A short classical piece expressing joy

[Donna Ferentes]

Good morning. I wonder if anybody could be of assistance.

I am getting married in May and I am trying to find some appropriate music for the beginning of the ceremony; I am trying to find something that communicates joy, that is not so well-known it's clichéd, that is from the classical tradition and that is not so overtly religious that it falls foul of the no-religious-music guidelines we have to abide by. (This has already done for my first choice, beautiful piece.)

It doesn't have to be a whole piece but it needs to be considered as such by whatever CD it's on to make it as easy as possible to avoid embarrassing cock-ups.

I've been searching around for quite a time but I don't seem to be able to find anything quite suitable. Can anybody help?

 

[Belushi]

Where the hell have you been? Well done on getting married!

 

[rubbershoes]

My first thought was Spem in Alium but on reflection it fails on both religiosity and joyfulness.

Beautiful and uplifting, yes, but not really joyful

 

[sam/phallocrat]

messiaen - transports de joie (just lie about the religious bit)

or

finzi - my spirit sang all day (not religious afaik)

 

[killer b]

excellent news.

my mum says grieg's 'the wedding day at troldhauger'

my dad says the last movement of orchestral suite number 3 (d major) by bach

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I think Spem in Alium might fail on length grounds. The Messiaen doesn't really do it for me, though thanks for the suggestion. The Finzi might be worth putting on the list.

I think I can lie about the religious bit provided the title isn't overtly religious and the lyrics aren't in English.

 

[Gmart]

Beethoven - Ode to Joy

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I think the Ode to Joy is far too well-known and would also fail on length grounds because a CD (see above) will presumably make me play the whole movement. (This buggers up a few things.)

I quite like Troldhaugen (and she loves the piano) but again, I don't know if it's a touch long. It might be worth thinking about for the end, though.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

(I have a certain fondness for Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets, but she's got it into her head that it was used in a royal wedding and she won't be persuaded out of it...)

The Bach's another one I'll have to look into.

 

[danny la rouge]

messiaen - transports de joie (just lie about the religious bit)

Ooh, good call. I was going to say Bach's Cello Suite No. 3 in C major, but I'm putting my vote behind Messiaen now.

Congrats, by the way, DF.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

I've just squeaked with delight! I am so happy for you....

I'll come back with the music choice when I've stopped squeaking.....

 

[goldenecitrone]

Kije's Wedding. Or is that too closely associated with Woody's Love and Death?

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Possibly a little jolly as opposed to joyful?

I was going to say Bach's Cello Suite No. 3 in C major

Any particular movement? (Helps with Youtube searches.)

 

[Maggot]

Can't help with the music, but would just like to say felicidades!

 

[danny la rouge]

Possibly a little jolly as opposed to joyful?



Any particular movement? (Helps with Youtube searches.)

I was thinking the whole of Suite Nr 3: Prelude, Allemande and Bourree.

 

[scooter]

Not the Suite No 1 Prelude?



Not too well known to be cliched but well known enough to make people perk up.

 

[quimcunx]

Not in the slightest helpful but while having a nosy around the internets I found this and it's filled me with joy.

http://www.classicsonline.com/catalogue/product.aspx?pid=224776

Oh yes, and congratulations.

 

[phildwyer]

No suggestions, but congratulations. Stick around a while.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

Hey congratulations

Dunno about classical stuff. Motorhead is more my thing ...

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Not the Suite No 1 Prelude?

Possibly tails off a bit (for my purposes, I mean, I'm not seeking to tell the late JS Bach how to compose...)

In general, by the way, I assume I need a piece or excerpt only a couple of minutes long or less - my experience of weddings is minimal and my experience of wedding music nil, but my assumption is that they start playing, we go in, we get to the front, they stop, and so I don't want music to be dragging on while everybody's waiting for the start. Conversely, I assume I can have a longer piece at the end - or maybe I can't, it would be useful to know.

 

[Maurice Picarda]

Brahms: Variations on a theme of Schumann op 23. It's the penultimate section I'm thinking of - very cheerful and optimistic but also quite strange. And it would be standalone on a CD. It is on mine, anyway.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Hmmm, don't know that one and can only find opus 9 on Youtube...

(Hang on, it is....

....might have to pass on that one...)

 

[Maurice Picarda]

No, not that one at all.

I'm sure there are ways of transferring the CD I have in front of me to the downloadable ether, but not sure I can master them.

 

[DotCommunist]

Billy Idol White Wedding

 

[Donna Ferentes]

No, not that one at all.

I'm sure there are ways of transferring the CD I have in front of me to the downloadable ether, but not sure I can master them.

There are probably ways of my finding it on the internet other than Youtube, but I've not mastered that either...

 

[RubyToogood]

In general, by the way, I assume I need a piece or excerpt only a couple of minutes long or less - my experience of weddings is minimal and my experience of wedding music nil, but my assumption is that they start playing, we go in, we get to the front, they stop, and so I don't want music to be dragging on while everybody's waiting for the start. Conversely, I assume I can have a longer piece at the end - or maybe I can't, it would be useful to know.

Having played at a couple of registry office weddings in the UK, generally music may (optionally) be required at the following points:

• to entertain the guests whilst waiting for things to start - an indefinite amount of time, something low key is suitable
• entrance music, which wants to be pretty short
• something to happen whilst the register is being signed, can be a song, a few minutes
• exit music of indefinite length - low key again probably

If the entrance music is longer than it would take for you to come in and get to the front, you can wait to come in rather than waiting afterwards.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Ta. Actually four pieces might be good, it'd give me more chance to put in things she wants and therefore have leverage to have things I want....

 

[trashpony]

No suggestions I'm afraid, my knowledge of classical music is embarrassingly poor but just wanted to say how nice it is to 'see' you and wish you congratulations

 

[sam/phallocrat]

there's always widor's tocatta, but that is a bit over-used at weddings

sounds fucking amazing on a stonking great organ though

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

congrats and that.

are we invited to the wedding?

if you invite me, i'll play whatever music you want (if you also ask me to play music of course)