• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Weddings

JONESEY

New member
Hi All,

Well, following my last post, I've actually made it onto the Organists list for Weddings in our local church which I'm really pleased about.

I remember Neb and Krummhorn telling me that they play around 15-20 mins before which is fine, but Krummhorn has a backup list of up to 90 mins!!!.

I'm aiming for around 45 mins music, maybe an hour without repeats, so here's my latest question to you all.

Can you recommend a few pieces that I can play before hand so I can add to my list ... in an ideal world they won't be hugely technical or complicated as I will no doubt have my mind on playing the Bridal March etc, and also having to keep an eye out for the bride arriving!!!!.

Your suggestions, as always are most welcome.

Thanks!
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
If you go to your local (good) music retailer ... you'll find organ books specifically for weddings. Do you own any of these? There are some excellent ones edited by C.H Trevor from memory.
 

JONESEY

New member
Jean-Paul ... many thanks - I'll certainly add that to my list.

CT64 - I have one Weddings book, but I was just after an insight into what you guys really liked to play in the music before and after the services.
The books always pick the well known pieces and I was just after something a little different.

Time to peruse our local music shop I think.
 

JONESEY

New member
Hi Jean-Paul,

That would be fantastic.
I mainly play a 2 manual organ in the village where I grew up, but I also have access to a modern electric pipe organ which I believe I should have the ability to record on.

If possible, when I have finished the pieces, I will record them and upload it for you.
Hopefully you will approve of my interpretation.

With best regards.
 

NEB

New member
Jesu Joy of man's desiring always goes down well, things like trumpet tune and air, Baroque Trumpet voluntaries in general go pretty well. Bits of the water music etc. They tend to like Pachelbel's cannon - stuff like that really. I've got about an hour or so handy.

Yr really into the popular well known tunes area... Play good tunes nicely and you won't ever go wrong...
 

Flute'n'Pedal

New member
Hi Jonesey,

It could be good to alternate the trumpet fanfare stuff with some romantic melodies, such as Mendelssohn "Song Without Words" or Schubert lieder transcribed for organ.
Where I live now, the organist is not allowed to play anything at a wedding except prelude and postlude. So I really envy organists who have the luxury of preparing a wedding repertoire.

LlL
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Jonesey,

I have/use several collections of music for 'pre-nuptial' preludes. One is a very old book titled "Ecclisiae Organam" with a bunch of "ditties" that don't require any rehearsal time for preparation. Another is "Organ Voluntaries" by Homer Ashford. Those two books alone cover almost an hours time.

I also interject other familiar pieces ... Handel's Water Music suite selections, Handel's 'Hornpipe', Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Pachelbel Canon in D, most anything by Gordon Young and the Paul Manz are always a listeners favorite.

For the procession, I absolutely abhor the traditional march from Lohengrin ... especially since I learned that there are actual 'lyrics' for that piece:
"Here comes the bride, big fat and wide, here comes the groom, skinny as a broom ... Here comes the maid, ... <ahem> ... " :lol:

I always try everything possibly to sway the bridal couple away from the Wagner piece .. had one pastor years ago who actually forbid that piece to ever be played in the church.
His reasons were that the opera was, 1) a secular piece, and 2) the opera marriage ended in 'divorce' and as such did not promote the "till death do us part" part of the vows. If the bride insists, I'll play it, but only for the bride and not for the rest of the wedding party (groomsmen and bridesmaids).

There are so many other better alternates like:
  • Trumpet Voluntary - Jerimiah Clarke (formerly attributed to Purcell)
  • Grand Choeur Dialoge
Exit recessionals bring about lots of options. My favorite is the Widor Toccata which I have used more often than the Mendelssohn!!
 

musicalis

Member
New Weddings March is ready

Dear Jonesey, dear Lindalee, dear every others.

My new march, written for Jonesey weddings list is ready and available at
http://musicalis.monespace.net/pages/49.html.

Or if you prefer : http://musicalis.monespace.net/autres/img601a.mp3 for the MP3
and http://musicalis.monespace.net/autres/img602a.pdf for the PDF score (4 pages).
It is a F major march for single manual organ, with some stranges harmonies as I like to write. Tempo is about 124 bpm and duration 3:45.

I miss time this week to make a nice mp3 so I have reccorded the music with only one stop registration and I let you make some changes.

I'll be very happy to receive your interpretations on real or virtual organs.
if you notice something wrong, a passage too diificult to play or a mistake, please remark me.

If you enjoy this music and if it can bring some change in your churches, I'll be happy.

You can also write a few line in my guest book, there are so many blank pages. Cheers.
 
Last edited:

JONESEY

New member
Jean-Paul, many thanks indeed, that sounds fantastic.
I will set about learning it and as soon as I have it to an acceptable standard, I will see about recording it.

I'm amazed how quickly you composed such a brilliant piece of music.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Johan,

Very nice resource there ... I'll have to peruse that site later today.
Thanks for sharing this with the rest of this community :clap:
 
Top