Wedding Strings Toronto: In Performance Wedding Strings Toronto: In Performance. A performance of I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. Also included in this blog are wedding ceremony music selection tips, an…
Spring is one of my favorite seasons, May in particular. Even nicer than all the flowers, the green grass, the birds singing, is a spring wedding ceremony, in a church on a warm day. There is just so much promise and excitement in a spring ceremony, and we are always happy to perform. Kayla and Andrew chose quite traditional music, which we always like as it just fits so perfectly. I particularly enjoy the combination of Bach Air with Pachelbel Canon, as the Bach Air has such a smoothness to the sound, which Pachelbel Canon is much more contrasting, and almost bursts forth with energy. The signing is paced slightly slower, as this gives the guests a chance to think about the couples marriage (and snap a few photos in some cases) while the bride and groom sign the marriage documents. Bach’s Jesu Joy is perfect for this as well. Lastly, as the couple is introduced for the first time, what is more appropriate than the Mendelssohn wedding March in a church, in May?
Bridesmaids: Bach Air
Bride: Pachelbel Canon
Signing: Bach: Jesu Joy
Recessional: Mendelssohn wedding March
Photographer and photo credit: Love you Madly
Wedding planner: Melissa Laphen from Great Events by Melissa
Venue: Walton Memorial United Church
Wedding ceremony musicians Oakville: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets
Where do I start with the wedding? There are some ceremonies where there is one thing that stands out—perhaps the bride has an amazing dress, something funny or unexpected happens at the ceremony, the music is particularly beautiful, or the officiant does an especially fine job. This wedding, just it all the right notes, and the ceremony was at once beautiful and traditional, while at the same time had an unexpected twist that was lovely and special. When I first spoke with Amy, the bride, she knew that she wanted to walk down the aisle to Elvis’ Can’t Help Falling in love, and were happy to oblige, as it is a beautiful song, and very well suited to the processional. As sometimes churches have issues with more modern music being performed during wedding ceremonies, I was glad to hear that the Church had no such issues, and we were given the go ahead to perform this song. Prior to the bridal processional, our string duo performed Bach’s Jesu Joy, which is a traditional song for weddings. I always like the bridal processional to be a bit more showy and elevated than the preceding song, as after all the processional is the brides moment, and the music should really reflect that. In this case the song was a perfect contrast. The signing music moved back to the classical spectrum with the wonderful and ‘cooling” Largo from the Four seasons by Vivaldi. The plucked strings of the cello are sound like a snowfall, while the violin part soars above, for a stunning effect. As the couple triumphantly walked down the aisle at St John’s United Church, we finished off the ceremony music with Handel’s second hornpipe from the Water music.
Bridesmaids: Bach Jesu Joy
Bride: Elvis: Can't Help Falling in Love
Signing: Vivaldi: Largo from the Four Seasons
Recessional: Handel: Hornpipe II from the Water Music
Wedding string musicians Oakville: Duo d’Amore-violin and cello duos, string trios and string quartets
If I were to describe Andrew and Jamie’s wedding ceremony using just a few words, I would say that it was modern with a classic touch. As the wedding was held outdoors, near the gurgling stream running and cascading through the limestone bedrock, and the weather was perfect—so was the venue. When we, Duo d’Amore, arrived we were greeted by the staff at Ancaster Old Mill (who always do a great job and are very well organized) as well as Reverend McNally. In our decades of experience, Revered McNally is one of those people that once you meet him, you will never forget him. He is so warm, open, funny, awhile at the same time, he really cares for each couple that he marries, and he’s been marrying couples for over 50 years.
As the guests were arriving, we began to perform a number of selections for our classical repertoire. At the appropriate time we received a cue from the venue’s staff, and proceeded to start playing the music for the four bridesmaids. A note on that—getting back to how I described the ceremony as modern with a classic touch, while the venue was certainly classic, the music selections that the couple made and were performed at the ceremony was a blending of both of these elements, as we performed the following arrangements for violin and cello duo:
Bridesmaids: “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley
Bride: “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton
Signing of the Register: “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
“Air” by Bach
Recessional: “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verve
It is important to note that we played two songs for the signing, and here’s why: As the signing is typically the quietest part of the ceremony, wedged in between the ceremonial, and often emotional Brides walk down the aisle, and the celebratory recessional, it is a perfect place to highlight familiar and contemporary song choice such as the Beatles, but it is also a great opportunity to include music for a bit of reflection. We would like to congratulate Jamie and Andrew on their beautiful wedding at the Old Mill.
