Wedding but no Mass
  • ajplafond
    Posts: 25
    Looking for suggestions for organ music for a wedding in a church but not a Mass. I'm a little confused. Never done one of these before.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,368
    The organ music for processionals, preludes, postludes, and such can be the same as for the marriage rite within a mass. The only thing that is different is the absence of any specifically eucharistic music.

    For prelude music I typically make little suites out of French baroque organ mass versets; plus Stanley or Boyce or such voluntaries; plus pieces using Veni creator or Komm heiliger Geist as cantus firmi; plus any other organ pieces of a festive nature. Some Bach praeludia are fitting for prelude music or for postludes.
  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 331
    It's more or less exactly like the first part of Mass, except no Gloria, so you may also be expected to provide music for the Responsorial Psalm/Gospel Acclamation.
  • MaestroMark32MaestroMark32
    Posts: 66
    Um, I'm pretty sure the Gloria IS still sung at a wedding ceremony.
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  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,934
    It can be sung, but my pastor says it is optional.
  • Marc Cerisier
    Posts: 517
    I'm curious the thought behind including a Gloria when the wedding is celebrated outside of Mass? That's not a viewpoint I've ever encountered before. I don't have the most recent English edition handy, but it certainly isn't called for in the most recent Latin edition, upon which our translation is based. (Which I happen to have close at hand for no good reason.)

    Secondary question—are there any liturgical rites aside from the Mass that include a Gloria? I've always thought of that as the one hymn proper to the Mass, and I can't recall seeing it called for in other circumstances.

    Marc
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  • ajplafond
    Posts: 25
    Even though it's during Lent?
  • GerardH
    Posts: 411
    Gary Penkala at CanticaNOVA at least claims that there is no Gloria for a wedding ceremony outside Mass (see the last paragraph). He is usually well researched, so I'd be inclined to trust him.
  • Marc Cerisier
    Posts: 517
    Well, it’s also what the USCCB says... but I know they’re often held in low regard in these parts.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,934
    The weddings without mass are extremely rare in my neck of the woods. On the other hand, funerals without mass are becoming quite common. I have no explanation for that.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,934
    I'm curious the thought behind including a Gloria when the wedding is celebrated outside of Mass?


    I guess it might be like the wedding I played where the bride requested the Litany of the Saints. I suspect the Gloria is being treated as a hymn where requested. It does make a pretty good hymn - better than many available.
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,160
    Page 1177 of the Roman Missal says that when Marriage is celebrated at Mass the Gloria in excelsis is said and the Penitential Act is omitted.

  • fcbfcb
    Posts: 331
    I guess it might be like the wedding I played where the bride requested the Litany of the Saints.

    I recall hearing that there was some discussion of including the Litany of the Saints in the last revision of the Wedding Rite--presumably to parallel Baptism and Holy Orders. Obviously that did not happen.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,368
    .
  • irishtenoririshtenor
    Posts: 1,296
    That sticks in my memory, too, Deacon FCB. Some were pushing hard, if I recall, but it didn't make it in.
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Former pastor of mine:

    "When did Christ institute the Sacrament of Marriage?"

    [Various guesses]

    "No. Our Blessed Lord instituted the Sacrament of Marriage on the Cross, when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do".

    Thanked by 3Incardination CharlesW Carol
  • MichaelDickson
    Posts: 419
    The weddings without mass are extremely rare in my neck of the woods. On the other hand, funerals without mass are becoming quite common. I have no explanation for that.


    In my experience, having sung a number of Funerals: Grandma is Catholic; the grandkids, maybe not so much. (So far as I know, all funerals in our parish have a Mass, but there are times when Holy Communion is taken by precious few.)

    I recently sung a funeral and when the priest said "the Lord be with you" quite a number of the deceased's family responded "and also with you". Hmm. Been a while?
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  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,934
    You do wonder about that. I play for some funerals for the Grandma who was quite devout. The children and grandchildren seem as comfortable as holy rollers at a bar mitzvah. Clearly, they haven't been to church in a while.
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