Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Wedding Ceremony Music Part I

So you’re planning a wedding, but you don’t have the budget or assistance that Kate Middleton has? So how can you give your special day the royal touch with a recessionista’s budget? One thing that will really bring your ceremony to life is the musical program. Traditionally weddings have utilized some of the most beautiful classical music that give the ceremony a special elegance and sophistication. Below are some suggestions of typical repertoire for procession/recessional.

-Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream- Felix Mendelssohn


-Allegro Maestoso from Water Music- G.F. Handel


-Trumpet Tune- Henry Purcell


-Toccata from Symphonie 5, opus 42- Charles-Marie Widor


-Canon in D- Johann Pachelbel


-Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin- Richard Wagner


Check back next time for a listing of beautiful classical vocal settings that can be sung prior to the wedding and during the ceremony.

For more information on my wedding and special event services- please visit my website.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Planning Music for Your Wedding Ceremony

So you are engaged? Congratulations. Now the planning begins. Are you going to want music at your ceremony? Thinking about your ceremony music earlier in the process rather than later is probably best. Having plenty of time to consult your musician(s) about repertoire, the better for everyone involved. The earlier you can firm up the selections to be performed, the better prepared the musicians can be to give their best in making your day one that you will never forget. Here are some things to consider when working with live musicians.

Critical Information- Date, Time, Location. Musicians often lead very busy professional lives. Being prepared to share specifics with your musicians is very important. Also the more you know about your venue the better. Is there a piano present? If it will be held outside will there be a sound system provided?

Budget- how much are you looking to spend on ceremony music. Remember, as with anything, you get what you pay for. To have quality music provided by professional musicians at your ceremony will be a bit of an expense, but have experienced and qualified individuals will most likely be less stressful and make a stronger impression on your guests, and allow to really enjoy the moment. Many weddings utilize a singer and pianist for their music. That is a basic place to start. Having a singer and pianist together will likely cost anywhere between $300-$800. If you are fortunate enough to have an even larger budget, you may also consider a trumpet player, harpist, and/or a string quartet. If you get a quote from a musician that is just beyond your budget, don’t be afraid to try negotiating for something that is a little more comfortable. I often am willing to lower the rate slightly in return for trade-offs. Less time commitment for rehearsals and fewer selections are often things I suggest in altering the rate. I also may be willing to adjust the rate in exchange for a testimonial that I can use in my publicity and website, or a list of contact information of friends that are brides-to-be. It never hurts to ask.

Concept- what kind of music do you want at your service? Do you want more traditional classical music or more contemporary popular music. Do you want music throughout the ceremony or just at the beginning? Are there certain pieces that are special to the bridal party that you wish to integrate into the service? There are so many resources to help in brainstorming on your ceremony music. There are wedding albums available for purchase at most music stores, on Amazon, or on iTunes where you can sample possibilities. Also- going and buying wedding anthologies at your local music store is a good start. Never forget Google also. Many musicians provide both audio samples and sample lists of offered repertoire on their website. I know I offer both of those things on my site. Having ideas of what your needs and requirements are before you contact potential musicians is essential to getting the most out of your consultation and getting the planning rolling.

Finding a Musician- as I mentioned already Google is a wonderful resource. Many musicians have their own personal websites that offer samples of their work. Also there are several websites that list musicians by region. I’m listed on www.gigmasters.com. It’s a pretty comprehensive directory of professional musicians and the services they offer. Also- don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family who they know or used for their weddings or special events. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful recommendations a musician can get.

Booking the talent- how should they be paid? Do they require a deposit to save-the-date? Make sure you clearly set out a timeline with your musicians as far as consultation meetings, when they should arrive for the actual ceremony, how long you expect the ceremony to last are important. Also making sure that the musicians are aware of the order of ceremony before the day of the ceremony is important. You will be preoccupied the day of the ceremony and the musicians will be focused on their music. Logistics shouldn’t be left to work out on the day of. Also make sure that if you require certain attire that you discuss that with your musicians.

Keeping all of these things in mind and being prepared and clear in your communication with your musicians will make the process easier for all parties involved and will insure that the music goes smoothly and comfortably on the day of the ceremony. Good luck!

For more information on me and my services see my website:
http://www.craigpprice.com/