The Importance of Timing and Tempo in Event Music: Advice from our String Ensemble. As a string ensemble, we understand the important role that timing and tempo play in creating the perfect ambience for any event. Here are a few pieces of advice on how to get the timing and tempo right when selecting music for your event:
Consider the mood of the event
The tempo of the music you choose should match the mood of the event. For example, if it’s a wedding, you may want to start with a slower tempo during the ceremony and then gradually increase the tempo during the reception as the party gets started.
Work with your musicians
If you’re hiring a string ensemble for your event, make sure to communicate your preferences for tempo and timing with them. They can help you select the right pieces and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the music matches the pace of the event.
Know your audience
When selecting music for an event, it’s important to consider the tastes and preferences of your audience. For example, if you’re playing for an older crowd, you may want to select slower, more traditional pieces, while a younger crowd may prefer more modern and upbeat music.
Be flexible
Even with the best planning and preparation, things can change during an event. Be prepared to adjust the tempo and timing of the music as needed to accommodate any changes in the schedule or mood of the event.
Trust the musicians
We have years of experience performing for weddings and events, and can adjust the length of songs to fit each part of a ceremony, reception, first dance etc. We are proud and not ashamed to admit that we are very, very good at this, and it is one of the things that really sets our violin and cello duos, trios, quartets and string ensembles apart.
What string ensembles do you offer?
The solo violin
The smallest bowed string instrument in the violin family is the violin. It is also the quietest instrument, but that does not mean that it cannot produce a sound. Don’t forget that violin soloists regularly perform with a 50-100 piece orchestra, in a large hall seating 2000 or more people, and the solo violin can be heard over the entire orchestra, and at the very back of the concert hall. How? This comes down to the skill of the violinist, and positioning. This is why at wedding ceremonies for example we often are quite picky about the exact spot where our violinists and ensembles perform, no matter if the string ensemble is outdoors or indoors a single violinist is a great choice.
Duo d’Amore’s solo violinist is a great option for those who want live music but have a smaller budget. The solo violinist performs classical pieces, contemporary pieces, and a mix of both. Their music is perfect for wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions, and intimate dinners.
The solo cello
Like the solo violin, a solo cellist is a great option for slightly smaller wedding ceremonies and receptions. Larger than the violin, it is very resonant, and can play an equally wide range of music. Clients that hire the solo cello and solo violin for weddings and events often have a guest list of under 50, but not necessarily so.
The violin and cello duo
The violin and cello duo, or string duet, is made up of one violin player and one cello player, and is our most requested string ensemble for hire in Banff, AB. Having both the violin, which is able to play soaring melodies, and the cello which is able to anchor and often accompany, while having an even larger sound it is no wonder that this is our most popular string ensemble. I like to imagine that the violin is like the right hand of the piano and the cello is the left had of the piano, together they can play almost anything, and that is another reason that it is our most popular ensembles.
Duo d’Amore’s violin and cello duo is a popular choice for weddings. The duo consists of a violinist and a cellist who play together, creating a beautiful, harmonious sound. The duo’s repertoire includes classical pieces, contemporary pieces, and a mix of both. Their music is perfect for wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions, and dinner parties.
What size of group/event would you recommend for a violin and cello duo string ensemble?
The short answer is we often recommend the violin and cello duo for between 50-150 guests, but when mic’s, we have performed for over 600, so it all depends. The more that we know about the type of event that you are hosting, the easier it is for us to recommend a string ensemble that will sound the best and fit with the wedding or special event that you are planning. Contact us here https://duodamore.com/contact-us/
The String Trio
The string trio is made up of the violin and cello, with the addition of a third filler instrument, such as a violin or viola.
What size of group/event would you recommend for a violin and cello duo string ensemble?
This larger string ensemble is suited for events with over 200 guests, and larger venues in general. With a slightly larger sound than the violin and cello duo, but not as large or rich sound as the string quartet, the string trio fits right in the middle of the string ensembles that we offer in Banff, AB
String quartet wedding ensembles
Our string quartet is the largest wedding ensemble that we have for hire. The string quartet has a long and rich history, dating back to the classical period of music in the 18th century. During this time, composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven wrote some of the most famous and enduring string quartet works. In the 19th century, the string quartet continued to be an important genre, with composers such as Schubert and Brahms producing some of their most notable works in this format. During this time, the string quartet also began to be used for more private, intimate occasions such as weddings. For all of these events, timing and tempo are crucial and we would be happy to consult with you on planning any one of these.
What types of music do you perform?
From classical to pop, Top 40
Whatever the type or size of event Duo d’Amore, has an ensemble and the right music options to make your event memorable. We have hours of classical music, from the baroque period with composers such as Bach and Handel, the classical period with Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven to the Romantic period with Elgar and Brahms, just to name a few. We have over 5 hours of classical music, and our repertoire is always expanding. Here are some of our most requested songs for our string quartet and ensembles:
- Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Air on the G String by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn
- Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke
- Ave Maria by Franz Schubert
- Spring from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi
- Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner
- The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Pop, Top40 and beyond, custom arrangements
Duo d’Amore is also fortunate to have an incredibly large collection of pop string arrangements. Like our classical music repertoire it is always expanding. If there is a song that you would like for your event, let us know, as we can likely custom arrange it. Here is our current list:
- A Thousand Years by Christina Perri
- Perfect by Ed Sheeran
- All of Me by John Legend
- Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley
- Marry Me by Train
- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran
- You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne
- At Last by Etta James
- I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
- Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
What cities and areas do we serve?
- Vancouver
- Victoria
- Banff
- Canmore
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Toronto/GTA
- Peterborough
- Saskatoon
- Mississauga
- Oakville
- Burlington
- Hamilton
- Niagara
- London
- Kitchener
- Waterloo
- Cambridge
- Caledon
- Vaughan
- Owen Sound
- Collingwood
- Ottawa
- Gatineau
- Wakefield
- Kanata
- North Gower
- Montreal
- Halifax
- Charlottetown
What types of events do you perform at?
We perform at a wide variety of events from weddings, cocktail and dinner receptions, engagements and proposals. Life milestones like birthdays, baptisms bar/bat mitzvah’s, and anniversaries. Also corporate and government of Canada Events, at museums, product launches, holiday parties, corporate retreats. And other special occasions such as dinner parties and celebrations.
We hope you have enjoyed our blog about the importance of timing and tempo in event music: Advice from our String Ensemble
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