Wedding ceremony music

This is a “timed” post: if all goes well, it will automatically appear shortly after we get married. 

I thought it would be nice to share the programme of music we’re using for our wedding — all Baroque, of course!

Arrival of the Bride

Bach: Cantata, BWV 207a, 1st Movement, March

A Welcome from the Registrar

Purcell: “Welcome to all the Pleasures”, Excerpt I

The Declaration; “I will”

Corelli: Opus 2, No. 12: Ciacona

“I take thee” – “You may kiss the Bride”

Handel: Violin Sonata in D Major, 2nd Movement, Allegro

Next comes the signing of the register, which will take between 5 and 10 minutes. Some of the following pieces will play during this time:

Couperin: “Les Baricades Misterieuses”
Lully: Passacaglia (from “Armide”)
Purcell: “Welcome to all the Pleasures”, Excerpt II
Vivaldi: Concerto in G Major, 1st Movement, Allegro

The Exit of the Bride and Groom

Corelli: Concerto Grosso, op. 6 No. 4

Comments 3

  1. CelloGirl wrote:

    I felt like I was at the wedding!

    Posted 02 May 2009 at 11:58 pm
  2. Matt Lewis wrote:

    Nice choices - and congratulations both! I’m sure the deities approved.

    I often hear pieces and think “wedding music!”. Purcell’s music for royal occasions is a particularly good source, if you can avoid the most sycophantic of the texts. And Monteverdi’s Chiome d’oro - if only I could find a recording that’s as good as this one particular live performance that I heard back in about 2002.

    At one point I had Stefano Landi’s “T’amai gran tempo” marked down as potential wedding material, until I checked the translation. Lines include “You always betrayed me, faithless woman” and “Drop dead now! / I don’t want you any more”. Probably not such a good choice then.

    So, for my wedding, all I need to do now is to find a girl who agrees with my musical selection…

    I am going about this in the correct order, aren’t I?

    Posted 16 May 2009 at 11:27 am
  3. Lola wrote:

    Thanks to both!

    Matt - yes, order a bit unusual, and improving your Italian might help, but don’t despair! The Right Girl will come to the Dancing Master, eventually ;-)

    Posted 22 May 2009 at 1:05 am