Wedding Ceremony Music
Yvonne Collier – Pianist/Organist (BMUS, PGDip, MA.)
The following pieces are suggestions for each area of the ceremony. I have tried to include cello versions of pieces where I can but otherwise any vocal pieces can be adapted and the vocal line can be played by the cello. Some of the versions feature violin but the cello will sound very similar but with a deeper tone. At the end you will find a ceremony structure that you can print off and fill in. Please do not hesitate to contact me for my opinion or to ask about choices. When you have your selection made you can forward the list on to me and I will check that everything is ok. If you have any special requests not listed, we would be happy to include them for you as long as we can source the sheet music. PLEASE SCROLL OVER SONG TITLE TO CLICK ON LINK
Processional: Walking up the aisle
“Bridal Chorus” – The traditional!
“Nella Fantasia” - A personal favourite and a very atmospheric start to any ceremony and a stunning piece of music.
“Pachebel’s Canon” - Another simple but beautiful entrance piece for solo piano or for piano and cello – You can hear our cellist and myself perform this on our website.
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” –This is a very popular choice and can be used during communion either.
“Comptine d’un autre” from Amelie for solo piano – a recent addition to our repertoire
“Two Words, I do” for voice & piano – This can also be performed on piano with cello.
“A River Flows In You” – A beautiful instrumental piece. Listen to the link from 30 seconds in.
“The Ludlows” from Legends of the Fall – I could only find a violin & piano version but the cello and piano version we do would be very similar and just as beautiful.
“Butterfly Waltz” – made famous by its appearance in The Twilight Saga films as Bella’s wedding song!
“For The Love Of A Princess” – We will do a piano & cello version but I could only find a solo cello version but it will give you an idea of the sound. This is a piano version.
“Se” from Cinema Paradiso - A piece for voice & piano written by the same composer as Nella Fantasia.! This is a vocal version but also works so well on cello.
“The Wedding Song” by Kenny G – This is such a beautiful piece of music and although this version features soprano saxophone, the cello creates a lovely version.
“I Wanna Hold Your Hand” – This was discovered as a request by a bride and we have continued to use this piece ever since. Candle Ceremony
An option for the lighting of the individual candles at the start of the ceremony is to extend the processional into the candles. Eg When you arrive at the top of the church, the priest will greet you and then invite you to light the 2 candles while we continue playing the same piece. If the aisle is quite short, this is a nice option as you will get to hear the majority of the piece you have choosen. However this would also have to be confirmed by your priest. It is also lovely to pick a different piece of music and if you choose a piece for the candles we can either play the same piece for each candle ceremony (Lighting of the individual candles at the start and the lighting of the single candle after your vows) but with a slight variation for the second candle or you can choose 2 different pieces. Below are some options:
“Air on the G String” – A classic for any string instrument! Can’t go wrong!
“Inis Oirr” – Lovely traditional Irish air.
“Song From a Secret Garden” –This is beautiful but I could only find a violin version.
“One Hand, One Heart” – this version is for string quartet.
“May it Be” from The Lord of the Rings – A Violin version.
“Now we are free” from The Gladiator. This is a very atmospheric piece, so beautiful.
“The Coolin” – A fantastic piece of music for solo cello.
“She Moved Through The Fair” – A classic traditional Irish piece of music.
“I Giorni” – A piano solo piece.
“Arioso” is another simple but effective piece of music.
“All I Ask of You”
Offertory Procession
If you would like to include an Ave Maria this is the most appropriate place to do so as traditionally it is the mothers of the bride & groom who bring the gifts to the alter if both are present. Below are a list of options of Ave Marias and other choices.
“Ave Maria” – Schubert, this is a very classical version and one that is also very popular for weddings.
“Ave Maria” – Bach/Gounod. Another beautiful piece.
“Ave Maria” – Caccini. – Another beautiful Ave Maria.
“Ag Criost an Siol” is very appropriate for this section of the ceremony also. It adds a lovely Irish sound. This version is for string quartet but solo cello will create a similar sound with piano.
“Air” from Water Music by Handel. This is a piano version. This is an orchestral version.
“Arioso” as mentioned for the candle ceremony above.
“Sheep May Safely Graze” - Here is a Piano Version
Sign of Peace
When the sign of peace is exchanged it is nice to have some music in the background as it allows the bride and groom to be more relaxed about shaking hands with both their families and not feel rushed. It is simply background music.
“Make Me A Channel of Your Peace” – Very popular choice. This is a vocal version but sounds beautiful on cello. This is a piano version.
“Cavatina” – this is a favourite at the moment with couples, a very popular choice and lovely background music for solo piano but can also easily be adapted for string instrument and piano.
“Peace is Flowing Like a River” – I could only find this vocal version.
“Inis Oirr” – Lovely traditional Irish air. This featured in the candle ceremony above also.
“Lascia ch’io pianga” – Another classical piece of music.
Most instrumental pieces listed already can be used for this area of the mass.
Comumunion
In general it is necessary to choose 2 pieces of music for the communion especially if you have over 100 guests coming. Again each song can be adapted for cello and piano with the cello playing the vocal line.
“Panis Angelicus” – Everyone knows this one!
“Pachebel’s Canon” as mentioned in the Processional is a great choice as it has lovely movement to it. You can hear our cellist and myself perform this on our website.
“The Cloud’s Veil” – A popular choice with couples. This version is sung but it sounds lovely on cello & piano.
“Voice of an Angel” – Written by the same composer as the above and is a perfect match for the Cloud’s Veil. It is a reflective piece of music. This again is a vocal piece of music.
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” – As mentioned in the Processional.
“The Lark in the Clear Air”
“The Swan” – Very beautiful
“Prelude from Cello Suite No 1” by Bach – One of my favourite pieces!
“Nocturne” by Boradin.
“Laudate Dominum” – By Mozart, this works well as a communion piece because of its flowing sound. A truly classical piece.
“O Mio Babino” – This clip starts the music at 40 seconds.
“There is No Night” – Beautiful version
“Lascia ch’io pianga” – As already mentioned in the Sign of Peace.
“Song from a Secret Garden”
“Mi Mancherai”
“I Giorni” – A beautiful piano solo piece.
“Nuvole Bianche” – The same composer as I Giorni. Also for piano solo.
Most of the music choices in other areas of the ceremony can also be used here. Please contact Yvonne to discuss good combinations of pieces.
Signing of the Register
The mass is now over so you can have more modern pieces of music and it is a place where you can include your own special meaning songs even if they are not in our repertoire. Each of the songs below sound beautiful with cello and piano accompaniment. The samples below contain both voice & piano and cello/violin and piano options but they all work very well with piano and cello. Please choose 2 pieces for the signing of the register and put your favourite choice first. The length of time here depends on how many photographs the photographer would like to take and therefore we may not get to the second piece.
“A Thousand Years” - One of our newest additions. “The Power of Love” – One of my favourites at the moment! "All of Me” – Another great piece for a wedding. “How Long Will I Love You” “To Make You Feel My Love” – Lovely piece. Also very popular for both the Processional & Recessional. “Just The Way You Are” – This works well for the Recessional also. “You Raise me Up” “Fields of Gold” - Eva Cassidy “Songbird” “Over the Rainbow” “You Take My Breath Away” “What a Wonderful World” “We’ve Only Just Begun” “Footprints in the Sand” –A popular choice “A Moment Like This” “Feels Like Home” “Ave Maria” – Beyonce “The Rose” “From This Moment On” “The Prayer” “She” “I’ll Be There” “Kissing You” “Come What May” “The Voyage” “Have I Told You Lately” “At My Most Beautiful” “Kiss The Rain” by Yiruma “It’s Your Day” by Yiruma – A Lovely solo piano piece.
Recessional
“Wedding March” – This is the traditional!
“Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G” – Allegro Moderato. This one of our most popular classical recessional pieces.
“Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” – This is another traditionally used and popular piece today. It is certainly joyful.
“Spring” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons - easily played on any string instrument.
“Trumpet Tune in D major – Purcell
“Trumpet Voluntary in D – Stanley
“Hornpipe” from Water Music by Handel
“The Prince of Denmark’s March” – Also known as The Trumpet Voluntary as in this clip.
“At Last” – Beautiful - A cello version!
“Memories are made of this” – We do a piano and cello version!
“One Day Like This” – This is a string quartet version but you can hear how nice it sounds on strings.
“Greatest Day”
“Bittersweet Symphony”
“Time of your Life” – Our newest addition which was requested by a bride and works so well.
“All You Need Is Love”
For the recessional the choice is endless and if there is a song you are thinking of please let us know as we often get special requests that we have not done before. Any of the pieces for the signing of the register are also very appropriate for the recessional.
If you visit our website you will see the layout of the catholic ceremony and where music is included. Below you will find our consultation sheet which you can print out and fill in with your choices
Wedding Ceremony Music
Yvonne Collier – Pianist (B. Mus, PG Dip, M.A.)
NAME: ______DATE:______
CHURCH______TIME:______PHONE:______
NUMBER OF GUESTS: ______
PROCESSIONAL
CANDLE CEREMONY 1
PSALM N/A without a singer – This can be read.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION N/A without a singer – This can be read.
CANDLE CEREMONY 2
OFFERTORY
SIGN OF PEACE
COMMUNION 1
COMMUNION 2
SIGNING OF THE REGISTER 1
SIGNING OF THE REGISTER 2
RECESSIONAL
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