Wedding Music
music choices for weddings
most weddings ceremonies
include music in
the following categories:
pre-ceremony music =
gentle & stately pieces that set the mood for the subsequent ceremony
bridesmaids processional (optional) =
for the attendants to the ceremony
as they walk to the altar
bridal processional =
for the bride's entrance
(sometimes accompanied)
mid-ceremony music (optional) =
brief distinctive music during
a candle-lighting ritual
or at some other point in the ceremony
recessional =
lively celebratory music for
the newly married couple
to leave the altar by
post-ceremony music (optional) =
upbeat music as guests leave
the wedding ceremony for the wedding
reception where the music may continue
The following pieces & songs
are recommendations; if you prefer
a mid-ceremony selection as processional,
or other changes, that works too.
Feel free to mix & match.
You can listen to an excerpt of each
selection below in a
software-realisation "performance"
and get an equivalent idea
of the sound of the music
offered in a variety
of "instrumental" settings:
solo guitar
guitar with 1 other instrument
guitar with 2 other instruments
Remember that a live
performance, by fine musicians,
will add elements of
tone & performance style
that are beyond the computer;
and also that all these selections
can be lengthened or shortened
as needed
If there are pieces or songs
you have in mind for your wedding
please ask me about your ideas…
I may have an arrangement
of the music already,
or it may be easily available;
or (for an extra fee)
I can likely arrange it
especially for your ceremony.
Some songs/pieces I've arranged
in the recent past for actual
wedding ceremonies include:
Bruno Mars' "Count On Me"
(solo guitar)
The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love"
(trio & solo guitar)
Cat Stevens' "Morning Has Broken"
(trio with voice)
Led Zeppelin's "Thank You"
(solo guitar)
Jorma Kaukonen's "Genesis"
(voice & guitar)
Edward MacDowell's "To a Wild Rose"
(solo guitar)
Harold Arlen's "Over The Rainbow"
(trio)
John Lennon's "Imagine"
(solo guitar)
"The Dreame" from "Sense & Sensibility"
(trio)
for a complete listing of wedding repertoire contact me
solo guitar
1. CLASSICAL GUITAR FAVORITES
pre-ceremony music by Milan, Sanz, Bach, Sor, Carcassi, Barrios etc.
processionals:
Arioso from Concerto BWV1056 (Bach) OR Minuet in C (Sor) OR "To A Wild Rose" (MacDowell)
mid-ceremony selections (optional):
"Lagrima" (Tarrega) OR Estudio No. 3 (Carcassi)
OR Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 (Bach)
recessionals:
Pavane in D (Milan) OR Menuet from Sonata Op. 22 (Sor) OR Waltz Op. 8 No. 4 (Barrios) OR Rondo alla Turk (Mozart)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Praetorius, Scarlatti, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 1 (below)
to hear these 10 selections
2. BAROQUE GUITAR MUSIC
pre-ceremony music by Bach,
Scarlatti, Weiss, Sanz, etc.
processionals:
Canon (Pachelbel) OR Arioso from Concerto BWV1056 (Bach) OR "Sleepers, Awake" (Bach)
mid-ceremony selections (optional):
Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 (Bach) OR Chorale (Handel)
OR "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Bach) OR Largo from Guitar Concerto (Vivaldi)
recessionals:
Gavotte from Cello Suite No. 6 (Bach) OR Canarios (Sanz) OR Gavotte en Rondeau (Bach)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Bach, Scarlatti, Weiss, Sanz, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 2 (below)
to hear these 10 selections
3. SPANISH/LATIN-AMERICAN GUITAR MUSIC
pre-ceremony music by Tarrega, Malats, Torroba, Ponce, Barrios, etc.
processionals:
"Romance de los Pinos" (Torroba) OR "Noi de la Mare" (arr. Marshall)
mid-ceremony selections (optional):
"Cancion de Cuna" (Grenet/Brouwer) OR "Solamente Una Vez" (Lara)
OR "Por Ti Mi Corazon" (Ponce)
recessionals:
"Natalia" (Lauro) OR Zapateado (Sainz de la Maza)
OR Maxixe (Barrios) OR "Maria Luisa" (Lauro)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Lauro, Granados, Pernambuco, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 3 (below)
to hear these 9 selections
4. POPULAR SONG:
BEATLES/POP-ROCK/MOVIES/
"GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK"
pre-ceremony music . . . romantic songs
processionals:
"Here, There & Everywhere" (Beatles)
OR "In My Life" (Beatles) OR "Love Me Tender" (Elvis Presley) OR "Thank You" (Led Zeppelin) OR "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" (Arlen)
mid-ceremony selections (optional):
"Something" (Beatles) OR "Imagine"
(John Lennon) OR "The Shadow Of Your Smile" (Mandel) OR "Cavatina" (Myers)
recessionals:
"When I'm Sixty-Four" (Beatles) OR
"Here Comes The Sun" (Beatles)
OR "How Sweet It Is" (Holland/Dozier/Holland) OR "'S Wonderful" (Gershwin)
OR "Count On Me" (Bruno Mars) OR
"All You Need Is Love" (Beatles)
post-ceremony music (optional) ...uptempo songs
go to DOWNLOADS 4 (below)
to hear these 15 selections
5. SACRED MUSIC FOR GUITAR
pre-ceremony music . . . hymns & spirituals
processionals:
"Priere Religieuse" - Lecon Op. 31 No. 3 (Sor) OR "Oracion" (Barrios)
mid-ceremony selections (optional):
"Bow Down Low" (Shaker hymn, arr. Bridges) OR "Esto Les Digo" (Kinley Lange)
recessionals:
"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Bach) OR "Amazing Grace" (traditional)
go to DOWNLOADS 5 (below)
to hear these 6 selections
guitar & other instruments
guitar & other instruments
DUO: guitar with flute, violin, viola or cello
6. CLASSICAL MUSIC FAVORITES
pre-ceremony music by Purcell, Bach, Gluck, Mozart, Schubert, Debussy, etc.
processionals:
Andante from Piano Sonata K. 545 (Mozart) OR Largo from Serenade in C (Carulli)
mid-ceremony music (optional):
"The Swan" from "Carnival of the Animals" (Saint-Saens)
OR Aria-Cantilena from "Bachianas Brasilieras" No. 5 (Villa-Lobos)
recessionals:
German Dance No. 1 (Beethoven) OR "Maruntel" from Rumanian Folk Dances (Bartok)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Joplin, Faure, Ibert, Machado etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 6 (below)
to hear these 6 selections
7. BAROQUE MUSIC
pre-ceremony music by Purcell, Bach, Teleman, Handel, Scarlatti, etc.
processionals:
Arioso from Concerto BWV 1056 (Bach)
OR "Ombra Mai fu" (Largo) from "Xerxes" (Handel)
mid-ceremony music (optional):
Sonata Kk. 466 (Scarlatti) OR "Ave Maria" on a Prelude by Bach (Gounod)
recessionals:
Gavotte from French Suite No. 5 (Bach) OR Fantasie (Teleman) OR Alla Hornpipe (Handel)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Scarlatti, Teleman, Handel, Bach, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 7 (below)
to hear these 7 selections
8. POPULAR MUSIC
pre-ceremony music by Gershwin, The Beatles, Billy Joel, etc.
processionals:
"Can't Help Falling In Love" (Elvis Presley) OR "Always" (Berlin)
mid-ceremony music (optional):
"Unchained Melody" (Righteous Bros.)
OR "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered" (Rodgers)
recessionals:
"I Will" (Beatles) OR "Just The Way You Are" (Billy Joel)
post-ceremony music (optional) by John Denver, The Beatles, Billy Joel, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 8 (below)
to hear these 6 selections
TRIO . . . guitar with flute & bassoon
9. CLASSICAL MUSIC FAVORITES
pre-ceremony music by Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Grieg, Faure, etc.
processionals:
Arioso from Concerto BWV1056 (Bach) OR Canon (Pachelbel) OR Air from Suite No. 3 (Bach)
mid -ceremony music (optional):
"To A Wild Rose" (MacDowell) OR Polovetsian Dance (Borodin) OR Traumerei (Schumann)
recessionals:
Hornpipe (Handel) OR Rondeau (Mouret) OR Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Scarlatti, Mozart, Granados, Joplin, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 9 (below)
to hear these 9 selections
listen to actual Arabesque Trio
performances of the complete Bach Air
& Handel Hornpipe on page 5 of this website, with the "Reverie" CD downloads
10. POPULAR MUSIC
pre-ceremony music by Gershwin, The Beatles, folk songs, etc.
processionals:
"Moon River" (Mancini) OR "If I Fell" (Beatles)
OR "(Somewhere) Over The Rainbow" (Arlen)
mid-ceremony music (optional):
"A Time For Us" (Rota) OR "In My Life" (Beatles)
OR "Ashokan Farewell" (Ungar)
recessionals:
"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" (Holland/Dozier/Holland)
OR "When I'm 64" (Beatles) OR "Ain't Misbehavin'" (Fats Waller)
post-ceremony music (optional) by Joplin, The Beatles, Dave Brubeck, etc.
go to DOWNLOADS 10 (below)
to hear these 9 selections
guitar & other instruments
