wedding ceremony music for a soprano

May 26, 2007 11:10 AM

What wedding songs (ceremony, not reception) would music lovers here suggest to be sung by a skilled, classically trained soprano accompanied by a not as skilled, works-for-a-small-church pianist?

I am getting married this August we are lucky enough to be good friends of a recent graduate of Indiana University's music school. She has an excellent voice and can sing just about anything.

The pianist, on the other hand, is used to your regular Sunday church hymns. She can probably play anything simple if we give her plenty of time to practice, but simpler is better.

I wile away my hours listening to Brian Eno, Radiohead, Godspeed! You Black Emperor and various other things that don't lend themselves at all to a wedding. My lovely fiancee listens to a lot of the same stuff, plus country music. And I hate just about anything that sounds twangy orr like popular country music.

So we are at a loss. From what I have gathered from occasional listenign to A Prairie Home Companion, something more classically ballad sounding from the last half of the 19th century would be peachy keen in my book. That's just one vague idea, though, to us anything is fair game and worth a listen. Hymns are fair game, but I'm not particularly fond of them.

Julie is interested in something that "has sincere lyrics about love."

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

posted by ztdavis to grab bag (7 comments total)

"when will we be married" - the old celtic classic (country overtones) Or what about something by Bjork?
posted by DenOfSizer at 11:42 AM on May 26, 2007

Keep away from the tired, stale Andrea Bocelli/Charlotte Church/Josh Groban stuff.
posted by HotPatatta at 11:51 AM on May 26, 2007 [3 favorites]

I went to a wedding once that basically had the same set up you describe, an excellent vocalist with an adequate pianist. She sang Thank You by Led Zepplin and it was extremely well received
posted by Sailormom at 1:39 PM on May 26, 2007

Must be Love -- Rickie Lee Jones
posted by squirrel at 1:50 PM on May 26, 2007

I'm a sucker for Schubert's Ave Maria at a wedding. It's a great piece for a good voice and the piano part isn't too difficult, being nothing but slow arpeggios. If there's a part of the ceremony where you have to go off to sign the register (as there is in UK weddings), it's a good piece to have performed at that point in the ceremony.

There's a .pdf here.
posted by essexjan at 6:02 AM on May 27, 2007

Seconding the Schubert "Ave Maria" but if you'd like something a little less popular, Schumann's "Du Ring an meinem Finger" is simple and gorgeous. (Okay audio here.)

As someone who has sung many a wedding, I'd love to be asked for my input on the music. I'm sure your friend has an extensive repertoire and would be more than happy to make suggestions.
posted by non sum qualis eram at 2:35 PM on May 27, 2007

Yes, "Ave Maria" always brings tears to my eyes, especially at weddings.
posted by MiffyCLB at 6:11 PM on May 27, 2007