duodamore, Author at Duo d'Amore

Niagara Falls Wedding String Quartet. Jessica + David’s wedding at Hernder Estates Winery,

Niagara Falls Wedding String Quartet

Post author:duodamore
Post published:April 12, 2015
Post category:Blog Niagara Wedding Ceremony Music
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This wedding ceremony was bright, summery and (aside from the gale force winds) absolutely gorgeous. We arrived quite early prior to the ceremony, as this was our first time at Hernder Estate Winery, located just outside of St Catharines. We found the wedding planner and had a quick chat, and began to setup our chairs, and as the ceremony venue was by the pond, we brought along our tent, and set that up as well. We had to improvise as even though the pegs were into the ground, the tent was in danger of blowing away (see the trees in the background by the very talented photographer Robyn Russell). We borrowed a few rocks from the pond to secure the tent and all was well. By the time we ere setup (about 10 minutes) the guests had not arrived yet, and it is always nice to be so prepared well in advance.

When the guests began to arrive we performed some upbeat pop songs, including hits by Elvis and the Beatles, to keep the mood light and fun. During this time, Sheldon Kofsky the officiant arrived and we received a cue from the planner that the bridesmaids’ processional was about to begin.

The mood shifted with the music selections to include the lovely open knit and fresh sounding music of Bach when the four bridesmaids and flower girl walked up the aisle, and took their places. At that point we paused for a few seconds, and began the famous Pachelbel’s Canon for the bride and her father’s walk. When they had reached the front of the aisle overlooking the pond and bridge at Hernder, we created a seamless and melodic ending, which was perfectly timed.

The next part of the ceremony where music happens is during the signing of the register, following the vows and kiss. For this section the mood was a little bit quieter, as we performed Bach’s Sleepers Awake, before the triumphant Mendelsohn’s Wedding March was heard as the couple were introduced as husband and wife for the first time.

Wedding Ceremony Music Selections

Bridesmaids Processional: Bach Air

Bride: Pachelbel Canon

Signing of the register: Bach: Sleepers Awake

Recessional: Mendelsohn Wedding March

Niagara Wedding Vendors

Brides Dress: Maggie Sottero

Bridesmaids Dresses: David Bridal Groom & Groomsmen Tuxes: Moores 

MUAH: Beyoutiful Brides 

Venues: Hilton Fallsview Hotel & Hernder Estate Winery

Minister: Sheldon Kofsky 

Musicians: Duo D’Amore 

Florist: BBBlooms Floral Studio 

Bakery: The Frosted Cupcake 

Photographer and photo credit: Robyn Russell

Linens: Gotcha Covered 

DJ: Alpha Audio Visual

Wedding ceremony music Niagara ON: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

Toronto Wedding String Trio: Melissa and Aaron

London Ontario wedding musicians

Post author:duodamore
Post published:March 25, 2015
Post category:London ON Wedding Music
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Wedding ceremonies are full of planning and preparation, excitement and when the weather also cooperates, you get a beautiful ceremony like Andrea and Adams. This is something special, which does not always happen!

The music helped to create a wonderful atmosphere for the guest throughout the ceremony. I spoke with Andrea during the planning process, and she decided on the following ceremony music selections. Below each selection, I have made some notes on why these particular selections worked so well as performed by the violinist and cellist at The Old Courthouse in London.

Bridesmaid Processional - Moon River

This is a unique choice for the bridesmaids to walk down the aisle to. It really helps to create a calm mood, with a bit of sentimentality and wistfulness. The song provides a nice contrast (old vs. new, slow vs. medium slow) for the bride’s processional.

Processional - A Thousand Years

A new classic! A Thousand Years is really easy to walk to, and has a bit more drive to the music, something that is important to highlight the brides walk down the aisle.

Signing - Can't Help Falling in Love

With the previous selections, this works beautifully, as we slip back with a retro fell, but with timelessness as well.

Recessional - All You Need Is Love

This song is best described as being super fun and upbeat, and is a fantastic choice for the recessional.

Photo and photo credit: Dudek Photography

Wedding ceremony musicians London ON: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

Toronto Wedding String Ensemble at Casa Loma

Post author:duodamore
Post published:March 17, 2015
Post category:Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions
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“Our ceremony was beautiful. I was nervous and there were many things going on for me to recall the whole performance but parts of my recollection was how beautiful and a great complimentary the performance was. Please thank the musicians for me that played once again as my husband and I thank you from our hearts for the excellent pieces that the two ladies did at our wedding.” Thuy, bride

We always enjoy performing at Casa Loma, and this wedding ceremony was no exception. The venue as as you can imagine (if you have never been there) is a large gothic revival building, which has the feel and grandeur of a castle. In planning the music selections, Thuy and John chose selections from the traditional classical repertoire that fit perfectly with their tastes, and matched the style of the wedding, as well as the style of the venue as a whole. Our violinist and cellist set up prior to the main arrival of the guests, and as the guests entered performed several selections of classical music to set and fit the mood, including movements from Handel’s Water Music. As with most wedding ceremonies, the ceremony begins with the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. Thuy and John really took advantage of the large aisle, and had a processional with considerable style: they not only had the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, but also included family members, flower girls and a whole procession of people, and they chose the wonderfully flowing and happy Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, which was an absolutely perfect fit. The bride walked down to Pachelbel’s Canon (again, perfect) then there was a break in the music for the important vows, and kiss. For the signing of the marriage documents, Duo d’Amore performed Bach’s Air on the G-string, which is one of our favorites, especially for the signing. As the couple was introduced, we performed Mendelsohn’s Wedding March.

Wedding party processional: Bach: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring

Bride: Pachelbel: Canon in D

Signing: Bach: Air on the G string

Recessional: Mendelsohn Wedding March

Video: Faithbooth

Wedding ceremony musicians Toronto ON: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

Wedding Violinist Cellist Ensembles Canmore

Post author:duodamore
Post published:March 13, 2015
Post category:Banff Weddings Blog Calgary Wedding Music cocktail music string quartet Special Events strings for weddings Calgary Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions Wedding Planning Advice Wedding String Quartet Ensemble Canmore AB

“I wanted to say thank you for playing at my wedding. It was absolutely beautiful and I loved having Metallica play walking down the aisle. Got a lot of comments. I didn’t have a chance to thank them after the ceremony so please do for me.” Raylene, bride

This ceremony was wonderful in a different sort of way, and that’s always exciting for us. The biggest difference between this ceremony and a lot of other wedding ceremonies that we perform at in Canmore or across Canada is that we performed Metallica's Nothing Else Matters in a church. That really does not happen too often so it was quite a fun experience for us, the guests and the bride and groom.

After the processional in the wedding, comes the vows, and just after the vows comes the next portion where music is typically performed: the signing of the register. From Metallica, what music was chosen for this: something else unexpected—the very traditional Bach-Gounod Ave Maria. This works perfect for the signing, as it is both long enough (as signings can last up to 8 minutes) and it is also more laid back. This laid back quality is just what is needed to contrast with the more upbeat recessional. Speaking of the recessional, this often takes place just seconds after the signing, as the officiant introduces the couple. For Raylene and Trevor’s recessional the violin and cello players performed Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary, to end the beautiful ceremony at the Church of the Rockies with traditional and non-traditional elements.

Photo and Photo credit: www.Peakphotography.ca

Wedding ceremony musicians Canmore AB: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

Star Wars Wedding String Quartet

Ok, I’m just going to come out and say it—I’m 34 and just watched Star Wars for the first time the other day. Of course, I loved it, and thought that it would be a great idea for a wedding. Others have thought that way to, and you can read about interesting wedding ceremonies here.

If you do a Google search for Star Wars Wedding, a lot of what comes up is about costumes, hair, and other theme related details. However, as you can imagine, with Duo d’Amore, it’s all about the music. While we have performed Star Wars music at wedding in the past (namely the Imperial March) it would be great to put together a whole wedding with John Williams’ amazing score from the films. The string section of the orchestra features prominently in the film, and any of our ensembles are perfect to convey the amazing compositions. Though there are many possibilities, I think this grouping would work particularly well:

Star Wars Wedding Program

Wedding Party Processional: Han Solo and Leia Love Theme, Empire strikes back

This theme is great to walk to as there is a slow but steady beat and it is quite lush. It is nice that the theme represents the love between the Han and Princess Leia, which is perfect for the bridesmaids and wedding party to walk to. It would make a great violin and cello duet.

Bride: Princess Leia’s Theme, Episode IV

This is the natural choice, and I would omit the introduction and start the processional head on with the main theme. Alternatively, it would be great to start this with the rebel fanfare, then lead into princess Leia’s theme. Either a duo, trio or string quartet could do this song justice.

Signing of the register: The Force Theme, Episode IV

While I originally thought the force theme would be a good option for the bridesmaids, It would actually suit the signing much better. This is quite a serious theme, a bit on the dark side (sorry about the pun) for the bridesmaids to walk down the aisle to, but perfect for the legal portion of the ceremony. This would sound great with the fullness of a string quartet

Recessional: Main Theme, Episode IV

To top it all off, the theme that everyone has been waiting for: the main theme from the film. This is the natural ending to a fun (and just a bit geeky) wedding! Again, the duo, trio and string quartet could really make this shine.

Wedding ceremony music: Duo d'Amore-violin and cello duos trios and quartets

Calgary Wedding Violinist Cellist: Denise and Jason

Post author:duodamore
Post published:March 2, 2015
Post category:Blog Calgary Wedding Cellist Calgary Wedding Music Calgary Wedding Violinist strings for weddings Calgary Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions wedding string quartet Calgary

June seems so far away, but not when you compare it to the person whose anniversary it is today-today is the 309^th anniversary of the death of Johann Pachelbel, the composer of the famous Canon, and lesser know gigue (or as we know it ‘jig’, a dance popular in the baroque). But this is getting far off the mark in terms of Denise and Jason’s wonderful catholic wedding ceremony at St Josephs’ Church in Calgary.

As the ceremony was catholic, we had the opportunity to perform some amazing and traditional wedding songs that work perfectly, and like Pachelbel Canon are well loved. Prior to the ceremony, we also performed a mixture of some soft and more upbeat classical music, before starting the music for the bridesmaids. As the first bridesmaid took a step and walked down the aisle, we performed Charpentier’s regal and almost march-like Prelude from TeDeum, an early hymn that is quite upbeat. This was followed by Pachelbel’s Canon for the bride. As this was a full mass, we also performed Bach’s Wachet Auf or Sleeper’s Awake for communion and followed that up with a perennial Bach favorite, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. As the priest pronounced them husband and wife our final piece of ceremony music performance was Handel’s glorious second hornpipe from the watermusik.

Ceremony music:

Bridesmaid processional: Charpentier prelude from TeDeum

Bride processional: Pachelbel canon in D

Communion: Bach Wachet auf (sleepers awake)

Signing: Bach Jesu Joy of mans desiring

Recessional: Handel hornpipe II from water music

Vendors:

Calgary wedding photographers, and photo credit – Christina & Nathan 

Venue – Calgary Italian Club 

Decor – Teal with Reflections Weddings

Wedding ceremony musicians Calgary: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

Wedding Strings Niagara: Julia + Michael photo credit Robyn Russel

Wedding Strings Niagara: Julia + Michael

Post author:duodamore
Post published:February 23, 2015
Post category:Blog Niagara Wedding Band Niagara Wedding Ceremony Music Wedding Cellist Niagara Wedding Quartet Niagara Wedding Violinist Niagara

“Thank you for making such a special contribution to our day!” Julia, bride

June 7^th, was truly a beautiful day—the weather was wonderful and the perfect day for a wedding ceremony. The wedding was held at the escarpment site (complete with a lovely pond) at Cave Spring Vineyards, just a few kilometers from Inn on the Twenty in Jordan. This site is particularly wonderful, as unlike the other vineyard site, this one is elevated slightly, so guests have a wonderful view of the vines and lake Ontario that is spectacular. Another interesting thing about this site, and why we love it so much, is that it backs onto the escarpment, which acts almost like an amphitheater for the instruments, reflecting the beautiful sounds of the string instruments with surprising clarity.

Julia and I spoke about the music selections, and she had a great list already planned, which worked out very well. The only suggestion I offered is to have a second song chosen in case the signing went overtime. She chose Counting Crows: Accidentally in Love which was a nice combination with the recessional song of Here Comes the Sun. It was a great day and all the guests had a wonderful time. We were happy to be a part of it!

Ceremony music selections:

Processional - A Thousand Years (Christina Perri)

Signing - All You Need is Love (Beatles) and Accidentally in Love (counting Crows)

Recessional - Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)

Wedding Vendors: 

Bridal Gown – Becker’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses – David’s Bridal  

Tuxes – Saxon for Men  

MUAH – Christina at Niagara Mobile Hair 

Florist – The Watering Can 

Jeweler – Spence Diamonds  

Minister – Judy Kofsky  

Photographer: Robyn Russell

Bakery – Inn on the Twenty Restaurant

Videographers – Elle & Be Films 

DJ – Patrick’s DJ Service

Wedding ceremony musicians Niagara: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

String Quartet Wedding Ensembles Caledon ON

Wedding String Duo Toronto

Post author:duodamore
Post published:February 23, 2015
Post category:Toronto and GTA Wedding Music
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This was beautiful, sunny day—just look at the wonderful light coming in through the windows, skillfully captured by Toronto photographer Justin Lucarelli, at Caffino restaurant.

All I can say about this wedding is Wow! Our violinist and cellist started to perform as the guests were arriving, giving them a few minutes to chat before creating a refined yet contemporary mood by performing interesting pop songs like Here Comes the Sun, Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen as well as Can’t Help falling in Love, among others.

For the processional, the ceremony took a classical turn, as Pachelbel Canon was performed. During the signing, Bach’s Jesu Joy was performed, which is one of our favorite pieces for this portion of the ceremony. As signings can last 5-8 minutes (and this one was shorter than 8 minutes) Jesu Joy works perfectly—it does not stand our like some louder and more forceful pieces, rather it bubbles away like a pure mountain stream, and keeps the guests entertained. Just after the couple was introduced as husband and wife, amid clapping and cheering, we launched into the ever-popular Mendelsohn Wedding March.

Wedding ceremony musicians Toronto: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets

Wedding Violinist Cellist Kitchener-Waterloo: Jenny and Wayne

Post author:duodamore
Post published:February 22, 2015
Post category:Blog Kitchener Wedding Band Kitchener-Waterloo Wedding Music String quartet wedding ensembles St. Jacobs ON wedding cellist Kitchener-Waterloo Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions Wedding Planning Advice Wedding string Duo Waterloo Wedding String Quartet Kitchener Waterloo Wedding String Trio Waterloo wedding strings Kitchener-Waterloo Wedding Violinist Kitchener Waterloo
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“The Musicians were wonderful!”, Jenny and Wayne, bride and groom

We have performed at St John’s Lutheran Church for many concerts and weddings over the past 15 years, and it was nice to be back to perform this wedding ceremony. In speaking with the bride, the couple was looking for mainly popular music with a few classical pieces added for variety. This is the type of wedding program that we perform outdoors or in a secular context, and it was quite nice that the church is relaxed about what kind of music they allow, as it affords the couple an opportunity to experiment and have exactly the music they would like at the wedding ceremony, be it pop, contemporary or traditional, and everything in between.

Prelude: Today, Concerning Hobbits, Yellow, Can't Help Falling in Love, Dream

Bridal Party Processional - Pachelbel Canon in D

Bride Processional - A Thousand Years

Signing - Here Comes the Sun

Recessional - River Flows in You

Wedding ceremony musicians Kitchener/Waterloo: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets