Wedding Music

Music at the Wedding

Music at a Catholic wedding should be sacred or purely instrumental. It should not originate from a secular source — such as as ballet, opera, or play. Please note that Mendelsohn’s Wedding March from Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Wagner’s Wedding Chorus from Lohengrin (“Here Comes the Bride”) are not allowed. Secular and popular Christian songs are also not allowed, even if they are played on instruments.

Traditional and classical music will complement the acoustics and aesthetics of our historic space.

If you choose contemporary settings or other music not in the public domain, you will be responsible for purchasing the musical scores (usually $10-20).

Within these guidelines, there is a vast quantity of music that is beautiful and suitable for a wedding. Please feel free to look around on YouTube

Contact the Music Coordinator with any additional questions at music@acchtx.org. Selecting music for the wedding begins with contacting her TWO months before the wedding date.

Below are some music suggestions for your wedding. Those that are underscored lead to YouTube links. (We have no control of the advertising on the web.)

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Seating of Parents and Sponsors/Godparents

• Bach, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

  Organ only, Organ and string quartet, Organ and violin, Organ with a quartet of singers

Processional

• Pachelbel, Canon in D

• Clarke, Prince of Denmark's March (works well with trumpet)

• O God Beyond All Praising (Opening hymn)

• Deus Israel — Introit Chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Gloria

• Gloria Mass VIII Missa De Angelis (Latin)

• Gloria Mass XV (English)

Psalm/Gradual

• Responsorial Psalm - Set to a psalm tone

• Uxor Tua - Gradual chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Alleluia

• Alleluia Mode VI

• Mittat vobis - Alleluia chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

Offertory

Hymns: Perfect Love; Ubi Caritas; Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Chant:

• In te Speravi - Offertory chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

• Solo piece for the cantor:

  • Ave Maria - Schubert/Gounod

  • Franck, Panis Angelicus

  • Ave Verum Corpus: Elgar, Mozart

  • Mozart, Laudate Dominum

Instrumental music

Sanctus

• Sanctus Mass VIII – Missa De Angelis (Latin)

• Sanctus Mass XV (English)

Agnus Dei

• Sanctus Mass VIII – Missa De Angelis (Latin)

• Sanctus Mass XV (English)

Communion Hymns

• Hymns: any of those listed under Offertory or any that references the Blessed Sacrament

• Chant: Ecce sic benedicetur – Communion chant from Missa Pro Sponsis

• Solo Piece for the Cantor – Any of those listed under Offertory

Flowers to Mary

Any setting of Ave Maria, Salve Regina, or another Marian antiphon

Recessional

• Clarke, Prince of Denmark's March

• Handel, La Rejouissance

• Handel, Alla Hornpipe (works well with strings)

• Widor Toccata (organ only)

Alternate Choral pieces - For quartet or larger choir

Any of these can be used for Processional, Offertory, Communion, or Recessional

• Durufle, Ubi Caritas

• Willan, Rise Up My Love

• Ave Verum Corpus: Mozart, Byrd, or Elgar

• Ave Maria: Gallus, Saint-Saens; or Daniel Knaggs (Knaggs setting was written for our church.)

• Faure, Cantique de Jean Racine

 Polyphonic Mass setting

• Palestrina, Missa Brevis

• Byrd, Mass for 4 Voices