Baroque/Renaissance Wedding Mass Music
  • SopranoViolin
    Posts: 33
    Hello!

    It has been a while since I have posted...I am getting married in January and would like to hear your suggestions on good Baroque/Renaissance choral and organ pieces for my nuptial Mass (low Mass).

    3 organ preludes
    Bridal party entrance
    Bridal processional
    Introit pieces
    2 Offertory pieces
    3-4 Communion pieces
    Recessional
    Postlude


    ***** I am looking for something very traditional, preferably written by a Catholic...composers like Victoria, Palestrina, Byrd, Corelli, Frescobaldi...and written with the express purpose of the Mass in mind (no secular instrumental music). I have played most of the common wedding repertoire (Handel, Bach, Pachelbel, Clarke, and would prefer not to have it since it is very common).

    Any suggestions from the above composers and/or others?
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    What is the organ like that will be playing the three preludes?

    There are any number of pieces based upon Veni Creator, from Titelouze to de Grigny, to Bach, and many others, both old and more modern. I always (nearly always) begin the prelude music with a Veni Creator.

    Pieces with a Marian cantus firmus may also be appropriate - de Grigny's Ave maris stella, for one. There are many others.

    A Frescobaldi toccata would be quite festive - Toccata five is especially nice.

    For processional music it is challenging to improve on the 'trumpet tune' genre, of which there are many examples. As an alternative, certain French pleins jeux or offertoires may serve well. They would certainly fill your 'not common' requirement.
    Thanked by 1Incardination
  • WittManWilsonWittManWilson
    Posts: 76
    Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann is one of my favorites... although it's not from the Baroque era. We had both the Introduction and Menuet at our wedding. The Introduction would make a fantastic, solemn processional, while both the Menuet and Prière à Notre-Dame would be great preludes. The Toccata is great, too.
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • rich_enough
    Posts: 1,048
    As Psalm 128 (Vulgate 127) is the traditional psalm for weddings, you might consider one of these motets available on CPDL.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • JL
    Posts: 171
    Depending on the choral forces at your disposal, Giovanni Gabrieli's 8-part "Jubilate Deo" is excellent. It was written for Venice's annual celebration of the "Wedding of the Sea", but it is equally suitable for a wedding of people. And if you can round up some sackbuts and cornetti, so much the better!
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,100

    I love the idea of Veni Creator at a wedding. Will add to our list of options.
    thanks!
    Thanked by 1Incardination
  • Incardination
    Posts: 832
    From your list of desired composers, strongly recommend Surge Propera Amica Mea (Palestrina), although it is SATTB. January wedding... maybe O Magnum Mysterium (Victoria). If you have a Marian theme, Ave Maris Stella (Victoria) is quite lovely and very adaptable if you alternate against chant verses (I usually alternate the polyphony as an antiphon against two chant verses - it can take as long or as short as needed). Again, January, might want to use Iesu Dulcis (Victoria).

    Veering away slightly from your desired composers... Bone Pastor (Tallis) / If You Love Me (different English text, same arrangement) might be quite nice. Da Pacem (Juan de Arratia) is very striking, although it can be challenging rhythmically.

    As far as Baroque, perhaps the Laudamus Te duet from Vivaldi's Gloria?

    I also really like the idea of Veni Creator! Good idea!
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    I played for a wedding last Saturday, which is something I rarely do. The scheduled organist cancelled because her husband is too ill to leave. I have known the bride's family for over 40 years, so I felt like I had to help out.

    As a recessional, the bride asked for the "Hallelujah Chorus," from Handel's Messiah. Definitely Baroque enough, but I have never had anyone ask for it in a wedding. After I found an organ arrangement, it worked out rather well.
  • Incardination
    Posts: 832
    How interesting - same request this past Saturday for the recessional. First time either the organist or myself have had that request at a wedding!

    I've seen requests for very strange things - including the De Profundis by Salieri. The bride liked the piece but was unaware of it's intended use.
  • Chaswjd
    Posts: 269
    Do you have a reasonably gifted alto? I have thought the Monteverdi "Ego flos campi" would make a good processional instead of many of the current options.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3WP1ZXCi8

    There is also a Monteverdi Surge Propera for three voices:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GF4pWk6ZKI

    Finally, if you are open to a modern piece for solo unaccompagnied voice there is a Jonathon Dove "My Love is Mine."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIXHyTgnBWE
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    I've seen requests for very strange things - including the De Profundis by Salieri.


    Someone posted an old illustration from a French humor magazine, with an altar server dashing to the console, desperately trying to stop a crazed organist playing the Dies Irae, shouting, "No, sir! It's a wedding!" (Does someone still have it?)

    This request brought the above to mind.

    Also, SopranViolin - Have your wedding at the CMAA Colloquium! Just saying.
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
  • JL
    Posts: 171
    A Te Deum--choral or an organ paraphrase--is also a good choice.

    Since it is a low Mass, might your congregation be amenable to a hymn or two? Wedding processions tend to feel a little less "here comes the bride" when the whole church is singing.

    Charles and Stimson, I once got a request for the Flower Duet from Lakme (aka The British Airways Song) for the wedding of a friend who, apparently, didn't know any better. Fortunately, the (Methodist) music director nixed that one pretty quickly.
    Thanked by 2CharlesW StimsonInRehab
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    I like very much the idea of a hymn at the processions.
    A good hymn of praise and adoration would be very fitting.
    Love Divine serves well
    As does Praise to the Lord and such

    Someone above mentioned Te Deum -
    Langlais' Te Deum would be a wonderful prelude piece if your organist knows it.
    So would Bach's large Komm Heiliger Geist, Herr Gott.
  • maestrodicapella
    Posts: 129
    Surely an Alma Redemptoris Mater?- palestrina’s 4 part is simple and beautiful.
    Ribafrecha’s anima mea liquefacta est.
    It’ll be Epiphanytide in January- organ pieces along the lines of March if the Magi?
    Marenzio’s Tribus miraculis - makes mention of wedding at Cana.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    Someone posted an old illustration from a French humor magazine, with an altar server dashing to the console, desperately trying to stop a crazed organist playing the Dies Irae, shouting, "No, sir! It's a wedding!" (Does someone still have it?)


    Never saw this, but I like it. The funeral is, at least, a one time expense. The wedding creates a series of costs and expenditures that last a lifetime.
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    What the heck would be wrong with JSB's "Der Herr segne euch" folded in?

    https://youtu.be/yOUWupSN41k
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn MarkS
  • Cantus67Cantus67
    Posts: 208
    All sounds interesting to me. I just remember the time a family wanted to have "Behold a Just Man Dies" as the communion piece. I can't even remember the composer I was trying so hard not to laugh.
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    Even the school of Gregory the Great had some gallows humor when it came to these sort of occasions - the tune for the Gradual of the Nuptial Mass is the same as that of the Gradual from the Requiem.

    It almost makes you want to make a list of "suitable" songs to see who's gullible enough to put some of this stuff in their wedding . . . "Oh, yes, Miss! Dido's Lament is one of Purcell's finest and who be a perfect fit for your wedding!"
    Thanked by 1melofluent
  • StimsonInRehabStimsonInRehab
    Posts: 1,933
    The wedding creates a series of costs and expenditures that last a lifetime.


    An Anglican minister put it to me so cynically: "The way weddings fall apart nowadays, it's nice to have the finality of a funeral. At least you know you won't have to do it over."
    Thanked by 2CharlesW canadash
  • eft94530eft94530
    Posts: 1,577
    organ pieces along the lines of March [of] the Magi?

    I can think of three [but none are Baroque] .. which one were you hearing?

    ONE.
    Dubois -- Marche des Rois Mages
    http://imslp.org/wiki/12_Pièces_pour_orgue_(Dubois,_Théodore)

    TWO.
    Maunder -- The Caravan of the Magi
    http://imslp.org/wiki/Bethlehem_(Maunder,_John_Henry)
    (TAB Arrangements and Transcriptions)

    THREE.
    Bizet -- L'Arlesienne suite No 2 n 4 Farandole (March of the Kings)
    http://imslp.org/wiki/L'Arlésienne_Suite_No.2_(Bizet,_Georges)
    (TAB Arrangements and Transcriptions, well at least a piano version)


    EDIT:
    Yikes my Paste did not happen but I clicked Post Comment.
    Above are now inserted the intended links.

    And, back to the Magi, see the third movement
    http://imslp.org/wiki/Flute_Quintet,_Op.21_(Brandts_Buys,_Jan)
    which includes a Choral (How Brightly Shines the Morning Star).
  • JosquinGetEnough
    Posts: 39
    I am using the opening section of the Marchand Grand Dialogue in C for my own bridal procession next week and it is...really something and VERY baroque. Seconding (thirding?) Palestrina Surge Propera...we're using one of the other Palestrina Song of Songs motets and the Clemens non Papa Ego flos campi which I also recommend.
  • mmeladirectress
    Posts: 1,100
    Josquin (I guess I should call you Josquine) I wish you all joy. There are certainly a lot of beautiful pieces suggested here too.
  • CCoozeCCooze
    Posts: 1,259
    The "Psallite Domino" by Sances is a very lovely duet that could maybe fit somewhere!

    http://www3.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Psallite_Domino_(Giovanni_Felice_Sances)
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,981
    I am using the opening section of the Marchand Grand Dialogue in C for my own bridal procession next week


    Where did you find the sheet music for this? Thanks.
  • eft94530eft94530
    Posts: 1,577
    http://imslp.org/wiki/Pièces_d'orgue_(Marchand,_Louis)
    Thanked by 1CharlesW
Add a Comment