I play as part of a folk group and have been requested by a bride and groom to play some lively jigs and reels at a wedding during the signing of the register.
Has anyone ever played very lively tunes at this part of the ceremony? Does the priest usually approve? What tunes would you suggest to be suitable?
Thanks alot!
Generally I've found it is good practice to keep things toned down except when you're supposed to be the center of attention. If you're doing incidental music while people are mingling, eating, oohing over the cake, or walking down the aisle, your main concern is staying out of the way.
I'd say lively would be a non-starter for that part of the business. This is where your Carolan repertoire gets a workout, as well as your smooth bowing and laid-back tempi.
My advice, dont mention it to the priest, he's hardly going to come down off the alter to stop you once you get going, is he? A reel played slowly, not too slow mind, is just the ticket.
Do what the bride and groom ask you to do; forget the priest and other attendees... it's not their day, it's the couple's day. I played a wedding with this request before. The best thing to do is to set up a time to meet with them beforehand. Have about 3 optional tunes per portion of the ceremony. Play them once through for the couple and let them decide what tunes they want for each portion. Generally, most couples like slower music except for the bridal march and the recessional/exit music, which can be fast tempo, upbeat and fiesty.
Go back to the couple and say 'Are you sure you want lively music? You do realize that it is dance music liable to get people's attention and distract them from the ceremony. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer something a bit more sedate / solemn / respectful blah blah etc etc...' If they still want rigs and jeels then as Fiddlechick7 says: it's their day. Do whatever they want. Good luck.
The bride and groom have plenty of detail to arrange - it depends on the couple, of course, but when I'm paid to do a wedding, I don't ask the couple to approve a setlist. I'll ask them about entry and exit music and first dance, but beyond that it's my job to know what the occasion needs. For most of it, you're auditory wallpaper. Your job is to provide pretty noises while the guests talk about how nice the couple in question is.
This is a great opportunity, it turns out, to play any fingerstyle arrangements your guitarist might have lying around. Anything that sounds like a harp will go nicely.
(An Phis Fliuch would be a great one to play... I double dare ya!)
Lively jigs and reels work great as recessional music.
The processional should be stately--can't go wrong with a Planxty. Pleasant mid-tempo tunes such as hornpipes or waltzes are appropriate while the guests are seated before the ceremony.
Fiddle chick is right--it's ultimately the bride and groom's decision, but they might benefit from suggestions and guidance.
I heard a lovely version of 'Over the Moor to Maggie' in a church at a funeral there a while ago - while the coffin was being brought out. It was a solo flute player and was very fitting.
I agree with Fiddlechick7: do what the bride and groom ask. They may have asked for lively tunes for a special reason (that you are not party to) and might be disappointed if you decide you know better than they do.
I played at a wedding ceremony recently: gentle guitar music while guests were getting seated and then a couple of songs during the actual ceremony. The songs would not have been my choices ("Wish you Were Here" by Pink Floyd as the bride was coming down the "aisle" - it was an open air wedding - and "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice - a song about a failed relationship - as the register was being signed). But the songs obviously meant a lot to the happy couple. I don't think they would have been too chuffed if I had sung "Here Comes the Bride" instead.
Tripping Up the Stairs and Haste to the Wedding is a nice set of jigs. At my own son's wedding, they played dance tunes before the ceremony, and after the more formal stuff was over, they broke into The Wind That Shakes the Barley at the end of the recessional. But in amongst the ceremony does seem an odd place for dance tunes....
As far a reel selection is concerned, I'd be inclined to play tunes in 2/4 time (we use to refer to them as single reels) Marie's Wedding for instance/Bog Cotton/The Rose Tree/Spanish Lady etc. Most of these type of tunes have words to them and older people would probably sang them at school.
Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Reels at a wedding church ceremony
I play as part of a folk group and have been requested by a bride and groom to play some lively jigs and reels at a wedding during the signing of the register.
Has anyone ever played very lively tunes at this part of the ceremony? Does the priest usually approve? What tunes would you suggest to be suitable?
Thanks alot!
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by yo4trad
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Generally I've found it is good practice to keep things toned down except when you're supposed to be the center of attention. If you're doing incidental music while people are mingling, eating, oohing over the cake, or walking down the aisle, your main concern is staying out of the way.
I'd say lively would be a non-starter for that part of the business. This is where your Carolan repertoire gets a workout, as well as your smooth bowing and laid-back tempi.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Lively as in with lift and feeling but definitely not as in speed I would say.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by bogman
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Sure - anything is fine as long as you make sure nobody notices the music.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
people love putting musicians into awkward situations, don't they?
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Earl Cameron
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
I played a nice slow Shetland march at the signing of the register of my Uncle's wedding, best not being the centre of attention......
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by I ♥ Dow
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
My advice, dont mention it to the priest, he's hardly going to come down off the alter to stop you once you get going, is he? A reel played slowly, not too slow mind, is just the ticket.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Backer
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Do what the bride and groom ask you to do; forget the priest and other attendees... it's not their day, it's the couple's day. I played a wedding with this request before. The best thing to do is to set up a time to meet with them beforehand. Have about 3 optional tunes per portion of the ceremony. Play them once through for the couple and let them decide what tunes they want for each portion. Generally, most couples like slower music except for the bridal march and the recessional/exit music, which can be fast tempo, upbeat and fiesty.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Fiddlechick7
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Can't say the priest will aprove reels and jigs but I agree with fiddlechick, its the bride and grooms day
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by premier
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Go back to the couple and say 'Are you sure you want lively music? You do realize that it is dance music liable to get people's attention and distract them from the ceremony. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer something a bit more sedate / solemn / respectful blah blah etc etc...' If they still want rigs and jeels then as Fiddlechick7 says: it's their day. Do whatever they want. Good luck.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by gam
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
P.S. The Bride's Favourite is a splendid tune.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by gam
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
You could compromise by playing them as the couple walk down the aisle at the end. I think it would fit in better then.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Deise
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
I second The Bride's Favourite as an appropriate choice, played a tad slower than normal.
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by tfgreene
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
The bride and groom have plenty of detail to arrange - it depends on the couple, of course, but when I'm paid to do a wedding, I don't ask the couple to approve a setlist. I'll ask them about entry and exit music and first dance, but beyond that it's my job to know what the occasion needs. For most of it, you're auditory wallpaper. Your job is to provide pretty noises while the guests talk about how nice the couple in question is.
This is a great opportunity, it turns out, to play any fingerstyle arrangements your guitarist might have lying around. Anything that sounds like a harp will go nicely.
(An Phis Fliuch would be a great one to play... I double dare ya!)
# Posted on May 30th 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
The Wedding Reel is also nice.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by Bredna
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Lively jigs and reels work great as recessional music.
The processional should be stately--can't go wrong with a Planxty. Pleasant mid-tempo tunes such as hornpipes or waltzes are appropriate while the guests are seated before the ceremony.
Fiddle chick is right--it's ultimately the bride and groom's decision, but they might benefit from suggestions and guidance.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by Dzia Dzia
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
"Lively jigs and reels work great as recessional music."
Fortunately, the economy seems to be picking up a bit, so we'll need less of that for a while.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
The Breton Wedding March goes down a treat. It certainly did at my wedding. Boys of the Lough do a good version.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by jdalt
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
I heard a lovely version of 'Over the Moor to Maggie' in a church at a funeral there a while ago - while the coffin was being brought out. It was a solo flute player and was very fitting.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by the wounded hussar
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
And of course the Wedding Reel (known as MacCleod's in Scotland I believe). Swing it heavily and it's lively at medium pace.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by bc_box_player
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
I agree with Fiddlechick7: do what the bride and groom ask. They may have asked for lively tunes for a special reason (that you are not party to) and might be disappointed if you decide you know better than they do.
I played at a wedding ceremony recently: gentle guitar music while guests were getting seated and then a couple of songs during the actual ceremony. The songs would not have been my choices ("Wish you Were Here" by Pink Floyd as the bride was coming down the "aisle" - it was an open air wedding - and "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice - a song about a failed relationship - as the register was being signed). But the songs obviously meant a lot to the happy couple. I don't think they would have been too chuffed if I had sung "Here Comes the Bride" instead.
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by DonaldK
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Are there any jigs and reels that are not lively?
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by DonaldK
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Tripping Up the Stairs and Haste to the Wedding is a nice set of jigs. At my own son's wedding, they played dance tunes before the ceremony, and after the more formal stuff was over, they broke into The Wind That Shakes the Barley at the end of the recessional. But in amongst the ceremony does seem an odd place for dance tunes....
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by AlBrown
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
"The Wedding Jig" off of Altan's Red Crow album is a lively jig. Much more lively than the midi file on this site.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1235
# Posted on May 31st 2010 by Jiml
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
As far a reel selection is concerned, I'd be inclined to play tunes in 2/4 time (we use to refer to them as single reels) Marie's Wedding for instance/Bog Cotton/The Rose Tree/Spanish Lady etc. Most of these type of tunes have words to them and older people would probably sang them at school.
# Posted on June 1st 2010 by Free Reed
Re: Reels at a wedding church ceremony
Mentioned this set as useful at weddings once before. Just don't tell anyone the tune titles:
Haste to the Wedding
Tripping Up Stairs
My Wife's a Wee Wanton Thing
Stool of Repentance.
# Posted on June 1st 2010 by cboody