In early autumn, our string quartet played for a peaceful and traditional wedding ceremony at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Breckenridge, Colorado. It was a full Catholic Mass, and our music perfectly complimented the sacred feel of the service.

As befitting the serene church setting, our string quartet played hymns, sacred classical music, and selections from Handel’s Water Music as guests arrived. Anticipation for the ceremony peaked as two cantors (singers) and the pianist performed The Summons to signal tat the ceremony was about to begin.

Throughout the ceremony, the cantors and pianist performed the liturgical music in beautiful harmony. Our quartet joined them for the communion song, which was “One Bread, One Body”, and also for “Kyrie, Gloria”. When all seven of us performed, it sounded a little like heaven, as our music carried throughout the church.

Confronted with limited space within the church, I created a novel approach to cello bowing, adapting my technique to accommodate the flow of people. As congregants made their way back to their pews after receiving communion, I greeted them with a warm smile to let them know that they could come by. Then I did an upward bow motion to let them them to glide by without interruption.

String Quartet Wedding Ceremony Music at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Breckenridge, Colorado, Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Photo by Laura Foote

Sample Music from the Prelude:
Simple Gifts, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Blessed Assurance, Handel’s Water Music (La Rejouissance, Bourree, Hornpipe in F, Coro, Air in F, and Hornpipe Finale)

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach): Seating of the Family and Wedding Party
Bridal Chorus: Bride
Kyrie, Gloria: During Ceremony
One Bread, One Body (Talbot): Communion
Wedding March (Mendelssohn): Recessional

After the ceremony, we all drove to Ski Tip Lodge in Keystone to play music for the cocktail hour. Here, we changed the mood completely, and played pop and country music as guests mingled on the lawn and enjoyed cocktails and refreshments. They particularly requested Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and the Beatles. Even though it was late September in the Colorado mountains, the day was beautiful and sunny with a brilliant blue sky.

Sample Music from the Cocktail Hour:
Accidentally in Love (Counting Crows), Butterflies (Kacey Musgraves), Lover (Taylor Swift), Just the Way You Are (Bruno Mars), Ten Minutes Ago from Cinderella, How High the Moon (Ella Fitzgerald, Tennessee Whiskey (Chris Stapleton), What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)