I'm in urgent need of wedding music for Irish Flute. My uncle is getting married a week from today and asked me yesterday to play at the wedding. I'm up for suggestions, but I really need some help for a few songs. If possible, can you also let me know where I can get sheet music? I have been learning by ear, but 6 days isn't quite enough time for me to memorize. I printed out The Fairy Queen to give it a go. Also, I have under my belt the Beauty Spot from Solas' Words that Remain, the Maid of Culmore, and Will ye Go Lassie Go. Please give me your opinions, and suggestions. I'm desperate and really want to do a good job.
Whitney, try Inisheer, a lovely air. Type it into the search box on the tune archives here and you'll have sheet music and a sound file to listen to. Si Beag Si Mor is also a good one for weddings...I've even heard it used as the processional to the altar. Both of these are easy to play on flute and not hard to memorize (or sight read). And you can fill lots of time simply by playing them 4-5 times over--they're such beautiful melodies, no one will complain. Also, Sailing Through the Narrows, a jig by John McCusker, can be played a little more up tempo if need be. It's also in the tune archives here. And the title might be appropriate, given how most marriages go....
We've played Crested Hens at weddings before, and it was well-received. 'course, we also played Sculley's as a recessional. But Crested Hens works well, for some reason the 3/4 beat made that aisle-walking a little more graceful.
Probably not "I Buried My Wife And Danced On Top Of Her" !
What about "Love Lie Near Me" - a lovely air, and very appropriate- recorded by harp player Wendy Stewart ?
Or "Give Me Your Hand" - on Planxty's first LP.
Whitney, relax, don't be desparate. Anything that you play will add "flavour to the wedding". Weddings are unique, from a performance perspective, in that you cannot lose. No matter what you play, or how you play, your contribution will add to the atmosphere of the day. From your uncle's perspective, the only thing better than having Martin Hayes play at the wedding, would be to have his beloved neice contribute a few tunes. Your uncle's guests share his perspective, as well, so.....add to the day in your own unique way, and everyone will thank you for it.
I have been honoured to have played for several brides as they made their way down the aisle, and have been part of a good many receptions, and the response is always the same,....people find the music to be a charming addition to the day.
Tune suggestions, Haste To the Wedding, slowed down, and played as a waltz, (perfect for going down the aisle), Haste to the Wedding, played at normal tempo, (perfect for the married couple exiting the church), Mary's Wedding, Endearing Young Charms,
Tell My Ma, To the Ladies,.... actually anything at all is perfect...
Whitney, Scottythefiddler is so right! They will all love you, and no matter what tunes you decide on it will be beautiful. I've played at weddings and had friends play at mine. I walked down to the aisle to The Butterfly, and beleive it or not, I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave was our recessional--we didin't choose it, but we did get a laugh out of it. Nobody else knew what the tune was called, and it is a very nice one.
Good Luck--and if you make a mistake, don't stop--keep on playing--no one will even notice.
The Shepherd's Wife is a beautiful waltz.
The other postings are right, though - it doesn't really matter as long as it sounds nice. I've played at friends' weddings and yes, the important thing is to keep on playing. Your music is accompaniment to a ritual, not a performance in itself.
Enjoy!
You might try some Carolan -- Carolan's Draught for the recessional is one of my favorites. Fairy Queen for the processional is good, and if the bride wants separate music, Give Me Your Hand is good. Be prepared to cut it short at any time in the tune, because most tunes are shorter than the aisle takes to walk!
George Brabazon, 1st air (not the more commonly heard 2nd air) by Turlough O'Carolan would be a great wedding recessional. It's essentially a fanfare, and sounds joyous, triumphant.
If tune titles are anything to go by, then Jenny's Wedding and Johnny's Wedding are two nice reels (I would recommend transposing the second one from Gm to Am for the flute) - and the horpipe, Kitty's Wedding. The St. Kilda Wedding is a nice Scottish tune.
I attended a wedding last summer where the piper played Seven Nights Drunk as the recessional, about the man who drinks every night 'as drunk as drunk could be', & his wife is having an affair with the British tax collector, oh boy did I have a wicked chuckle at that one, although everybody else loved it, of course not knowing the words.
At a wedding I played a while back, I was really only supposed to do the processional, but when the organist didn't show up, and it was time for the recessional, the priest looked at me and said, play something now! So the first thing I could think of on the fly was Paddy McGinty's Goat--so that's what I played!
My Grandad sang 'Believe me if all those endearing young charms', to my Grandma, on their wedding day. So, *if* I was ever to get married, I'd choose that. It's a lovely, stately, sentimental tune, too - ideal for a wedding really.
I'm not holding my breath for a husband who'll sing it to me, though...
Éamonn a Chnoic (Ned of the Hill) a beautiful love song.
Any of a number of planxty's - Irwin, Mrs Mc Dermott for example.
Mná na h-Éireann (women of ireland - you'll find it on one of the Chieftains' albums).
Ar Éirinn ní n-eosfainn cé h-í (for Ireland I'll not tell her name)
You could also try some of Ó Riada's compositions.
If the wedding is in a church the acoustics will be brilliant for slow airs - but be careful if you play any jigs or reels as the reverb in big spaces can blur the music.
Best advice of all - try one that you really like and can play well.
Enjoy the day - hope all goes well for the family!
Thank you for the Wedding music suggestions for flute
Thank you to all of you that sent replies for my request for Irish tunes/songs for my Uncle's Wedding. It went great! I played for 20 minutes before the ceremony, and played many of the suggestions: The Fairy Queen, The Shepherd's Wife, Will you go Lassie Go, Beauty Spot, Give me Your Hand, Sunset, Endearing young Charms, and a few others.
It was great fun. I really enjoyed it, and most importantly the bride and groom said they loved it. Being family, they all gave me compliments. It was a good time. I can't wait to play again.
Wedding music for Irish Flute
Wedding music for Irish Flute
Hello
I'm in urgent need of wedding music for Irish Flute. My uncle is getting married a week from today and asked me yesterday to play at the wedding. I'm up for suggestions, but I really need some help for a few songs. If possible, can you also let me know where I can get sheet music? I have been learning by ear, but 6 days isn't quite enough time for me to memorize. I printed out The Fairy Queen to give it a go. Also, I have under my belt the Beauty Spot from Solas' Words that Remain, the Maid of Culmore, and Will ye Go Lassie Go. Please give me your opinions, and suggestions. I'm desperate and really want to do a good job.
Thank you in advance
Whitney
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Whitney
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
PS I will be playing solo.
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Whitney
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Whitney, try Inisheer, a lovely air. Type it into the search box on the tune archives here and you'll have sheet music and a sound file to listen to. Si Beag Si Mor is also a good one for weddings...I've even heard it used as the processional to the altar. Both of these are easy to play on flute and not hard to memorize (or sight read). And you can fill lots of time simply by playing them 4-5 times over--they're such beautiful melodies, no one will complain. Also, Sailing Through the Narrows, a jig by John McCusker, can be played a little more up tempo if need be. It's also in the tune archives here. And the title might be appropriate, given how most marriages go....
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Will CPT
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Um...*songs*, eh? Green Grow the Rushes, Oh, is always popular....
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Will CPT
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Bridal Jig
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by SPeak
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
We've played Crested Hens at weddings before, and it was well-received. 'course, we also played Sculley's as a recessional.
But Crested Hens works well, for some reason the 3/4 beat made that aisle-walking a little more graceful.
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Trinil
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Probably not "I Buried My Wife And Danced On Top Of Her" !
What about "Love Lie Near Me" - a lovely air, and very appropriate- recorded by harp player Wendy Stewart ?
Or "Give Me Your Hand" - on Planxty's first LP.
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Kenny
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Whitney, relax, don't be desparate. Anything that you play will add "flavour to the wedding". Weddings are unique, from a performance perspective, in that you cannot lose. No matter what you play, or how you play, your contribution will add to the atmosphere of the day. From your uncle's perspective, the only thing better than having Martin Hayes play at the wedding, would be to have his beloved neice contribute a few tunes. Your uncle's guests share his perspective, as well, so.....add to the day in your own unique way, and everyone will thank you for it.
I have been honoured to have played for several brides as they made their way down the aisle, and have been part of a good many receptions, and the response is always the same,....people find the music to be a charming addition to the day.
Tune suggestions, Haste To the Wedding, slowed down, and played as a waltz, (perfect for going down the aisle), Haste to the Wedding, played at normal tempo, (perfect for the married couple exiting the church), Mary's Wedding, Endearing Young Charms,
Tell My Ma, To the Ladies,.... actually anything at all is perfect...
Cheers,
Scott
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by scottythefiddler
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Whitney, Scottythefiddler is so right! They will all love you, and no matter what tunes you decide on it will be beautiful. I've played at weddings and had friends play at mine. I walked down to the aisle to The Butterfly, and beleive it or not, I Buried My Wife and Danced on Her Grave was our recessional--we didin't choose it, but we did get a laugh out of it. Nobody else knew what the tune was called, and it is a very nice one.
Good Luck--and if you make a mistake, don't stop--keep on playing--no one will even notice.
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by Andee
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
The Shepherd's Wife is a beautiful waltz.
The other postings are right, though - it doesn't really matter as long as it sounds nice. I've played at friends' weddings and yes, the important thing is to keep on playing. Your music is accompaniment to a ritual, not a performance in itself.
Enjoy!
# Posted on October 12th 2002 by daveb
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
I love playing for weddings. Take a look at http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/755 for more suggestions.
You might try some Carolan -- Carolan's Draught for the recessional is one of my favorites. Fairy Queen for the processional is good, and if the bride wants separate music, Give Me Your Hand is good. Be prepared to cut it short at any time in the tune, because most tunes are shorter than the aisle takes to walk!
Zina
# Posted on October 13th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
George Brabazon, 1st air (not the more commonly heard 2nd air) by Turlough O'Carolan would be a great wedding recessional. It's essentially a fanfare, and sounds joyous, triumphant.
Sarah
# Posted on October 14th 2002 by x
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
If tune titles are anything to go by, then Jenny's Wedding and Johnny's Wedding are two nice reels (I would recommend transposing the second one from Gm to Am for the flute) - and the horpipe, Kitty's Wedding. The St. Kilda Wedding is a nice Scottish tune.
# Posted on October 14th 2002 by ragaman
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
I attended a wedding last summer where the piper played Seven Nights Drunk as the recessional, about the man who drinks every night 'as drunk as drunk could be', & his wife is having an affair with the British tax collector, oh boy did I have a wicked chuckle at that one, although everybody else loved it, of course not knowing the words.
# Posted on October 14th 2002 by emily_bmore
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
At a wedding I played a while back, I was really only supposed to do the processional, but when the organist didn't show up, and it was time for the recessional, the priest looked at me and said, play something now! So the first thing I could think of on the fly was Paddy McGinty's Goat--so that's what I played!
# Posted on October 14th 2002 by Andee
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
My Grandad sang 'Believe me if all those endearing young charms', to my Grandma, on their wedding day. So, *if* I was ever to get married, I'd choose that. It's a lovely, stately, sentimental tune, too - ideal for a wedding really.
I'm not holding my breath for a husband who'll sing it to me, though...
# Posted on October 14th 2002 by Nell
Re: Wedding music for Irish Flute
Éamonn a Chnoic (Ned of the Hill) a beautiful love song.
Any of a number of planxty's - Irwin, Mrs Mc Dermott for example.
Mná na h-Éireann (women of ireland - you'll find it on one of the Chieftains' albums).
Ar Éirinn ní n-eosfainn cé h-í (for Ireland I'll not tell her name)
You could also try some of Ó Riada's compositions.
If the wedding is in a church the acoustics will be brilliant for slow airs - but be careful if you play any jigs or reels as the reverb in big spaces can blur the music.
Best advice of all - try one that you really like and can play well.
Enjoy the day - hope all goes well for the family!
# Posted on October 18th 2002 by breandan
Thank you for the Wedding music suggestions for flute
Thank you to all of you that sent replies for my request for Irish tunes/songs for my Uncle's Wedding. It went great! I played for 20 minutes before the ceremony, and played many of the suggestions: The Fairy Queen, The Shepherd's Wife, Will you go Lassie Go, Beauty Spot, Give me Your Hand, Sunset, Endearing young Charms, and a few others.
It was great fun. I really enjoyed it, and most importantly the bride and groom said they loved it. Being family, they all gave me compliments. It was a good time. I can't wait to play again.
thanks again for all the great suggestions.
# Posted on October 21st 2002 by Whitney