Wedding Music Essentials

Ryan · New Member Joined: 14 Mar 2002 Posts: 1

Just wondering what you think the most essential literature for weddings is... (somewhat specific as far as arrangements)
Thanks

_Don Herman · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2002 1:55 pm Post subject:

I'm getting lazy, so here's a list of church and wedding stuff I've (tried to) play, or at least what I looked up a while back when somebody asked. I put the wedding stuff at the top; the Wallace-head books are probably "the" wedding books to get.

HTH - Don

Wedding Music, Book 2, Processionals and Recessionals, David N. Johnson, Augsburg Fortress (2 of 5; I may get the others sometime; they have a website)

The Classical Wedding, Sue Mitchell Wallace and John Head, Hope Publishing Co.
The Joyous Wedding, ibid
From Humility to Hallelujah, ibid.

Praise Him with the Sound of the Trumpet, Clyde Hunt, Bb Music Production (check his website via the ITG Links Hub)

Favorite Hymns, Keith Snell, Belwin
Favorite Wedding Classics, ibid.

Hymn Descants, S.D. Wolff, Concordia Publishing House (3 x 4 volumes, for
organ, Bb, and C trumpet)

61 Trumpet Hymns and Decants, Volumes 1 - 3, Douglas Smith (there's a 4th
with a similar title, but I couldn't find it tonight)

Hymns and Descants for Trumpet, William Bay, Mel Bay Publications (I don't
like this one but...)

I use the first two sets the most by far. The Smith set is easier to find,
cheaper, and covers 90%. I do like some of the Wolff arrangements a bit
better, however.

Processional, Arnold B. Sherman, Hope Publishing Company (I like this one)

Thine is the Glory, Douglas Smith, Lorenz Publishing Co.
Classics for Trumpet and Keyboard (Organ), ibid.

All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus, Bob Walters (USAF Band, ret), Intrada Music Group

Contemporary Praise, by Lloyd Larson, Hope Publishing Company

Almighty God!, by Fletch Wiley, Word Music (this transcription looks a bit strange at times, e.g. where the transcriber wrote out a buncha' -- five or six -- notes in a little rift as a 128th-note run when clearly Fletch -- and
I -- would simply kind of fluff/rip through them; some Phil Driscoll transcriptions I've seen are the same...)

Praise and Worship Hymn Solos, by Stan Pethel, Hal Leonard (fairly easy, which is a nice break, offers room to improvise, and provides some nice mid-range sounds the congregation will appreciate)

Trumpet Stylings, by Jack Schrader, Hope Publishing Company

1) "Even in the Darkness" is at

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/edowdall/musepg1.htm

I even noticed a testimonial from yours truly. This is a favorite of mine, BTW. Works really
well with the piano, pretty easy, and plenty of opportunity to embellish and work your "feelings" into it, after "Prayer" fashion...

(2) "La Grace" is from the "Heroic Music" collection published by Billaudot, ed. Gerard Billaudot. The real title is "Douze Marches Heroiques". I don't speak the lingo, but I was told it's a pretty standard book when I got it. I
ordered it through my local store. There's another version by IMS (I think) -- I have both, but the Billaudot edition was the one given the most favorable reviews.

(3) "Ev'ry Valley" was in the graded contest solos section of my local store, though I don't recall the level. G.F. Handel, arr. by Bernard
Fitzgerald, published by Theodore Presser Company, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania,
USA, 19010. Portland and King have it -- see the ITG links hub for _their_ URLs.

"Prayer of St. Gregory", by Hovhaness, is a great offertory. The organ reduction is a little lame, imo. Try to get the CD he conducts and listen to it, then try to get a softer string section sound from the organ to better
fit the mood of the piece (it's about a guy who got thrown into a pit for thirty years before the king let him out to save himself, or something like that -- from a Bible tale).
_________________
Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

clarion89 · Posted: Sun May 05, 2002 7:41 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the info, Don. I have "The Classical Wedding" and a bunch of arrangements that either I have done or the music director. Your list is exactly what I am looking for. I'd say it's rather complete.
Thanks!
_________________
Matt Wirfel
"don't practice long, practice often" - Don Jacoby
https://www.facebook.com/mgwirfel01

MrTrumpet · Posted: Mon May 13, 2002 6:41 pm Post subject:

_Don Herman · Posted: Mon May 13, 2002 10:39 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Mike... I did look at the other 4 Johnson books, and it seemed like one of the others might have been worthwhile, but my bag was pretty full at the time! My wife plays organ, so I might get it even so, but I haven't done any weddings for a long, long time (last time was a bad experience -- I did OK, but wish I'd known there were 9 bridesmaids instead of 3 before the wedding! -- but who knows what could happen?)

Thanks also for the Wiley reference -- I have another of his, but haven't used it too much. Hymns keeps coming up, but I haven't seen it locally -- need to get them to order it for me.

Thanks! - Don
_________________
Don Herman/Monument, CO
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music." - Aldous Huxley

MrTrumpet · Posted: Tue May 14, 2002 3:36 pm Post subject:

(One of) my wedding horror story(ies): I was called to play trumpet solo at a Catholic wedding. I found out when I got there that the organist was a friend of the bride's that played the solo organ stuff fine, but would not/did not accompany at all

regards, Mike