Classical music sometimes gets a bad rap, especially amongst younger generations. It’s sometimes seen as a bit stuffy and boring (unfairly in my opinion!) Yet we’re surrounded by classical music often in places that we least expect it. From film soundtracks to television adverts, to samples in popular dance tracks, it’s everywhere.
You might not have ever been to a full classical recital or watched a whole opera. But that needn’t stop you from appreciating the beauty, grandeur, and tradition of this vast musical genre. Or from wanting to bring some of that to your wedding. Classical music isn’t all the same, and there really is something for everyone.
Here are some of the ways you might use classical music in your wedding ceremony:
1. Classical music to entertain your guests as they arrive and take their seats.
It takes time for everyone to say their “hellos” and find their seats before the ceremony. There’s likely to be some nerves in the air too! Playing some beautiful, calming classical music while all this is happening, is a great way to set the tone for the ceremony ahead.
If you’re having a church wedding, then you might book an organist. The organ is one of the oldest instruments still in regular use, so organists have a huge choice of music to play. Pieces by Handel and J S Bach are very traditional and recognisable, so work well.
If you don’t have the option of an organist, then other classical instruments such as strings, harp, piano or classical guitar work well too. Each instrument has its own style and choice of repertoire, so that will come down to your taste.
A tip: be careful not to pick any piece of music that is often played as a processional piece. Otherwise, guests might get confused and think the ceremony has started early!
2. Classical processional music, or entrance music
The entrance music, aisle music or processional music (whatever you choose to call it), signifies the start of the ceremony. It’s the point where couples most frequently choose classical music, for its tradition and familiarity.
The most well-known piece of classical music associated with weddings is the Bridal Chorus by Wagner, from his opera Lohengrin. Better known as Here Comes the Bride! In the original opera, a full chorus and orchestra perform this piece. But at weddings, it is more common to hear it played on the organ or arranged for another classical instrument. It begins with an arresting fanfare, calling all of your guests to attention!
Almost on a par with Wagner’s Bridal Chorus is Canon in D by Pachelbel. I’ve lost count of the number of couples who have requested this piece for their processional, and yet it never gets old. It is such a beautiful, calm, and serene piece of music. You hear it and immediately think of weddings! This video shows one of my own string trios playing an arrangement of it.
Other popular choices are Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (you get to be royalty for the day, after all!), J S Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring (my choice for my own wedding) and Charpentier’s Te Deum. Apart from Wagner, many of these composers are from the Baroque era (around 1600-1750). There is something about the Baroque style which lends itself wonderfully to weddings. The pieces have grandeur, memorable tunes, and an uplifting sound, so are ideal. They also sound magnificent in a church acoustic!
3. Church hymns
In a church wedding ceremony, you’re likely to be including hymns. Many famous classical composers wrote church hymns as well as concert pieces. You will need an organist to accompany the singing, making sure your guests know when and what to sing. If your church doesn’t have an organ, or its organ is not in good condition, consider booking a string or brass ensemble as an alternative. Using a keyboard or a recording should be a last resort, as neither will sound good in a resonant church acoustic.
If your guests are not regular churchgoers or aren’t confident singers, you might consider booking a choir to bolster the hymns. Depending on the size of your church and congregation, this could be anything from 4 to 40 singers! They will make sure your hymns sound strong and uplifting, giving your guests the confidence to sing out.
If you want to add something a little surprising, consider doing what I did for my wedding and book a trumpeter as well! (Read more about my wedding music in this previous blog post.) We’re used to hearing brass fanfares at big royal weddings on the television, but I bet few of you have heard this at a village church wedding! What I found brilliant, was that the guests didn’t notice the trumpeter was there until he started playing. It added an element of surprise and wow factor to the hymns, which I loved!
4. Instrumental music while you sign the register.
While you’re signing the register and having photos taken, your guests need entertaining! It’s the ideal point to use classical music. It also makes the most of showing off the musicians you have booked, allowing them to shine.
Some excellent options for this part of the ceremony are solo piano, strings, harp, classical guitar, woodwind and brass. Each of these has its own style. Harp and classical guitar have a more relaxed, gentle sound, whilst woodwind and brass ensembles are livelier. Piano and strings can span both. Piano, harp and classical guitar can play independently, whilst other instruments will usually need to be part of an ensemble or accompanied by another instrument.
A beautiful piece for this moment is Debussy’s Clair de Lune. Originally composed for solo piano, it can also be arranged for other instruments. Here is a video of one of my classical pianists performing this gorgeous piece.
5. Vocal music while you sign the register.
Many couples love to hear a singer perform while they sign the register. A beautiful, pure-voiced soprano or a rich-toned baritone will sound wonderful. And there is so much choice of repertoire. You might go for something grand and operatic, something luscious and romantic, or something gentle and angelic. There’s usually time for two or three pieces at this point in the ceremony. You might want to combine a couple of classical pieces with something from musical theatre or jazz repertoire, for example. The options are almost endless!
A timeless classic for weddings is Ave Maria. But did you know there are actually two very famous versions of it? One was written by the composer Schubert. The other is French composer Gounod’s tune sung over an already popular piece by J S Bach. I always make sure to check I’ve got the correct version whenever someone requests Ave Maria!
If you’ve booked a choir to strengthen your hymns, then a performance during the signing of the register is an opportunity to use them to their full potential. There are so many beautiful choral pieces, both religious and non-religious. You can play around with different styles and languages to entertain your guests with a sublime choral sound.
This piece by American composer Eric Whitacre (who is still alive and still composing wonderful music) is a particular favourite of mine. Its title is This Marriage so, naturally, it’s perfect for a wedding ceremony.
Solo classical singers and choirs work best in a large space with a resonant acoustic. They don’t usually perform with amplification. They use the natural acoustic and their impeccable technique to project their sound.
6. Classical recessional music or exit music
Recessional is the fancy word for the exit, at the end of the ceremony. It’s the moment you process back up the aisle, hand in hand as a married couple, followed by your family and friends. Like the processional, this part of the ceremony has several traditional, classical pieces of music associated with it.
I always think the recessional needs to be upbeat and uplifting. The Wedding March by Mendelssohn is one such piece which will be familiar to you and your guests. Apparently, it was first popularised as a wedding piece by Queen Victoria’s daughter, the Princess Royal in 1858. It doesn’t get much more traditional than that! As well as sounding fantastic on a church organ, like many other classical pieces it can also be arranged for other instruments. Here is one of my string trios performing their version of it.
Trumpet Voluntaries are also a popular choice. They’re also an opportunity to make use of that trumpeter you booked to play during the hymns (see above!) The most famous is Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince of Denmark’s March) by Jeremiah Clarke. This piece was played as an entrance piece for Princess Diana in her wedding to Prince Charles. I think it works best as an exit piece, but that’s a matter of opinion! There’s also Trumpet Tune by Purcell, and my personal favourite, Trumpet Voluntary by Stanley. It’s a fantastic, regal way to end a ceremony! These pieces can be played by solo organ, or by organ with a trumpet soloist. They can also be arranged for other classical ensembles, although they might not sound quite so grand!
Another famous solo organ piece is Toccata by Widor. Although it’s fiendishly difficult, so make sure you’ve got a first-rate organist to play it! And let’s go back to where we started with Handel. His La Rejouissance from Music for the Royal Fireworks is another brilliant piece of classical music to exit to. It works exceptionally well on strings instruments.
Using classical music in your wedding ceremony will create a sublime atmosphere and an air of tradition. As well as highlighting all the parts of the ceremony where you might use classical music, I’ve also offered you several suggested pieces. These are just the tip of the iceberg though! There are many thousands of classical pieces for you to choose from.
I always think it’s nice to combine a few well-known pieces that your guests will recognise with something more unusual or unexpected. That way, your ceremony will be unlike any other. You might also want to mix traditional and modern touches to reflect your tastes and personalities. Look out for future blog posts for tips on that!
I’d love to talk to you about using classical music in your wedding ceremony. I love nothing more than going through music lists, helping couples put together a perfect programme of pieces, tailored precisely to them. Book a call with me and let’s get started planning your wedding ceremony music!
