Prelude Music?

PoliceWife104 · May 2011

Hi ladies! I'm more of a lurker on this board, but have posted in the past.

I'm Andrea, FI is Michael, & we're getting married in September. Michael is Catholic & I'm not, so I'm having a little trouble wrapping my head around the program information we need.

We were working on our program last night & picked all of our readings & most of the music. We were stumped on the prelude music though... What exactly is that & what is going on when that music is playing? I saw in some previous posts some of you had more then one song. Is that typical?

Also, is the processional what the WP & my dad & I will walk down to, or is there a separate song for my dad & I?

I do have an e-mail into our church, trying to get this cleared up, but I thought I might get a faster response from you all!

TIA! = )

[Deleted User] · May 2011

Hey there!

The prelude is what is played about 10 or 15 minutes before the ceremony starts while the guests are taking their seats, etc. We did have more than one song. I can't remember them now, but we just picked a few and told our organist to fill in as needed.

As far as the processional goes, it is an umbrella term for when the entire wedding party, including the bride, walk down the aisle. We had seperate songs for the mother's entrance, bridesmaid's processional and the song I walked down the aisle to.

ring_pop · May 2011

What MissySue said.

If you don't have any specific requests, don't worry too much about the prelude. You can probably just tell the organist to just play whatever they've got for a prelude.

ootmother2 · May 2011

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman, for the seating of the mothers

Canon In D, bridesmaids enterance

Wagner's Bridal March* for the Bride & her father's enterance

*some Catholic churches don't allow secular music but our church did

clearheavens · May 2011

Our prelude music will be 15 mins before the Liturgy begins. We chose our favorite classical pieces, which are not hymns or sacred music, but they create the meditative environment we wanted to prepare for Mass.

Riss91 · May 2011

Here were ours:

Preludes:
Mozart: Divertimento for Violin, Viola, and Cello in E-Flat, K.563: III. Menuetto (Allegretto)-
Mozart: Quartet for Strings in C Major, No. 1, Op. 74: III. Menuetto (Allegretto)
...Bach: Cello Suite No 4 In E-Flat Major, BWV 1010: Movement 4: Sarabande

Bridal Party Entrance:
Mozart: Church Sonata No. 3 in D, K. 69

Bridal Procession:
Mouret: Suite de Symphonies, "Sinfonies de Fanfares"

Recessional:
Handelt: Music for the Royal Fireworks: Suite HWV 351: 4. La Réjouissance

Postlude:
Mozart: Church Sonata No. 7 in F, K. 224

MrsMack10612 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:73f1acca-a009-4864-b5a6-6a7002f1ecf1">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hail Mary, Gentle Woman, for the seating of the mothers Canon In D, bridesmaids enterance Wagner's Bridal March* for the Bride & her father's enterance <strong>*some Catholic churches don't allow secular music but our church did
</strong>Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE]

How common is this? I too am a non-Catholic marrying a Catholic and trying to figure out some of the dos & don'ts of the ceremony.

I will be calling the musical coordinator of the church this week, but and curious if there is a standard at all?

I really want my brother to play guitar during the prelude; not rock n roll - just quiet accoustical stuff.

bibliophile2010 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:7eedd13b-6133-427b-a09e-563ed895f9ee">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : How common is this? I too am a non-Catholic marrying a Catholic and trying to figure out some of the dos & don'ts of the ceremony. I will be calling the musical coordinator of the church this week, but and curious if there is a standard at all? I really want my brother to play guitar during the prelude; not rock n roll - just quiet accoustical stuff.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

There is no standard (it is a parish by parish thing), but more often than not secular music is not allowed. Instrumental or classical music will most likely be fine. More often than not, it seems, "Here Comes the Bride" (whatever the real name is) is not allowed, because it's opera origins are not exactly pro-marriage.

ootmother2 · May 2011

I'm not sure how common it is but be sure to ask your priest or the coordinator at your church

agapecarrie · May 2011

I think its more accurate to say there is a standard, but it is not always enforced.

The liturgical documents call for absolutely no secular music to be used in the liturgy.
Instrumental music before a wedding can be great....classical or christian/sacred music. An elton john instrumental is not.

PoliceWife104 · May 2011

This was very helpful! Thank you ladies! = )

[Deleted User] · May 2011

We were not allowed to use secular music.

csh96 · May 2011

Our church asked for 5 songs for the prelude which is separate from the wedding party and bride's entance. Our church also doesn't allow us to use secular music. Here are the choices we made, which I think are fairly traditional:

“La Rejouissance”………………………………Handel“
Ave Maria"………………………………….....Schubert
“Ode to Joy”………………………………….Beethoven
“Four Seasons (Spring)”…………………………Vivaldi
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”…………………....Bach

katetw · May 2011

With regards to the secular music, I was really surprised when my parish music director suggested the Bridal March (aka Here Comes the Bride) -- he then explained that yeah, it's frowned upon most places, but it's really a call each parish makes themselves.

MrsMack10612 · May 2011

Hmph. The possibility of not having my brother play is bothersome to me.

I guess at the same time I understand, I don't. I know that probably doesn't make any sense; but I can see myself getting very frustrated with the limitations of the Catholic ceremony.

agapecarrie · May 2011

I don't understand why this would mean your brother can't play.

Also, instead of being frustrated, please look into the reasons why there are these guidelines. They aren't "limitations". they are there to keep the sacrament holy and sacred and beautiful. If there is a mass, the mass is re-presenting calvary and the resurrection ...we are at the foot of the cross...we don't bring the beatles into that. Instead, we bring the sacred out into the world. If there isn't a mass, it is a still a liturgy ..the ancient rituals and rites of the liturgy of the word that connects us to the whole of the union of the Church.

doctabroccoli · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:73e7a36a-7700-45cc-bf23-24dca9813212">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hmph. The possibility of not having my brother play is bothersome to me. I guess at the same time I understand, I don't. I know that probably doesn't make any sense; but I can see myself getting very frustrated with the limitations of the Catholic ceremony.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

Was he just going to play instrumental music, or sing too??? If it's, say, a calm acoustic guitar-type thing that he wrote himself, it may not be a big deal.

MrsMack10612 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:a7447651-be93-4df2-a5b6-8e661abca954">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't understand why this would mean your brother can't play. Also, instead of being frustrated, please look into the reasons why there are these guidelines. They aren't "limitations". they are there to keep the sacrament holy and sacred and beautiful. If there is a mass, the mass is re-presenting calvary and the resurrection ...we are at the foot of the cross...we don't bring the beatles into that. Instead, we bring the sacred out into the world. If there isn't a mass, it is a still a liturgy ..the ancient rituals and rites of the liturgy of the word that connects us to the whole of the union of the Church.
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

As I said, I do understand, but at the same time I don't. I have read the Catechism in re: the Sacrement of Marriage. A marriage ceremony is no less sacred in a protestant church, but they allow music that speaks to the couple, not what the Church thinks should speak to the couple.

And as to why he might not be able to play - he's not a classical guitarist. And what I/we would want him to play would be from his heart - not some mandated set of music.

MrsMack10612 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:4a443b43-fcd2-4dd6-9352-edfa0c2ba590">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : Was he just going to play instrumental music, or sing too??? If it's, say, a calm acoustic guitar-type thing that he wrote himself, it may not be a big deal.
Posted by doctabroccoli[/QUOTE]

Just instrumental stuff, no singing. Not anythig he would have written himself. Just quiet accoustical strumming during the prelude. Not for any of the processional or during the liturgy.

Riss91 · May 2011

I think you should be okay - I don't think the church is against you picking music that speaks to you. If they were, they'd have specific songs you had to choose and you wouldn't have any say whatsoever. The reason why the church doesn't adimantly accept all secular music is because some of it is inappropriate or is tied to something that might be against the church's teachings and a lot of people don't realize these linkages.

It's similar to how we see brides using John Mayer's "Daughters" as father-daughter dance song, when the premise of the song is how fathers can destroy their daughters' esteem and future relationships. People don't always realize these things.

I think if your brother is writing something, and it doesn't have any foundation in anti-Christian/Catholic beliefs, you should be absolutely fine.

doctabroccoli · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:ae438eaa-12e9-4a13-ad35-5327551e2421">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : Just instrumental stuff, no singing. Not anythig he would have written himself. Just quiet accoustical strumming during the prelude. Not for any of the processional or during the liturgy.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

I don't see why this would be a problem then!

agapecarrie · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:30bc6c29-a4d7-4072-a2f9-f4da5ebca72c">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : As I said, I do understand, but at the same time I don't. I have read the Catechism in re: the Sacrement of Marriage. A marriage ceremony is no less sacred in a protestant church, but they allow music that speaks to the couple, not what the Church thinks should speak to the couple. And as to why he might not be able to play - he's not a classical guitarist. And what I/we would want him to play would be from his heart - not some mandated set of music.
Posted by kjhowd[/QUOTE]

Many protestant churches don't believe that marriage is a sacrament (even though objectively it is), and it isn't done in the context of a liturgy. Comparing a Catholic wedding to a protestant is like apples and oranges because the catholic one is within a set liturgical rite. The role of music in the liturgy is not to speak to the couple. The church doesn't mandate a set of music, there are free choices.But it must be within the role of what music is for a liturgy. Instrumental music made up on the spot should be fine.

doctabroccoli · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:9d5d9e75-ec09-433e-a013-da912def422f">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : The role of music in the liturgy is not to speak to the couple.
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

I don't 100% agree with this. Yes, songs serve a specific role in the Mass. But the specific songs and mass settings we chose for our wedding were chosen because they speak to us. With a wedding, you choose the readings, so your music will then complement these readings. It's not like regular Sunday Mass where you're restricted to the scheduled readings and therefore restricted to certain songs.

agapecarrie · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:9802af07-ede7-48a5-bb2f-0fead4b77e24">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : I don't 100% agree with this. Yes, songs serve a specific role in the Mass. But the specific songs and mass settings we chose for our wedding were chosen because they speak to us. With a wedding, you choose the readings, so your music will then complement these readings. It's not like regular Sunday Mass where you're restricted to the scheduled readings and therefore restricted to certain songs.
Posted by doctabroccoli[/QUOTE]

I didn't say it wasn't possible. I even said there is room for choice. But that is not the purpose of music in a wedding liturgy, which is why I said "the role of music". That was my whole point is to convey its purpose and the idea of a liturgy in the bigger picture. Once that is understood, music can be chosen with the correct end in mind.

doctabroccoli · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:03e1de14-b6a5-4822-b807-4a24c35cdb42">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : I didn't say it wasn't possible. I even said there is room for choice. But that is not the purpose of music in a wedding liturgy, which is why I said "the role of music". That was my whole point is to convey its purpose and the idea of a liturgy in the bigger picture. Once that is understood, music can be chosen with the correct end in mind.
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

I just wanted to clarify that for kjhowd, that's all :). For example, our readings were mostly hospitality-related, and so our music was as well. Why did we choose those readings? Because they spoke to us. So that meant the songs spoke to us too. I just didn't want her to think that she would have no personal input into her wedding mass, because that's not particularly true.

MrsMack10612 · May 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_prelude-music?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:34517810-60ab-4516-ae60-3b20c50eeb42Post:9d5d9e75-ec09-433e-a013-da912def422f">Re: Prelude Music?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Prelude Music? : Many protestant churches don't believe that marriage is a sacrament (even though objectively it is), and it isn't done in the context of a liturgy. Comparing a Catholic wedding to a protestant is like apples and oranges because the catholic one is within a set liturgical rite. The role of music in the liturgy is not to speak to the couple. The church doesn't mandate a set of music, there are free choices.But it must be within the role of what music is for a liturgy. Instrumental music made up on the spot should be fine.
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

I really don't have it in me today to get into a debate of Protestant vs. Catholic; and though most protestant churches do not consider it a Sacrament (and I use the capital "S" to differentiate between) the way the Catholic Church does, does not mean it's not consider the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Our marriage ceremonies are equally sacred and have, for lack of a better word, a script that needs to be followed.

And again, while on an intellecutal level, I completely understand the Churche's stance; faith-based I don't understand or agree with it.

I agree with Broccoli - about the choices that are made - regardless of approved for the liturgy or not; we are going to choose music that speaks to us. The same music that you choose may not be what works for my FI and I.

ETA: Of course we will choose approved music; I just meant in general the music will be what moves/speaks to us.

Riss91 · May 2011

I don't see what the issue is here. You're allowed to use music that speaks to you, as long as it is is in the confines of what is acceptable at a sacred Catholic ceremony (ie not offensive to the Church's teachings). Everyone is saying the same thing. No need for dissent.

agapecarrie · May 2011

Kjhowd There really is no debate. I said that marriages are a sacrament in Protestant churches, even though Protestants don't consider them so. I never said it was less sacred either. They are however not in the context of a liturgy, which is whole point... And purpose of the discussion about the role music plays. I also never said it shouldn't speak to you, I said that is not it's purpose. I've already clarified that.

Calypso1977 · May 2011

It's similar to how we see brides using John Mayer's "Daughters" as father-daughter dance song, when the premise of the song is how fathers can destroy their daughters' esteem and future relationships. People don't always realize these things.

yes! or "i will always love you" which is about breaking up.

kjhowd, would you brother want to play music for your cocktail hour? that might be a nice place for some acoustic guitar, if he cant play or doesnt want to play the acceptable choices/selections.

MrsMack10612 · May 2011

@Riss - My issue is that it has to be church approved. With rare exception, none of the music I have heard at Catholic weddings "does it for me". @Agape - As a protestant, your ideas of what or how we consider marriage; intended or not, comes across as offensive and judgemental with the air of superiority I often get from Catholics. @Calypso - We have already secured our cocktail musicians; additionally it really doesn't have the same meaning to me. And I will state once more; I get it, I do.

Irishcurls · May 2011

Huh, I'm late to the party as usual but just wanted to say Hi Andi!!! And Riss, thanks for listing all your music, I'm going to check that out!!!

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