*Trix*

Mrs.B6302007

Song question for you, oh great organist.

What's the history with The Wedding March/Here Comes the Bride?  I was just reading a post over on ceremony ideas about a church that has banned the song because it's about a homosexual couple.  Another poster said she was told that it was about a prostitute so she can't use it either.  I've never heard these stories before so I was wondering if you had?

trix1223

Mrs.B, I read that too, and can't imagine where the part about it being about a homosexual couple came from. 

While admittedly not an opera expert, my knowledge of Lohengrin is that it is about a couple, Princess Elsa and Lohengrin.  Lohengrin is her protector and has special abilities to protect her, but under the edict that she can never ask his name.

There was something about it being used in some spoofs, and some parodies-one by Victor Herbert, and some manic hallucination.

The usual reason given, however, for churches not allowing Lohengrin is that composer Richard Wagner was an avowed anti-semetic.  Other reasons include it being a work from a secular opera, and only sacred music is allowed for ceremonies performed in a church.

But I'd be interested to see any indication of it being about homosexuality.  That's new to me.

Mrs.B6302007

Thanks for the info.  I knew it was from an opera but I didn't even know which one so my knowledge was limited.