Strings for Weddings Calgary. Duo d'Amore is an award winning string ensemble, made up of professional violinists, violists and cellists. Together we have versatile string ensembles such a s solo…
The bride and groom originally planned this wedding ceremony outdoors at Canada Olympic Park, but unfortunately the weather did not cooperate, and the ceremony was moved indoors. That was a smart choice, and the guests were able to enjoy themselves, without any issues from rain! Regarding the music selections, Leah and Tom were interested in our traditional selections, which looked like this. Everything worked out beautifully, and sounded even better!
Processional: Pachelbel Canon
Signing: Vivaldi Largo from the Four Seasons (Winter)
Recessional: Handel Hornpipe II
Photo credit: http://www.deseraeevenson.com
“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
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
June seems so far away, but not when you compare it to the person whose anniversary it is today-today is the 309th 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
“(Duo d’Amore) were fabulous!” Neil and Adrienne, bride and groom
Duo d’Amore performed classical music for Neil and Adrienne’s intimate ceremony, held at Holy Name Catholic Parish in Calgary. The music was very well chosen by the clients. As the wedding was very small, without bridesmaids or attendants, Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary performed on violin and cello was a unique choice for the processional, and one that was very well suited to this ceremony. The song is lively, with an excellent beat to walk down the aisle, but it projects warmth and gives a sense of occasion to the ceremony. The signing was the traditional Bach Jesu joy, and it too moves and flows well, and as the signing is a quitter point in the wedding it suited this portion as well. The recessional was Handel’s Hornpipe I from the Water music, and serenaded the bride, groom and guests as they walked down the aisle at the end of the ceremony.
Processional: Clarke Trumpet Voluntary
Signing: Bach Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Recessional: Handel Hornpipe I from the Water Music
Wedding ceremony musicians Calgary: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets
ProcessionalPachelbel Canon in D
SigningVivaldi: Winter from the Four Seasons
Recessional: Handel: Hornpipe II from the Water Music
Photo: Fairmont Banff Springs
Wedding ceremony musicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets, Banff
Kasandra and Rob were married at the Carriage House Inn in Calgary, and our string duo performed a great grouping of songs at their ceremony. Before the ceremony started we performed a number of songs including two that the clients had requested: Secrets by One Republic and Stereo Heats by Gym Class Hero. As the groom entered, the grooms mother and father, the brides mother and brother, another brother and his wife and maid of honor and the flower girl our string musicians performed Bittersweet symphony, and transitioned to I Think I Wanna Marry You by Bruno Mars. For the signing of the marriage license we played Can’t Help falling in Love, and we also had a backup song in case it went a bit longer than expected. The song that the bride and groom chose was I Won’t Give Up by Jason Mraz. For the recessional we performed the fantastic and upbeat Viva la Vida.
Wedding music Calgary: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets
This was Duo d’Amore’s first time performing a wedding ceremony at the Fairmont Palliser in Calgary. As I have mentioned in the past, venues other than Churches (though we love playing in beautiful venues with amazing acoustics) can be exceptional spaces to hold weddings and events. Why? Clients get much more of a say in how the ceremony goes, and for us we enjoy it because clients can choose different music from what they might choose if the wedding ceremony takes place in a Church. Amber and Vaughan did just that—they chose an eclectic mix of music that went perfectly with the wedding ceremony.
Brides Processional: Christina Perry: A Thousand Years
Signing: Enya: Only Time
Recessional: Beatles: Here Comes the Sun
Venue: Fairmont Palliser Calgary
Wedding musicians: Duo d’Amore-string duos, trios and quartets
