Wedding Music at Hampton Presbyterian

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Music for the Wedding Ceremony

This webpage was setup by the organist at Hampton Presbyterian Church, Gibsonia, PA, to be a one-stop resource assisting bridal couples in selecting music for their wedding ceremony. Many couples are unsure of what music would be appropriate, or they may want something out of the ordinary to set their service apart. In any case, feel free to browse this site. By clicking on each song title, a midi file will open and play on your computer so you can hear how it sounds. Some titles may have mp3 files available, designated by mp3, for broadband users. Hover the cursor over the title or the MP3 link to see additional comments for each song.

You can also use this page to automatically forward your selections to me. Simply select the date of the wedding and rehearsal, the number of bridesmaids, and select the radio buttons for each song you would like played. The information will be transmitted to me, and I will be in touch with you.

As an aside, let me give a note about the midi files. The sound of the midi files is dependent upon the sound card on your computer. Whereas mp3 and wav files are actual recordings of the music played, midi files only record the notes played, then uses the “instrument” of each individual computer to generate the sound, much like the roll of a player piano. The better the sound card, the better the songs will sound. Nevertheless, they will sound much better and fuller on the organ.

Entrance of the Bridal Party

We usually decide this piece first – this is the grand moment, when all eyes are fixed upon the bride. Actually, two pieces are usually played here: one for the bridesmaids, and one for the bride herself. But we can go with one in the case of one or two bridesmaids plus the bride:

Music for the Prelude

This is the time when your guests are entering the sanctuary and taking their seats. It can also set the mood for the service. You can choose romantic sounding, lyrical pieces, or more bright sounding songs fitting for a celebration. I like a mixture of both. Select as many as you wish, but usually 4-7 are sufficient for 20 to 30 minutes of music. One thing to remember is that the last song of the Prelude will be the one the parents enter on. The pieces in bold type are the ones I find myself playing most often. Feel free to request any other titles in the Additional Information box below.

Music for the Recessional

Once vows have been exchanged and the minister has declared the couple to be husband and wife, then the celebration can begin. Here the organist literally "pulls out all the stops." In the meantime, the couple and the bridal party leave the sanctuary and prepare to greet the guests.

Suggested Vocal Solos

Many couples like to have a vocal solo sung at some time, either during the prelude, during the lighting of the Unity Candle, or at some other time in the service. Generally people choose anywhere from 0 to 3 songs, but feel free to select as many as you wish. Other titles may be specified in the Additional Information box below. Here are some songs that have been used recently, along with the words:

Music for the Postlude

Now that the bridal party has made its way out of the sanctuary, we need to get all of your guests out, and keep them entertained while they're waiting to leave. Generally, most people leave this up to my discretion, as it is hard to judge how long this may take. I will play until all guests have entered the greeting line. Here are some choices though, that you may find appropriate:

Bell Benedictus		Weaver
God of Grace and God of Glory	mp3	Manz
Ode to Joy	mp3	Beethoven
Te Deum	mp3	Charpentier
Organist's Discretion

Important Information

Don't forget to tell me the dates and times of the wedding and rehearsal! Check my calendar for availability.

Date of Wedding: Time of Wedding:

mm/dd/yy

Date of Rehearsal: Time of Rehearsal:

mm/dd/yy

Number of Bridesmaids:

Will you have a Unity Candle? Yes No

Contact Information:

(No information is saved or shared. All information is emailed directly to me)

Your Name:			Additional instructions or other songs you would like:
Email Address:
Confirm Email:
Telephone:
Best Time to Call: (Use CTRL for multiple selections)

Hampton Presbyterian Church

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10/19/2005

Bride:				Bridesmaids:
	Bridal Chorus	mp3	Wagner		Air from D Major Suite	mp3	Bach
	Fanfare		Mathias		Four Seasons - Spring (I)		Vivaldi
	Festive Trumpet Tune	mp3	German		Four Seasons - Spring (III)		Vivaldi
	Now Thank We All Our God	mp3	Bach/Fox		Allegro Risoluto from Water Music		Handel
	Now Thank We All Our God	mp3	Karg-Elert		Canon in D	mp3	Pachelbel
	Rigaudon	mp3	Campa		Largo	mp3	Handel
	Trumpet Tune	mp3	Purcell		Largo from Guitar Concerto	mp3	Vivaldi
	Trumpet Voluntary	mp3	Clarke		Palladio		Jenkins
	Request alternative:				Request alternative:

On the Romantic Side				Music for a Celebration
	Adagio for Strings	mp3	Barber		Allegro Risoluto from Water Music		Handel
	Air from D Major Suite	mp3	Bach		Alleluia! From Exultate Jubilate		Mozart
	Air from Water Music	mp3	Handel		Carillon		Archer
	Four Seasons - Autumn (I)		Vivaldi		Cibell		Loeillet
	Four Seasons - Autumn (III)		Vivaldi		Dance Scherzo		Archer
	Allegro from Sinfonia No. 12		Vivaldi		Fanfare for a Festival (Rondeau)	mp3	Mouret
	Andante		Guilmant		Fantasia from Sonata 13		Rheinberger
	Andante Cantabile Symphony No 5		Tschaikowski		Festive Scherzo		Archer
	Andante Pastorale		Stephens		Festive Trumpet Tune	mp3	German
	Aria		Callahan		Fugue in C Major	mp3	Buxtehude
	Aria		Phillips		Gloria from the 12th Mass		Mozart
	Arioso	mp3	Bach		Grand Choeur		Dubois
	Ave Maria		Bach/Gounod		Highland Strings		Capestro
	Ave Maria	mp3	Schubert		Hornpipe from Water Music	mp3	Handel
	Canon in D	mp3	Pachelbel		In Thee Is Gladness		Bish
	Cantabile		Guilmant		Introduction and Toccata	mp3	Frescobaldi
	Canzonetta from Sonata 13		Rheinberger		Larghetto (Organ Concerto in F)		Handel
	Clair de Lune		Debussy		Little Prelude and Fugue in Bb	mp3	Bach
	Gift of Love, The		Traditional		Little Prelude and Fugue in C	mp3	Bach
	Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring	mp3	Bach		Little Prelude and Fugue in F	mp3	Bach
	Largo	mp3	Handel		My Heart Ever Faithful		Bach
	Liebestraum	mp3	Liszt		Now Thank We All Our God	mp3	Bach/Fox
	Meditation from "Thais"		Massenet		Now Thank We All Our God	mp3	Karg-Elert
	Nocturne in E Minor	mp3	Chopin		Prelude in Classic Style	mp3	Young
	On Wings of Song		Mendelssohn		Rejoicing, The	mp3	Handel
	One Hand, One Heart		Bernstein		Rigaudon	mp3	Campa
	Panis Angelicus	mp3	Franck		Toccata Brevis	mp3	Gawthrop
	Romance		Rubinstein		Toccata in D Minor		Sergisson
	Variation on a Theme By Paganini		Rachmaninoff		Trumpet Tune	mp3	Purcell
	Vocalise		Rachmaninoff		Trumpet Voluntary	mp3	Clarke
	Where'er You Walk	mp3	Handel		Wedding Bells		Peele

Allegro from Suite Gothique	mp3	Boëllmann
Cibell		Loeillet
Festive Trumpet Tune	mp3	German
Hornpipe from Water Music	mp3	Handel
Rejoicing, The	mp3	Handel
Now Thank We All Our God	mp3	Bach/Fox
Now Thank We All Our God	mp3	Karg-Elert
Psalm XIX	mp3	Marcello
Rigaudon	mp3	Campa
Toccata from Symphony No. 5	mp3	Widor
Trumpet Tune	mp3	Purcell
Trumpet Voluntary	mp3	Clarke
Wedding March	mp3	Mendelssohn

The Lord's Prayer	Lyrics		Mallotte
Ave Maria		mp3	Schubert
I Will Be Here	Lyrics		Chapman
Butterfly Kisses	Lyrics	mp3	Thomas/Carlisle
Cherish the Treasure	Lyrics		Mohr
Parent's Prayer	Lyrics		Davis
(Let Go of Two)	Lyrics		Davis
Perfect Union	Lyrics	mp3	Schreiner/Ward
The Prayer	Lyrics
Wedding Song	Lyrics	mp3	Stookey
(There Is Love)	Lyrics	mp3	Stookey
Request alternative(s):

Air from D Major Suite

Allegro Risoluto

from Water Music

Canon in D

Allegro Risoluto from Water Music