes with trad instruments--our group, for example, does variations on Pachabel's Canon--it feels a lot like a harp tune, and lends itself to whistles, fiddles, flutes and guitars.
One thing not mentioned above is that, if the wedding is in a church, check early in the process with the minister or priest--different churches have different feelings about secular music being played in their sanctuaries, and some may want you to stick to music from their own 'repetoire.'
Biggest advice I have for weddings is practice hard, and play well, the bride and groom deserve the best playing you can give them, and you can add a lot to their joyous day!
tunes for a wedding
tunes for a wedding
hey everyone, i had recently been asked to play a tune or a few tunes for my sisters wedding in the summer. i'm hoping to avoid playing 'the wedding march' as it just might kill me. any ideas for some songs that might work? has anyone had to do this in the past?
thanks!
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by casteelsm
Re: tunes for a wedding
...about a million times, it seems like.
Mairi's Wedding? (not sure about the spelling...)
If it's for the processional, you need to watch the tempo, and be ready to end it as soon as the happy couple arrive at the altar, so they're not standing around cooling their heels while you finish the "B" part.
The jokes about "I Buried My Wife..." and "Old Hag..." can begin now...
Have Fun,
Tom
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by tomw
Re: tunes for a wedding
Here's a few suitable trad tunes:
1) Haste to the Wedding
2) The Bride's Favourite
3) The Bridal Jig
4) Mairie' s Weddiing
5) Tripping up the Stairs ...
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: tunes for a wedding
Ha! Here's another:
Biddy the Bowl Wife.
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: tunes for a wedding
Only problem with the titles above is that nobody will know they have anything to do with a wedding (except the ITM literate). If you want ITM just play anything that sounds nice. If you want more traditional (WITHOUT the wedding march, you can play Trumpet Tune or Trumpet Voluntary on a D whistle.
Pat
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by plunk111
Re: tunes for a wedding
i played for my friends' outdoor wedding, and went through several tunes with them ahead of time.Basically, I picked a bunch of tunes that I like playing and play well, and I let them choose which ones they wanted for the processional and recessional. We ended up with Si Beag Si Mhor for the processional and Silver Spear/The High Drive for the recessional. Not typical wedding tunes, I'd say, but it was what they wanted.
Maybe you could have your sister choose the tunes from your repertoire?
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by ingridrt
Re: tunes for a wedding
There are some of the selections Linda and I suggest for wedding ceremonies here: http://edsaultz.com/id72.html
You can click on the track titles to hear a recording of Linda playing the tunes.
All the best!
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by ejsant
Re: tunes for a wedding
Tabhair Dom Do Lámh 'Give me you hand' - As the bride goes up the church
'O'Carolan's Concerto' - As the couple come down the aisle, maybe ending with Haste to the Wedding.
A few Slow Airs played during the Service
Always worked for us at weddings that required an Irish theme.
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by Free Reed
Re: tunes for a wedding
Pachelbel's Frolics - people love Pachelbel's Canon for weddings - you can slip it in by playing Pachelbel's Frolics
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by fynnjamin
Re: tunes for a wedding
Speaking of the Pachelbel Canon, here's a great clip going around on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: tunes for a wedding
inion ni scannlain is lovely, what instrument are you playing?
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by lilyot
Re: tunes for a wedding
I have used "Blind Mary" as the processional- just the right blend of stateliness, beauty, and sadness for a wedding. Played it on my cello, it was well received, with phrases independent enough and short enough to be cut off when the couple gets where they're going.
For the recessional I used "Calliope House" on the octave mandolin to boot them down the aisle.
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by justjim
Re: tunes for a wedding
i'll be playing a fiddle and maybe have someone playing guitar as well, though its possible i might just be flying solo at that point. these are some great choices, and i like the idea of getting my sister to choose one or two from my repertoire, i'll just have to add some of these songs to it first.
thanks for all the replies!
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by casteelsm
Re: tunes for a wedding
"Blind Mary," or the Morris tune "The Idiot" are perfect for the processional. "Kitchen Girl" is a fun one for the recessional. The titles of tunes doesn't matter as much as the kind of emotion and sentiment that the tune evokes for the event.
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by Leendah
Re: tunes for a wedding
As stated above, O'Carolan tunes and even waltzes played at the right pace work as processionals or recessionals. A nice bright reel can be used for recessional, or shift from slower tune to reel once the bride goes down the aisle, and you are clearing out the wedding party, something like Wind that Shakes the Barley or Merry Blacksmith. Also as stated above, Haste to the Wedding and Tripping Up the Stairs are favorite wedding jigs.
Don't be afraid to do non-trad tunes with trad instruments--our group, for example, does variations on Pachabel's Canon--it feels a lot like a harp tune, and lends itself to whistles, fiddles, flutes and guitars.
One thing not mentioned above is that, if the wedding is in a church, check early in the process with the minister or priest--different churches have different feelings about secular music being played in their sanctuaries, and some may want you to stick to music from their own 'repetoire.'
Biggest advice I have for weddings is practice hard, and play well, the bride and groom deserve the best playing you can give them, and you can add a lot to their joyous day!
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by AlBrown
Re: tunes for a wedding
The Wedding Reel (aka McLeods Farewell)
# Posted on March 8th 2009 by Bredna
Re: tunes for a wedding
The Snowy Path
The Munster Cloak
The Little Stack of Wheat
...nice tunes played a steady pace
# Posted on March 9th 2009 by cferrie
Re: tunes for a wedding
Unst Bridal March is a nice tune.
# Posted on March 9th 2009 by jasonb
Re: tunes for a wedding
As is the St. Kilda Wedding.
# Posted on March 9th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: tunes for a wedding
I've played Planxty Irwin as a wedding march. It fits quite well.
# Posted on March 9th 2009 by Bob himself