wedding_policy6

The music minister and fellow lay ministers with whom he regularly works play an important role in the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony at St. Mary of the Mount. As with all sacramental celebrations in the church, it is our responsibility to maintain the principles set forth in the Church's Documents on the Liturgy, as well as those outlined in the Diocese of Pittsburgh's ‘Music for the Wedding Ritual: A Guide for Planning'. Music during the public celebration of the Sacrament must be that which befits the Church's teachings, and must be perceived as prayer. Any questions regarding the suitability of music can be discussed with our music minister. Keeping in mind the above mentioned principles, choices of music must exhibit the traits of Sacramental Music, inspiring those who perform or listen to it to an increased commitment of faith in Jesus Christ, as well as, in the case of marriage, to an increased commitment to each other through their Catholic Christian faith.

The Church's Documents on the Liturgy express the desire that all present be able to participate in the singing of the parts of the Mass which belong to the people. To this end, we strongly recommend that you consider employing the services of a cantor/vocal soloist for your Wedding celebration. It is the cantor/soloist who leads and prompts the congregation to join in singing the sung acclamations, in addition to the performance of other vocal solos, for example, during the Preparation of Gifts, and during the Communion Procession. While it is possible to have a guest soloist, we can provide singers who are accustomed to functioning in their role in the acoustic space of our church. We suggest, based on your musical needs, that you engage the services of one of our vocalists through our music minister, including those of the music minister himself, who is also able to provide them if a male voice is preferred, or if desired in combination with a treble voice through the use of two part singing and/or duets.

Often, wedding couples desire the use of other instruments, such as trumpet, violin, etc. We are fortunate to have had the services of many fine instrumentalists who are very comfortable and confident in their role during the sacramental celebration. The music minister will be ready to provide referrals and to work out further details with the musicians once the selections have been made, while leaving the responsibility for separately contracting with them to the couple.

Please contact the music minister immediately if you desire the services of musicians who are not provided or referred by us. If a guest singer or instrumentalist or ensemble of your choosing is involved, contact information provided to the music minister and possible additional rehearsal time will be necessary to ensure the best possible presentation of the music for the Liturgy. The fee schedule will be subject to an adjustment based on work with outside musicians.

The Wedding Rehearsal which you've scheduled through our Wedding Coordinator (usually the day before your wedding) is not a rehearsal for musicians. Any musical rehearsals will be scheduled at separate times.

The Musical Parts of Wedding Liturgy

The following format is an outline of the musical elements of a Wedding Liturgy. These are the areas for which musical choices/selections need to be made. Please bear in mind that some non-musical elements have not been included in the sequence in which they will occur in the Liturgy. For example, the Responsorial Psalm occurs between the 1^st and 2^nd Readings and the Gospel Acclamation between the 2^nd Reading and the Gospel.

[In the case in which your wedding is a Ceremony only (no Eucharist), the Preparation of the Gifts, Eucharistic Acclamations, and Communion are omitted.]

Prelude Selections: As guests are arriving music is appropriate as a gesture of hospitality. These selections may be vocal or instrumental, or a combination of the two, usually in alternation, covering the 15-30 minute interval prior to the wedding as guests are arriving. Number of selections is optional, but should not exceed six prior to the Seating of the Mothers and/or parents.

Seating of the Mothers and/or Parents: This could also be considered the final prelude selection, but functions as a cue that the honored guests are being seated and the wedding is about to begin.

Processionals: An instrumental work should be chosen for this element of the Liturgy. If the traditional procession (bride processing separately and last, accompanied by father or other parent or representative guardian) is preferred, two processionals may be selected, one accompanying the Bridal Party, and one accompanying the Bride.

Responsorial Psalm: When choosing Scripture readings to be proclaimed, please select one of the Responsorial Psalms texts which are given in the Together for Life book. We can then choose a musical setting of the Psalm which will be sung at the wedding.

Gospel Acclamation: ‘Alleluia', or (‘Praise to you, Lord Jesus, Christ...' - during Lent)

Prayers of the Faithful: Normally, these are recited only, but on occasion may have a sung response such as “Lord, Hear Our Prayer,” or “Lord, Have Mercy”.

Lighting of the Unity Candle – This is optional, not required. Please make the priest aware of your preference. Due to the brief nature of this action, a vocal song, if preferred, may be divided into two parts by use of an appropriate caesura, then resumption and conclusion of the song during the Unity Candle and again during the Preparation of the Gifts respectively. This is recommended in order to hear the entire song. An instrumental selection is also appropriate here, in that it can be abbreviated as necessary while retaining its musical form.

Preparation of the Gifts: A brief vocal solo, congregational hymn, or an instrumental solo may be chosen here, if separate from the Unity Candle selection, or if there is no Unity Candle

Eucharistic Acclamations: Holy, Holy, Holy; Memorial Acclamation, Great Amen, Lamb of God.

Sign of Peace: The couple customarily greets the guests of honor seated at the front of the church and this action warrants a brief song about peace or an instrumental selection prior to the Lamb of God.

Communion: A vocal solo, congregational hymn, or an instrumental solo should be chosen here. Depending on the number of guests taking communion, a second song should be included, whether it is used or not.

Tribute at the Altar of Mary, Mother of God (following the Communion Prayer) – This is also optional. Please share your preference with your priest. Typically, a song honoring Mary, Mother of God (e.g. Ave Maria) would be sung or played during this Tribute immediately following Communion.

Recessional: An instrumental work should be chosen for this element of the Liturgy.

Postlude: Please keep in mind that the use of this instrumental selection following the recessional may interfere with the limited time allotted for photography sessions following Saturday weddings, and/or Friday weddings when there is a wedding immediately following.

Sample Musical Selections

The following list of compositions should be considered suggestions of possible choices for use during your Wedding Liturgy. This list is not exhaustive, yet should serve as an example in your planning.

Prelude Selections

A Love Until the End of Time (Holdridge/Connors)

A Time for Us (Rota)

All I Ask of You (Webber)

Amazing Grace (Newton)

Ave Maria (Schubert)

Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)

Bridal Prayer (Copeland)

Doubly Good to You (Mullins)

Evergreen (Streisand)

From This Moment On (Twain/Lange)

The Gift (Brickman/Douglas)

The Gift of Love (Hopson)

God, a Woman and a Man (Green)

Grow Old With Me (Lennon)

He Has Chosen You for Me (Terry)

How Beautiful (Paris)

In This Very Room (Harris)

Irish Wedding Song (Betteridge)

Lady of Knock (Scallon)

Like A Seal on Your Heart (Landry)

Meditation from “Thais” (Massenet)

Morning Has Broken (Traditional/Farjeon)

My Heart Will Go On (Horner/Jennings)

Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels (Joncas)

One Hand, One Heart (Bernstein/Sondheim)

Panis Angelicus (Franck)

Parents’ Prayer (Let Go of Two) (Davis)

The Prayer (Sager/Foster)

Return to Pooh Corner (Loggins)

The Rose (McBroom)

Somewhere (Bernstein/Sondheim)

Sunrise , Sunset (Bock)

Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place (Wolfe)

Theme from Ice Castles (Hamlisch/Sager)

This Day (Alexander)

Unchained Melody (North)

Wedding Hymn (Handel)

Wedding Prayer (Dunlap)

Wedding Song (There Is Love) (Stookey)

Where You Go (Callahan)

Wherever You Go (Norbet)

The Wind Beneath My Wings (Henley/Silbar)

With This Ring (Copeland)

With You (Schwartz)

You Raise Me Up (Graham/Lovland)

Your Song (John)

Please be advised that some of these may not be appropriate for use within the Liturgy. Other selections of your own choosing may be used for prelude and/or within the Liturgy if approved by our music minister and with permission from the priest.

Seating of the Mothers

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (J.S. Bach) – My “default” selection

Most of the prelude selections would also work here, as would some of the following selections for organ.

Bridal and Bridesmaids Processionals

Canon In D (Pachelbel)

Trumpet Voluntary, also known as Prince of Denmark’s March (Clarke)

Trumpet Tune (Purcell)

Prelude from Te Deum (Charpentier)

Saint Anthony Chorale (Haydn)

Largo from Xerxes (Handel)

Air from Suite No.3, also know as Air on the G String (J.S. Bach)

Allegro from Spring (Vivaldi)

Largo from Winter (Vivaldi)

Arioso (J.S. Bach)

Responsorial Psalms

C-1 The Earth is Full of the Goodness of the Lord (Haugen)

C-2 Taste and See (Moore)

C-3 The Lord Is Kind and Merciful (Haugen)

C-4 Blessed the Man Who Greatly Delights In the Lord’s Commands (Seymour)

C-5 Blest Are Those Who Love You (Haugen)

C-6 I Want To Praise Your Name (Hurd)

C-7 I Want To Praise Your Name (Hurd) (This setting incorporates both psalm 145 and 148)

Gospel Acclamation

Celtic Alleluia w/matching gospel verse (Walker)

Glory, Praise, and Honor to You, Lord Jesus Christ (Janco) – if wedding is during Lent

These are default selections based on general familiarity. Others are possible, but the music minister may need to be provided with copies, including full keyboard accompaniment.

Unity Candle

Some of the prelude selections may be used here, and the selections I have used in the past are from the prelude list. The lyrics, or text, of the song must relate to the Rite of Marriage and/or be liturgical in character. Typical selections include:

Not For Tongues of Heaven’s Angels (Joncas)

The Gift of Love (arr. Hopson)

Where There Is Love (Haas)

The Wedding Song (Stookey)

Preparation of the Gifts

Gift of Finest Wheat (Kreutz)

Any number of liturgical songs that speak about gratitude to God, or Eucharist, may be used here.

Mass Parts, or Eucharistic Acclamations

These include the Holy, Holy; Memorial Acclamation; Great Amen; and Lamb of God

Mass of Creation (Haugen) – another default selection based on general familiarity

Sign of Peace

Prayer of St. Francis (Temple)

Let There Be Peace On Earth (Miller and Jackson)

Peace is Flowing Like A River (Landry)

Communion

One Bread, One Body (Foley)

I Am the Bread of Life (Toolan)

Panis Angelicus (Lambillotte)

Panis Angelicus (Franck)

Lord, Who at Thy First Eucharist (Monk)

Any number of liturgical songs related to Eucharist may be used here.

Veneration of Mary

Ave Maria (Schubert)

Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)

Hail Mary: Gentle Woman (Landry)

Immaculate Mary (traditional Pyrenean melody)

Any number of “Marian” songs may be used for veneration.

Recessional Marches and/or Postludes

Wedding March from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Mendelssohn)

Hornpipe from “Water Music” (Handel)

Rondeau (Mouret)

Trumpet Tune (Purcell)

Some organ instrumentals are used for processionals, while others are more characteristic of recessionals and/or postludes. This can be very subjective, as can many judgments regarding selections of music in any programmatic context! Some organists may find subjective agreement with one another on some of these opinions. Yet the reasons may not lend themselves to an objective appraisal, so much as to a sampling of the character of the music in relationship to its intended use within the liturgy according to personal taste. There are many websites available on which excerpts may be heard for demonstration of the above comments. One we recommend as we form a plan to include music on this website in the future is www.stbernardschurch.com Please use the user name “visitor” and the password “music”.

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