Music, Poems & Quotes | Music

Top Ten: Classical Ceremonial Music

While many brides choose to walk down the aisle with a traditional wedding march, there are other options, both classical and contemporary…

‘Bridal Chorus’ (‘Here Comes the Bride’) – Richard Wagner (1813-1883), German composer

Possibly the most popular of all wedding marches, the Bridal Chorus is played at the beginning of the wedding ceremony, to accompany the bride down the aisle. Note: It’s generally not appropriate to use this composition at Jewish and Roman Catholic weddings.

‘Canon in D Major’ – Johann Pachabel (1653-1706), German composer

Considered a more obscure work, this beautiful piece of music was featured in the movie ‘Father of the Bride’ and was sampled by the Pet Shop Boys in the song, ‘Go West’.

‘Winter’ (From ‘Four Seasons’), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Italian composer

‘The Four Seasons’ is considered Vivaldi’s best-known work and comprises four parts – ‘Spring’, ‘Summer’, ‘Autumn’ and ‘Winter’. ‘Winter’ is described as invoking the chilly, icy rain of a European winter.

‘The Prince of Denmark’s March’ (Trumpet Voluntary) – Jeremiah Clark (1674-1707), English composer

A popular wedding march, as played at the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

‘Air’ (From Handel’s ‘Water Music’) – George Friederic Handel, (1685-1759), German composer

A well-known piece of music, it was composed to be played outdoors – will suit outdoor wedding ceremonies beautifully!

‘Overture’ (From ‘Royal Fireworks Music’) – George Friederic Handel, (1685-1759), German composer

Composed for King George II of England in 1749, to accompany a fireworks display celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, it a dramatic composition.

‘Wedding March’ (From ‘The Marriage of Figaro’) – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

One of Mozart’s best-loved works, this piece of music was originally banned – it was considered a dangerous work of satire on the aristocracy.

‘Trumpet Tune’ – Henry Purcell (1659-1695), English composer

Consider rocking down the aisle to ‘Trumpet Tune’…According to The Who’s Pete Townsend, Purcell has had a profound direct impact on rock ‘n roll music.

‘Ave Verum Corpus’ – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, (1756-1791)

This composition is a good choice for Roman Catholic weddings – it ties into the Catholic conception of the redemptive meaning of suffering in the life of believers and is sometimes used in the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

‘March in D Major’ (from the ‘Anna Magdalene Notebook’) – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

This piece of music is increasingly popular, particularly in the United States.