INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.
Your marriage is first and foremost a sacrament. Through your wedding vows, you will reveal the loving presence of God as revealed through Christ and his church. You should be concentrating on the unity you will be bringing into your lives, your commitment, and the blending of two people into one. The celebrant (priest or deacon) will help you to plan your wedding liturgy, he will help you to look at the sacramental nature of this day. He will discuss with you those things that will not be allowed to interfere with the sacredness of the ceremony.
FIRST STEP IN PLANNING YOUR MUSIC – CONTACTING THE MUSIC DIRECTOR
The Music Director will be your very first contact person. Please do not contact any organists, instrumentalists, or soloists until your ideas are discussed with the Music Director. The Pro-Cathedral have wedding music policies in place to ensure that your wedding is a success. What you may not know is, the parish has several resident Organists who are retained to play the pipe organ at all parish liturgies. These Organists are the only persons permitted to use the organ at any liturgy or ceremony.
Jane Renette is the Music Director at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption and can be contacted by direct line 705-472-2032 or by email music.finance@procathedral.ca.
SECOND STEP IN PLANNING YOUR MUSIC – KNOWING WHERE MUSIC IS APPROPRIATE IN YOUR CEREMONY
Please note: If your ceremony is being celebrated without having the Eucharist (which will be decided with the priest or deacon celebrating your wedding), the sections below marked with an asterisks (*) may be omitted.
Prelude – Instrumental (Organ, piano or other instrumentalists) or soloist is appropriate.
Processional – Instrumental only. Singing at this time is liturgically incorrect. One piece of music for the whole bridal party (including the bride) can be what you prefer, however you can choose two separate marches (one for the bridesmaids and one for the bride).
Responsorial Psalm – A psalm is chosen by the Music Director based on your on your readings.
Gospel Acclamation – The Celtic Alleluia is sung as a proclamation of the Gospel reading.
*Preparation of the Gifts – You can have soft instrumental music here.
*Eucharistic Acclamations – The Preface Acclamation (Holy Holy), Memorial Acclamation (Christ Has Died), Great Amen, and Lamb of God is recited not sung at wedding ceremonies.
*Communion Procession – Instrumental or soloist is appropriate at this time.
Signing of the Register – Instrumental or soloist is appropriate at this time.
Recessional – Instrumental only. Singing at this time is liturgically incorrect.
THIRD STEP IN PLANNING YOUR MUSIC – KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT
What has to be kept in mind at all times is that the music chosen for a church service is used for the worship of God. As a result of this requirement, the Bishops of Canada have provided us with a set of guidelines to determine the suitability of music for worship.
From these guidelines, it is evident that secular or “popular” music is not be be used in Roman Catholic Liturgy. This kind of music, no matter how good it is, usually expresses love in a physical sense whereas Christian love songs speak not only for the love of two people, but of God’s love for those people and all people. Popular songs are more suitable for the festivities which follow the church service in the same way that Christian songs and hymns are more suited to the event in the Church.
You will find below sound clips of Processional and Recessional Wedding Marches, as well as other pieces of music that are suitable as Preludes, Communion and Signing of the Register that have been pre-approved to be played at the Pro-Cathedral. Because of our excellent music ministry at the Pro-Cathedral, recorded music will not be a substitute for live music.
WEDDING MARCHES:
PROCESSIONAL Air from Water Music by HANDEL
PROCESSIONAL Air on G String by BACH
PROCESSIONAL Aria From Cantata No. 1 by BACH
PROCESSIONAL Arioso BACH (Organ)
PROCESSIONAL Believe Me if all those Endearing Young Charmes (Piano Only) by MINOQUE
PROCESSIONAL Canon In D by PACHELBEL
PROCESSIONAL Celtic (Piano Only) by MINOGUE
PROCESSIONAL Coro from ‘Water Music’ HANDEL (Organ)
PROCESSIONAL Grand Arrival (Piano Only) by TODD
PROCESSIONAL Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring Instrumental only by BACH
PROCESSIONAL Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring BACH (Organ)
PROCESSIONAL Largo by HANDEL
PROCESSIONAL Love Is the Sunlight by HAAS
PROCESSIONAL Love is the Sunlight HAAS COTTER (Organ)
PROCESSIONAL O for the wings of a Dove MENDELSSOHN (Organ)
PROCESSIONAL Prelude to Te Deum by CHARPENTIER
PROCESSIONAL Princess Bride (Piano Only) by TODD
PROCESSIONAL Radiant As A Bride (Piano Only) by TODD
PROCESSIONAL Rondeau by MOURET
PROCESSIONAL St. Andrew’s Aisle (Piano Only) by ALLEN
PROCESSIONAL Sinfonia by PURCELL
PROCESSIONAL Sheep May Safely Graze BACH
PROCESSIONAL Sonata KV67 by MOZART
PROCESSIONAL Spring “From the Four Seasons” by VIVALDI
PROCESSIONAL “From The Sound of Music” by RODGERS/HAMMERSTEIN
PROCESSIONAL The Day Has Come (Piano Only) by TODD
PROCESSIONAL Theme from ‘Jupiter’ HOLST
PROCESSIONAL There’s No Feeling Like This (Piano only) by TODD
PROCESSIONAL Trumpet Tune by PURCELL
PROCESSIONAL Trumpet Voluntary Prince of Denmark’s March by CLARKE
PROCESSIONAL Trumpet Voluntary by STANLEY
PROCESSIONAL Voluntary from Suite No 1 by Stanley
PROCESSIONAL Where’er You Walk Aria from “Semele” by HANDEL
PROCESSIONAL Wie Melondien Zieht Es by BRAHMS
PROCESSIONAL Winter “From the Four Seasons” by VIVALDI
PROCESSIONAL Who wants to Fall in Love (Piano Only) by WEBSTER
RECESSIONAL Autumn “From the Four Seasons” by VIVALDI
RECESSIONAL Coro from ‘Water Music’ HANDEL (Organ)
RECESSIONAL Haste to the Wedding (Piano Only) by MINOGUE
RECESSIONAL Hornpipe by HANDEL
RECESSIONAL Hymn to Joy by BEETHOVEN
RECESSIONAL Give Me Your Hand (Piano Only) by MINOGUE
RECESSIONAL Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring Instrumental only by BACH
RECESSIONAL Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring BACH (Organ)
RECESSIONAL La Rejouissance from Music for Royal Fireworks by HANDEL
RECESSIONAL Prelude to Te Deum by CHARPENTIER
RECESSIONAL The Last Dance (Piano Only) by WEBSTER
RECESSIONAL Theme from ‘Jupiter’ HOLST
RECESSIONAL This is the Life (Piano Only) by WEBSTER
RECESSIONAL Trumpet Voluntary by STANLEY
RECESSIONAL Rondeau by MOURET
RECESSIONAL Voluntary from Suite No 1 by Stanley
COMMUNION
Please note music marked with an asteriks (*) below are recommended at communion only. Any of the music can be also be done just instrumentally – if you prefer no singing.
REGISTER SIGNING AND COMMUNION
Instrumental music only is appropriate for either Register Signing or Communion.
Most pieces listed below can be played just instrumentally if you do not want singing at that time.
All I Ask Of You
Arioso BACH (Organ)
* Ave Maria CACCINI
* Ave Maria GOUNOD
* Ave Maria SCHUBERT
Ave Verum Corpus MOZART (Instrumental only)
Beauty Is Within (Piano Only) by TODD
Beginning Today DUCOTE
Bist Du Bei Mir by BACH
*Blessing Prayer by HAAS
Calm As The Night by BOHM
Celtic Melody (Piano Only) by MINOGUE
* Come to the Table by ALONSO
*Gather in your Name by HAAS
God the All Holy HAAS COTTER
* I Am The Living Bread HAAS
* I Have Loved You JONCAS
In Love We Chose to Live HAAS
Largo by HANDEL
Love Is the Sunlight by HAAS (instrumental only)
Love One Another HAAS
Morning Has Broken FARJEON
My One Desire (Piano Only) by TODD
* O Bread Of Life HAAS
O for the wings of a Dove MENDELSSOHN (Organ)
O Perfect Love BARNBY
* Panis Angelicus FRANCK
*Present Among Us by HAAS
* The Hand Of The Lord JANCO
The Greatest Gift
The Servant Song HAAS
Two Hearts Unite (Piano Only) by TODD
Walk With Me (Piano Only) by TODD
We Have Been Told HAAS
Wedding Song (There is Love) COATES
When Love Is Found HAAS
Wie Melondien Zieht Es by BRAHMS
Now that you have had a chance to listen to some appropriate music for your wedding ceremony, please contact the Music Director to discuss your music choices.
FINAL STEP IN PLANNING YOUR MUSIC – FEES FOR YOUR WEDDING
There is a base fee involved in ensuring that your celebration takes place in a clean, safe building and that those involved provide a quality service. Additional fees are for a Stipend for the Celebrant, Organist/Accompanist, and Cantor/Soloist. A parish appointed organist/accompanist and cantor/soloist will be present at the ceremony to provide the worship music. Additional costs can be added should you require services of a guitarist, brass player, additional vocalist, choir, etc. Please discuss these fees with our Music Director. It is recommended that you pay the above fees once your arrangements have been finalized with the Music Director but no later than 2 weeks prior to your wedding date. A cheque can be made out to the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption or e-transfer, Visa/Mastercard is also accepted.
ONE LAST THOUGHT…
If you plan on putting together a Program for your guests to read and follow along at the church, please make sure that the Music Director has approved the terminology prior to printing the program. It is extremely important that this is done because often things can be overlooked and a second look is always best. Below are two examples of Programs that are suitable:
Wedding Program Template including the Eucharist
Wedding Program Template No Eucharist
