Solo violinist?

ohwhynot

I posted this on the ceremony board, too, but this board gets more action . . . please let me know if it's not cool to cross-post:

A friend and colleague is an extraordinary violinist.  She has graciously offered her services for any part of our ceremony or reception.  Fi doesn't particularly want classical violin during the ceremony; he prefers choosing more contemporary vocal music. 

I would like to have our friend play her violin while guests are arriving and being seated.  Fi, being a musician, objected that a solo violinist wouldn't sound right - that we'd need another violin accompanying and someone playing a rhythm instrument as well.  I say he's being too much of a musician - that most folks would hear a solo violin (being played exquisitely) and not think "Oh, if only there were an accompanying instrument and some rhythm under that!" 

What do you think? 

angned

I think it is not something that is seen often enough for someone to say there needs to be more than one.  And if it's while people are being seated, she is not the main attraction, rather background music.

sarabellam

If your friend is truly a gifted violinist, I think it would sound fine. But why would you push to have this when your FI doesn't want this?

sucrets4

What about at the cocktail hour, if you're having one?

ohwhynot

I'm not really pushing it - we had one conversation about it that ended amicably.   His opinion is that our guests would think it was odd, so i wanted to know how other people, not trained musicians, would feel about it.   And yes, she really is gifted - she plays for our symphony and plays professionally in an extremely popular, well-reviewed (and expensive) quartet. 

But now that I think about it, he's the one who's going to be standing there listening to her play, since he'll likely be out mingling with people as they show up, so if it's going to grate on him, I guess I'll skip it. 

sucrets4

Oh and I'm a musician and think that a well played solo violin is gorgeous.  I heard one at a CH once and loved it.

ohwhynot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_solo-violinist?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:173b33a2-f830-485f-832e-d731ef0dcb07Post:9bfab2c1-3d5a-4811-a13d-7d08e50ee840">Re: Solo violinist?</a>:
[QUOTE]What about at the cocktail hour, if you're having one?
Posted by sucrets4[/QUOTE]

Well, we're not really having one, but even if we were, she and her husband (and kids, if they choose to bring them) are guests at the wedding.  I don't want to ask guests to work during the part where they're invited to drink, eat, or dance.  I figured that the waiting for everyone to get seated was boring anyway, and she wouldn't mind "working" during that period. 

SwedishChick2011

I think it would sound really nice.  I guess the main issue is whether or not your FI would like it.

shellydiane820

I think the music would be lovely, but I sort of agree with your fi.  If you're playing classical during the seating and then all of the sudden bust our more modern music, that might be weird.

sarah0725

Whenever I think of solo violin, I think of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGqBggXvtDE

Yeah, the guitar comes in later, but the solo part is just lovely.

LesPaul

I really enjoy a solo violin, so I would think it is a nice touch during the guest seating.  I don't think it would be weird, nor would she need accompaniment if she is a good musician.  You can easily transition to other music for the ceremony and reception.

My daughter played the processional on her violin at my wedding, along with a pianist and flute.  It was beautiful. 

sarah0725

Connected to my first post, I've been thinking about this some more, and solo violin is definitely a component of lots of different folk music traditions, Irish and Appalachian among them. Could your friend tip her selections a bit toward folk music?

hoshiku

I recently played cocktail hour for a friend's wedding (I'm a cellist).  I didn't want to play classical music since that's not really my friends' thing (she's crazy for the 40s).  I transcribed a lot of vocal parts for big band music and played it on the cello.  The guests seemed to love it.  I've also played ceremonies and receptions with classical reportiore.  A solo instrument will sound just fine as long as you put it in the right place (i.e. outdoors with no mic and far away from the party won't be heard at all!)

JessAndTrav

I think that it would be pretty. Now, I just happened to be amazed at people who have the gift of playing the violin, but i think that if the songs were right and with her talent, it'd be fine.

And he won't be standing up there the entire time. He wouldn't come out until after the parents were seated. He and the officiant and GMs (if you're having them walk out with your FI) would come out once the families had been seated. Once they get in their place, the music would start for the BMs to come out to. So he wouldn't really be there for that part.

Unless you're doing something really different.

Pirata13

I think it's a great idea! Love the violin and I think it'd be very pretty!  I vote yes, and I think the guests would like it.

sarabellam

As an average, non-professional musician, I would find a solo violin to be a lovely prelude instrument.