Weddings
(Early Music, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th C & Contemporary)
Religious/Sacred |
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| Laudamus Te ( We praise thee) |
DUO + PIANO ACCOM. |
From Vivaldi's ‘Gloria’ RV 589.
Composed at the beginning of the 18th C to mark significant events. Very popular, brisk and beautiful duet for high
soprano and mezzo soprano of quickfire imitation. |
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| No Sweeter Tone |
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| Divine composition by Michael Deason-Barrow. The words are by Angelus Silesius –
“No sweeter tone from any lute could spring than when our hearts and that of God resound as with one string”. |
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| The Call |
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| A gem of a song written by R. Vaughan Williams. It is no. 4 from his collection called
‘5 Mystical Songs’. The beautiful words are by George Herbert, a priest who wrote poetry in private.
On his deathbed he gave the poems to a friend saying “Publish them if you think they might turn to the advantage any poor soul,
otherwise burn them”. |
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Ave Maria *
(Schubert, Bach/Gounod and Caccini) |
View on YouTube
click here »
for version attributed to Caccini
click here »
for Schubert's Ave Maria |
| Three versions of the Marian Antiphon often sung at weddings and funerals. Perhaps one of the best-known Classical
Songs, apart maybe from the so-called Caccini Version. No one knows for sure who wrote it. They are all timeless prayers to Mother
Mary. |
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| Ave Donna Santissima |
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| A contemporary Lauda written by Gavin Bryars being based in spirit as the old
Laude. The text is Maryan and found in a collection from 13th C. Cortona. The people who originally sang the ‘laudesi‘
were not usually associated with any particular church and this music was not part of any liturgy. |
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| How Beautiful are the Feet |
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| From G F Handel's beloved oratorio ‘Messiah’, inspired by the Biblical text from the Old Testament.
Three different settings of this sublime aria are all in print. His many attempts to set ‘How Beautiful’ point to
Handel's continuing dissatisfaction and his determination to find something better. |
Wedding Songs
Secular |
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| Bist Du Bei Mir: (Be Thou with Me) |
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| Composed by Gottfried H. Stölzel, used by Johann Sebastian Bach in his piano book for his second wife Anna
Magdalena Bach. An aria with a hauntingly beautiful melody made grippingly memorable by the poem's directly spoken words. This
piece has become very popular for special celebrations & ceremonies, both for weddings and funerals alike. It was featured
in the French film ‘Joyeux Noel’ |
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| Where'er you Walk |
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| From G. F. Handel's oratorio/opera ‘Semele’, HMW 58. ‘Semele’ is based on
a classical legend, drawn from Ovid's ‘Metamorphoses‘, retold in a libretto by William Congreve. This aria is sung by the
god ‘Jupiter’ as he conjures up ‘Arcadia’, a pastoral paradise, as part of his wooing of the beautiful Semele. |
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| Rise up, my Love, my Fair One |
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| The words are from the Song of Songs 2 : 10-13, The Song of Solomon.
A moving choir piece written by Healey Willan (1880-1968). |
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Amarilli mia Bella
(Amaryllis, my beautiful one) |
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| A wonderful lovesong by Giulio Caccini (1545-1618). ‘Open my breast and you will see
written on my heart: Amaryllis is my love.’ |
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| Jeg Elsker Dig (I Love You) |
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| This song is the most famous of Grieg's(1843-1907) songs. It is one of a group of four settings
of poems in Danish by Hans Christian Andersen. The song was composed at the end of 1864 when Grieg became engaged
to his cousin Nina Hagerup, a well-known singer. |
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| Ah! How Pleasant 'tis to Love |
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| Composed by one of the greatest of all English composers, Henry Purcell (1659-1695), who had a
special gift for vocal music. A short, but beautiful little piece about love, and how it improves every moment. |
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| ‘Morgen’ (Tomorrow) |
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| By Richard Strauss (1864-1949), with words by John Henry Mackay. This unique song is one of the three glorious
songs that Strauss presented to his beloved Pauline (a distinguished singer) on their wedding day in 1894. ‘Let heaven unite
a love that earth no more shall sunder‘. |
Wedding Songs - Folk Style
Religious/Sacred |
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| May the Road Rise up to Meet You |
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| This is a world-famous Irish blessing, which the wonderful composer Bob Chilcott has used for his composition. |
Wedding Songs - Folk Style
Secular |
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| Searching for Lambs |
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| A widely known Somerset Folk Song which Vaughan Williams has arranged for violin and voice.
A stunning arrangement. This is one of the few folk songs with a happy ending. |
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| Furrem be me heen / Mary Mack * |
View on YouTube click here » |
Two wonderful wedding songs that also work together as a part song.
‘Furrem be me heen’ is Gaelic
Mouth Music, port abeul, which is sung music for dancing, when no instruments are available.
‘Mary Mack’ is a
Scottish tongue-twister from Glasgow. |
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| She moved through the Fair |
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| A very famous Irish folk song, recorded by many singers, Classical - as well as Folk singers. The words are
re-written by Padraic Colum, the author of the famous children's book ‘The King of Ireland's Son‘.
He seems to have reworked the words of an old Ballad and put them to an ancient Donegal air. |
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| Black is the Colour |
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| An old folk song first known in the Appalacian Mountains, but most probably originated from Scotland. Versions
of this song have been recorded by many famous singers, both within Folk and Jazz. |
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| My Love is like a Red, Red Rose |
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| This song was composed by Robert Burns (1759-1796) 2 years before he died. It is based on
traditional sources and has been inspiration for many composers, e.g. Alexander L'Estrange who has arranged it. |
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| My Lagan Love |
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| This beautiful Irish Folk Song is also very famous. The tune is from Ulster and the words are early
20th C by Joseph Campbell (Seosamh MacCathmhaoil). |
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| The Lark in the Clear Air |
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| A new very beautiful arrangement by Michael Deason-Barrow of the famous Irish folk song.
Michael is the director of Tonalis Music Centre and a great singer and composer. |
