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The Wedding March

Traditional Wedding Processional and Recessional

Ritual plays a big part in your wedding day. THE MAJORITY OF MY CLIENTS USE THE TRADITIONAL PIECES LISTED BELOW FOR A REASON … THEY HAVE WITHSTOOD THE TEST OF TIME! Don’t hesitate to embrace tradition if that feels right!

Processional Music for Bridesmaid:

Canon in D-major often referred to as Pachelbel Canon was written by Johann Pachelbel in the 1600s. It may represent the most extraordinary instance of the crossover phenomenon in all of music. During a short period in the early 1970s it went from being a quite obscure work of early music to a universally familiar cultural item. It has been performed during the processional at thousands of weddings as well as background music in countless commercials and films.

Listen:
Canon in D - String Quartet
Canon in D - Harp solo
Canon in D – Trumpets
Canon in D – Flute, violin, and cello

Processional Music for the Bride:

The piece often referred to as Here Comes the Bride is properly titled The Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, by Richard Wagner.” The custom dates back to the royal marriage, in 1858, of Victoria, princess of Great Britain, and Empress of Germany, to Prince Frederick William of Prussia. Victoria, eldest daughter of Britain's Queen Victoria, selected the music herself. A patron of the arts, she was a big fan of Richard Wagner. Soon Brides throughout the British Isles, noblemen and commoners alike, were marching to the Bridal Chorus, establishing a Western wedding tradition.

Listen:
The Bridal Chorus - Harp, bass, flute; oboe
The Bridal Chorus - String Quartet
The Bridal Chorus -Harp and violin
The Bridal Chorus – Flute, violin; cello

Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke is also known as The Prince of Denmark's March. A voluntary is an instrumental piece usually for organ, written for use during the entrance or exit of the congregation. This tune was used for the processional in the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Listen:
Trumpet Voluntary - Trumpets
Trumpet Voluntary – String Quartet
Trumpet Voluntary – Harp, bass, flute, oboe
Trumpet Voluntary - Flute, violin, cello

Recessional Music for the Bride and Groom:

The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn is the march written for Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The tradition of playing this music as a recessional piece also dates to the royal marriage, in 1858, of Victoria, princess of Great Britain, and Empress of Germany, to Prince Frederick William of Prussia.

Listen:
The Wedding March - Flute, cello, violin
The Wedding March - Harp and Violin

Additional Classical Music that work beautifully as Processional or Recessional

Air from Water Music - Handel
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – Handel
Bridal March, The Marriage of Figaro – Mozart
Trumpet Tune – Purcell …(Trumpet)
La Rejouissance – Teleman
Bouree – Clarke (Trumpet)
Minuet – Clarke (Trumpet)
Guige – Clarke (Trumpet)
Rondeau – Mouret (Flute Trio)
Winter - Vivaldi
Ariosa - J.S. Bach (String Quartet)
Ode to Joy - Beethoven (String Quartet)
Air on a G String - Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze - J. S. Bach (flute, harp, bass; oboe)
Spring (The Four Seasons) - Antonio Vivaldi (flute, harp, bass; oboe)
Allegro (Water Music) - George Frideric Handel (clarinet, harp, bass; oboe)