How to Choose Your Wedding Ceremony Songs

Your wedding day is approaching and you know music will be one of the most important parts of your wedding ceremony, but you don’t know what music you want yet. Perhaps you are overwhelmed and have no idea where to begin, or chose your music but keep changing your mind. Maybe the family is eager to plan for you or rejects your ideas. Wedding songs vary just as much as the people who choose them, and a Google search will reveal that just about any song can be found on a wedding music list somewhere. This article is intended to help you plan and focus your search for the perfect wedding music, saving you valuable time during this busy point in your life. To begin, ask yourself what your favorite musical styles are. Do you want traditional wedding music, classical, jazz, sacred (hymns), popular, or traditional music from your culture? A combination of those genres? Narrow your search to the genres you prefer.

Remember not to limit the music you chose for your wedding ceremony to lists you find on the internet or songs that are typically expected at weddings. Any song can be your perfect wedding song. Begin by thinking through the music you already know. Brainstorm and start a list of your favorite music or music that is meaningful to you personally. Look through your playlist or cd collection, or browse wedding ceremony song lists on the internet to spark ideas. Recall weddings and events that you have attended in the past and bring to mind any music that touched or impressed you. Don’t limit yourself - this is your chance to express yourself!

Once you have a list of potential wedding music, eliminate any songs that don’t seem to fit with the rest of the music or your wedding ceremony. Then listen to your choices on your music library, YouTube, or Amazon and begin thinking about what songs you would like to be played for each part of your wedding ceremony.

Hiring professional musicians will add class to your event and make your job a lot easier. Make sure you hire experienced musicians who offer a free consultation to play music for you and to go over your ideas with you. When you meet with them, you can describe your vision to them, show them a list of possible songs, or name a few of your favorite songs, and they will be able to come up with a sample program in keeping with your taste. The brides that I consult with are surprised at how satisfying, quick, and easy our meetings are.

Keep in mind that when choosing a musician, the sound of the music you choose will vary immensely depending on the instrument and performer. Take a moment to listen to music samples on local musicians’ websites and listen for a sound that connects with you. Most experienced professional musicians will be able to play the songs you pick on their instrument if it’s in keeping with the style of music they play. Also, don’t rule out doing popular vocal songs instrumentally, but make sure the song has an interesting melody line.

Choosing music for your wedding ceremony can and should be a fun process. Whether you choose your own music selections or have a professional musician help, following the steps in this article will simplify the process and help you choose music that expresses yourself.

Here are the songs that are typically played during a wedding ceremony:

Prelude songs – played as guests are arriving before the ceremony begins. Most of these songs can be chosen by the hired musician(s). These songs will set the mood.

Processional Songs – Played as the wedding party walks down the aisle. Choose something that is easy to walk to and that will prepare for your grand entrance.

Bridal Entrance Songs – Played as the bride walks down the aisle. Choose a song that has a great beginning because the music will end shortly after you reach the altar. Choose a song that is totally YOU.

Interlude Songs – Played during the ceremony to highlight a special moment or fill a transition. Typically a classical or religious song, choose something that has meaning to you and your family.

Recessional Songs – Played as the couple and wedding party walks back down the aisle. Choose a celebratory and upbeat song.

Postlude Songs – Played as guests leave after the recessional. Anything goes… you have left the room and the guests are ready for cake!

Live Music and Recorded Music Contrasted, Part II - Live Wedding Ceremony Music

Your wedding day has arrived and what a perfect day for an outdoor wedding! A warm spring sun is shining, and the ribbons and flowers you have carefully selected are ruffling in the soft breeze, spilling from every corner and gracing an elegant arbor in front. From somewhere indoors the scent of the banquet you and your guests are about to share makes your mouth water with anticipation, and nearby your wedding cake is waiting to be admired in all its glory. The officiate steps up front to begin the wedding ceremony as your bridesmaids make last minute adjustments to your gorgeous dress, and your photographer gets into position for the perfect shot as you walk down the aisle. Weaving through this scene is the lovely sound of live music, setting the mood and preparing to announce your grand entrance. And Cut Scene…

Now imagine a very different kind of wedding. An overhead projection of a mountain scene sways in the air conditioning as a backdrop. Photos of flowers are propped up around the guests as they anticipate the photo of your beautiful cake and the gourmet food pictures to come. The on screen officiate is ready to begin the wedding ceremony with the press of the “play” button. This is the scene in which recorded music belongs.

And now down the aisle for real….

The music announces the start of the attendant’s processional and the selections flow seamlessly until the last note fades in the air after the guests leave. The musicians do this by vamping on a song if it needs to be extended in length for your processional, or they can gracefully make a song sound complete when the bride has reached the end of the aisle. They can play louder when necessary or pull back and play quietly during special points in your wedding ceremony. When the musicians play for your cocktail hour and reception, they are aware of audience responses and choose appropriate songs, adjust their volume, and are a real and vital presence in the room. As they play, the musicians and their instruments not only sound good, but become an interesting visual focal point.

Live Music and Recorded Music Contrasted, Part I

Live music is as ancient as civilization, but with our more recent ability to record and distribute music, all kinds of musical performances have become accessible to just about everyone. However, there are distinct differences between live musical performances and studio recordings, and as a professional musician, I believe I have a unique perspective on both mediums.

Is There Anybody Out There? Live music is a collective experience, an ever changing communication between the audience and the musicians. From the subtle response of an audience to a classical performance to a crowd cheering in appreciation at a rock concert, an audience gives many cues, and excellent musicians respond to those cues. The performing musicians also react to each other on a more refined level as they adjust and influence each other to create a cohesive group sound.

In contrast, the very process of making a studio recording isolates a musician from the outside world, the audience, and often even the other musicians they are collaborating with. The positive side of this is that the musicians are able to put their full attention and focus on the music, but their performance can lack the unique energy that an audience brings. From the listener’s perspective, recorded music is versatile and we can choose to listen to it alone for our personal enjoyment, or share our experience with others.

One Moment in Time Every live musical performance is a unique one-time event, and a performance exactly like it will never happen again. This event is complete with an environment - sights, sounds, and smells that both audience and musicians simultaneously experience. This atmosphere influences both the musical performance and the hearer’s response to the music and creates a distinct mood. In addition, the audience can perceive the musical performance itself through their senses, hearing and feeling the presence of the music and seeing the musicians and their interaction with their instruments as the music is being created.

Conversely, recorded music was produced in a time past. We can even enjoy the experience of hearing artists who are no longer alive. Recorded music is also repeatable. We can choose to play any song by any artist at any volume in any location creating a soundtrack to our daily lives. Recorded music has the distinct benefit in that it is affordable and we can enjoy the experience of listening to our favorite songs as many times as we choose.

Reality Check Live music is the real thing – unedited, unplugged, and sometimes unexpected. There will be mistakes, imperfections, and distractions. But the best part of live music is the rich sounds the instruments create, a sound that technology has not yet learned to precisely mimic. Also, the location in which live music is typically performed often adds to our experience. There is nothing like hearing a concert echoing through a soaring cathedral, a musical performance at a sports event accompanied by an enthusiastic crowd, or hearing music in a natural outdoor setting complimented by the laughter of guests, birdsong, and the sound of the wind. This is not perfection, but it is life and energy.

Recorded music is refined and will sound very different from a live performance. Musicians are able to record until they are satisfied and then the tracks can be further altered using editing software, resulting in a polished and carefully produced label. Recorded music is also free of extraneous noise and can be made to sound like it was recorded in just about any acoustical environment.

Finally Live music is a community activity influenced by the response of the audience and affected by the environment in which it is performed. It is a one-time event and has a unique sound that cannot be precisely reproduced with technology. On the other hand, recorded music can be easily listened to alone or shared with others. We can listen to any songs we want whenever we choose for a price we can afford, and we know it will be polished sound.

I believe that without music, our lives would be greatly altered and lacking. Live music and recorded music, though very different from each other, each play a unique and integral part in our world.

Choosing Wedding Musicians

by Mary Giannone, Event Specialist, Philadelphia String QuartetOriginally appearing in the Huffington Post on December 11, 2012

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." -Victor Hugo.

The musicians you and your partner choose for your wedding will provide the soundtrack to your distinctive love story, so it is important to consider all aspects before signing the dotted line.

Value Before you begin your search, take a moment to reflect upon the concept of value. The proper balance of high quality and fair price gives you the most bang for your buck. No matter if your wedding budget is higher or lower than average, it is important to shop for value and not just the price. Spending money on excellent music for your wedding is well worth it, and having professional musicians with experience and passion will create memories for you and your guests for years to come. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. So be sure when choosing your musicians you find the right fit for both your wallet and your style.

Quick tip: if you find a group that you love, but their price range is a little more than you can afford, talk to them about ways to customize their services without having to sacrifice the overall quality and experience -- such as hiring a string trio instead of a quartet, or having a DJ play the first half of the reception before the full band takes over for the dancing.

Professionalism From string quartets to DJs to wedding bands -- finding musicians with professional talent and skill is essential. Good musicians book up more than a year in advance, so start your research early.

First, ask your friends and family for referrals or check well-established wedding websites like Wedding Wire, The Knot, and Martha Stewart Weddings for reviews of musicians in your area. Secondly, check the musician's website. If the audio and video clips are not professionally produced, or if the website seems dated, move on. Thirdly, inquire about a time to hear the musicians play live. If they balk at the idea, this is a red flag. Professional wedding musicians should have regularly scheduled events for prospective clients to attend. Lastly, ask about their flexibility for your particular needs. Good wedding musicians will be gracious and helpful when discussing your ideas, and they will be able to make recommendations.

Quick tip: Make sure the musicians demonstrate a working knowledge of how loud or soft to play depending on the crowd size, the combination of instruments, and the energy of the event. A good sound system is just as important as good instruments and good players.

Rapport Talent and skill are important, of course, but good communication and chemistry make all the difference. Take notice of how quickly your prospective wedding musicians respond to your questions, and how helpful they are. Do they take a genuine interest in your wedding? Do they treat you like you are their most important client? Do they show you how passionate they are about their work? Many musicians will take a few special requests, but the personalization stops there. Tired and unprofessional musicians adopt the attitude that all weddings and events are the same, and they don't take the time to get to know what makes you special. Look for musicians that prove that you matter, and that every wedding is important. These details translate into wonderful memories for you and your guests.

Quick tip: When shopping around, ask potential musicians for example of how they have made events memorable for their previous clients and their guests.

Style The music you choose is a reflection of your personalities as individuals and as a couple. Find versatile musicians who will work with you as guides in selecting the perfect songs to tell your story. Ask yourself what is most important to you during each part of your celebration and then convey these ideas to your musicians. For example, you may want the ceremony to feel romantic, the cocktail hour to feel relaxed, the dinner hour to feel nostalgic, and the dance music to be exciting and trendy! A good group of musicians will let you be involved as little or as much as you like. They will take as many special requests as you want, and if you need some guidance, they can suggest songs that will complement your vision.

As a music coordinator I've seen it all, from a groom who walked down the aisle to strings playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird", to a bridal party fashion show backed by Lady Gaga's greatest hits on electric violin, to a rave-like Hindi-pop-music dance party breaking out in the middle of the reception, to playing an old Jewish love song that the couple only knew how to hum but didn't have any sheet music for. Good wedding musicians will adapt and thrive, and help find the music that best suits YOU- all with a smile.

Quick tip: Many brides and grooms ask if it is appropriate to tip their wedding musicians. The answer is yes, and you can designate an appropriate amount (10-15 percent) and whether you wish to tip each individual musician (such as for a string quartet) or just the band leader who will then disburse the tips at his discretion (such as for a 12-piece wedding band).

The Boulder Symphony Orchestra Presents "Natures Realm"

Join the Boulder Symphony Orchestra at First Presbyterian Church in Boulder on Friday, November 30th at 7:00pm for a concert featuring the works of Sibelius, Greig, and composer in suite Austin Wintory’s award-winning soundtrack to the Playstation game "Journey". Don't miss the preconcert talk hosted by KGNU’s Ron Nadel with Austin Wintory and conductor Devin Patrick Hughes in the Chapel at 6:00pm.

Program: Jean Sibelius – Symphony no. 5 Austin Wintory- Woven Variations for Cello & Orchestra (Colorado Premiere) – a Suite from Journey -Mathieu D’Ordine, cello Jean Sibelius – Swan of Tuonela -Virginia Carty, english horn Edward Grieg – Peer Gynt Suite no. 1

Music for Your Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony

A wedding vow renewal is a special time for a married couple to reaffirm their wedding vows and to celebrate their marriage along with family and friends. A wedding vow renewal, or reaffirmation ceremony, can be held in a church, at someone’s house, or really at any place that is special to you. A reaffirmation ceremony is comprised of an actual ceremony followed by a time of celebration. Just as live music is a key part of a wedding celebration, music can also be the perfect addition to both your wedding vow renewal ceremony and celebration. A reaffirmation ceremony is similar to a wedding ceremony in a lot of ways, but it’s not traditional to have attendants walk down the aisle; however if you like you can still have them to stand up for you. You can walk down the aisle to live music with your spouse or with your children. Since you are already legally married, anyone can officiate the ceremony – a close friend, a relative, or your children. You can say the same vows you said when you first got married, or write new vows. During the ceremony, you can have friends or family do special readings and choose music that is meaningful to you for interludes or during special moments in your ceremony.

Afterwards, you can celebrate in any way you choose, from a casual backyard barbecue to a traditional cocktail hour followed by a wedding style reception. Music suggestions include a cookout accompanied by flute and guitar, a family dinner with solo flute music, a cocktail party with a flute quartet (flute, violin, viola, cello), or a formal dinner accompanied by flute and harp music.

Add Some Sparkle With Live Christmas Music

If you are planning a Christmas party this year, what better way to add to the festive atmosphere than live Christmas music ? All of our ensembles have a large Christmas repertoire. This is the time of year when December dates begin filling up, so book soon to ensure our availability.

Flute Quartet Wedding Music at Tapestry House

Flute Quartet Wedding Music at Tapestry House

Flute Quartet Wedding Music at Tapestry House

This past Saturday I played for an outdoor wedding at the Tapestry House in Laporte, CO. The first snow of the season had arrived that night, and the day remained cold and overcast.

Despite the cold temperatures, Tapestry House was a beautiful oasis. Snow still covered the boughs of the magnificent pines around the ceremony site, providing a lovely winter backdrop for a collage of blooming summer flowers and peak autumn foliage. Twinkle lights added an air of festivity.

Before the wedding began, our flute quartet (flute, violin, viola, cello) entertained the guests with classical prelude music as they waited in the heated reception area. Before the guests proceeded outside for the ceremony, we moved our instruments to the house right behind the ceremony site. With the help of amplification and a few open windows, the guests were able to clearly hear our music before and during the ceremony, and we were able to keep our fingers warm enough to play our instruments.

After the wedding ceremony, we moved back to the reception area where we played oldies and popular and rock music for the cocktail hour. The cocktail hour was in a covered patio which was kept nice and warm with the help of tented sides and long heat lamps on the ceiling.

Wedding Ceremony Music:

Prelude Music ~ Sheep May Safely Graze (Bach), Amazing Grace, Arioso (Bach), Polonaise (Bach), Air from Suite in D Major (Bach) Seating of the Parents ~ Largo from Xerses (Handel) Attendant's Processional ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel) Bridal Processional ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) Tree Planting Ceremony ~ Simple Gifts Recessional ~ Strawberry Swing (Coldplay), Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)

Cocktail Hour Music:
When I'm 64 (Beatles), So Happy Together (Turtles) Don't Stop Believing (Journey), Dream On (Aerosmith), In My Life (Beatles), Beauty and the Beast, Here Comes the Sun (Beatles), Tango from Scent of a Woman

The Price of Relevance

What is the value of live music? I think this article by Suzanne Mentzer published in the Huffington Post is right on track: To all who moan about the price of musicians: A guy calls the musician's guild to get a quote on a six-piece band for a wedding. The rep says, "Off the top of my head, about $2000." The guy says, "WHAT? FOR MUSIC?" The rep responds, "I'll tell you what. Call the plumbers union and ask for six plumbers to work from 6 'til midnight on a Saturday night. Whatever they charge you, we'll work for half."

I saw this on a social media site and it struck a chord, no pun intended. I could not help but think of the situation at hand for many classical musicians in the US.

Roughly talking turkey, there are about 115 orchestras in the US with budgets over 2.5 million, each employing nearly 100 musicians, each with another 5-10 staff members, on average. This does not include ballet orchestras, or orchestras with lower budgets. Opera America, a national service center, lists 150 member companies. The "union" American Guild of Musical Artists lists 6540 members in good standing, comprised of dancers, opera singers (soloists and choristers) and stage managers. Each opera, ballet and orchestral organization also employs stage crew, many of which are members of IATSI, the stagehands union. This is, at best, a blurry picture of the multitude of people who could be unemployed should the classical arts cave. This does not even include the associated businesses: restaurants, hotels, parking garages for the paying public, instrument and equipment manufacturers, instrument tweakers and tuners..

Every day I read of another orchestra going under or, at the very least, cutting salaries of the players by large amounts. What flotsam and jetsam this will create. These players spend lives - from a very young age - perfecting, practicing and competing to win the positions they have. They cannot imagine life not playing. Musicians have committed to rents, mortgages, college debt, and support families. Some share their talents with schools and communities. They commit to the arts organization and the community for the long haul, unlike in sports where one can be traded or a free agent.

Orchestra, opera, chamber music and solo recitals are pure, without sound enhancement. I like to think of these art forms as being organic- without additives, non-synthetic or processed. Like organic food, it is a bit more costly to produce. It is also not for profit, unlike commercial music.

Like most musicians, classical musicians, bring joy to those who hear them. They touch an emotional nerve; connect with the larger whole of humanity and cultural history; honor those who came before by continuing a tradition of excellence. It is hard to put a price on relevance, continuity, and the historical perspective. Yes, in today's financial environment classical artists are being discarded.

With a very high-level international singing career I, too, have felt the smack of the economy. The norm for a successful singer is being booked three years out. I have little work this year and nothing after August. I have a hard time being hired. I have dropped my fee to about a third of what it was, which is fine since the business was so good to me. My high powered New York management tells me its the economy.

Like the instrumentalists in those orchestras I have lived as a singer for a long time and it is an ingrained part of who I am. Not a day went by for thirty years where I did not think about the condition of my voice and my body or have music burning into my brain cells. At times I feel like a part of me has been amputated. I do miss making music at a high level, the camaraderie and collaboration with colleagues, and most of all, my part in the continuation of this art form that goes back centuries. I have often felt it a privilege to sing music that has endured and try to do it justice.

As an ersatz writer I have a bully pulpit but I basically preach to the choir. I do not seem to reach the audience that needs persuading that classical music is viable, necessary and human. One way I can be an activist for the arts is to perform. I will continue to search for other ways, as well, for the day when I truly cannot sing anymore.

Last week, The NY Times shared the results of a study: "researchers at Northwestern University recorded the auditory brainstem responses of college students -- that is to say, their electrical brain waves -- in response to complex sounds. The group of students who reported musical training in childhood had more robust responses -- their brains were better able to pick out essential elements, like pitch, in the complex sounds when they were tested. And this was true even if the lessons had ended years ago."

I have been watching some silent films on TCM. The sound tracks are amazingly operatic in order to help sustain the emotion of the work without text. Listen to a sound track today. Even with the dialogue of the actors much of the music is classically styled and operatically emotional. Why is it so hard then to let this carry outside the movie theater?

My last beef the choice of people to be honored by Kennedy Center this year. All are honorable but not one is a classical musician. This sends a very strong subliminal message. It would have been very cool to have Led Zeppelin honored beside a figure from the classical music world.

As a culture we seem eat up whatever is fashionable, hot, new. Can't we do that and still keep a foot firmly in tradition, history, context, and more? One need not necessarily cancel out the other.

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

On Saturday, I escaped the summer heat of the Front Range and headed for the mountains of Colorado to play for a wedding ceremony and cocktail hour at Mountain Thunder Lodge in Breckenridge. The Lodge is a beautiful venue with a rustic mountain feel on the outside and a relaxed elegance inside.

I played the flute accompanied by guitarist Michael Engberg, and the simple elegance of our flute and guitar duo perfectly complimented the mountain setting. The wedding ceremony was outside on the patio which was decorated with bright local flowers provided by Petal and Bean.

The weather was perfect with sunshine and a cool breeze and to my delight, I didn't meet with a single bug while I played. After the ceremony, we moved inside for the cocktail hour where we entertained guests in the library before dinner.

Wedding Ceremony Music:
Selected Prelude Music ~ Simple Gifts, Be Thou My Vision, March (JS Bach), Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (JS Bach), Meneut (Rameau), Two German Dances (Beethoven) Attendant's Processional ~ Rondeau (Mouret) Bridal Processional ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel) Recessional ~ Trumpet Voluntary in D (Purcell)

Selected Cocktail Hour Music:
Fly Me to the Moon, Georgia on my Mind, Have I Told You Lately (that I love you), It's so Easy, Sunny, Under the Boardwalk, The Way You Look Tonight, A Whiter Shade of Pale

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

Flute and Guitar Duo Wedding Music at Mountain Thunder Lodge

From the Bride:
"Our wedding day was everything we hoped it would be. We chose a destination wedding in Breckenridge, Colorado because we wanted an intimate wedding with our family and closest friends in one of our favorite places. We loved the venue we chose, Mountain Thunder Lodge – it was perfect for our size wedding (45 total). The intimacy of our wedding was further enhanced by instrumental music played during our ceremony and cocktail hour. Overall, we loved every moment of our wedding day!"

Flute Quartet Wedding Music at Black Canyon Inn

This past Monday I had a wonderful time playing the flute for a wedding at the beautiful Black Canyon Inn in Estes Park, Colorado.  The wedding was outdoors under a pavilion with a spectacular mountain view. The hot day cooled down with nearby rain, giving us a pleasant breeze and cooler temperatures. I played with the Ribbons and Strings Ensembles, and because the groom was partial to the sound of the flute, the couple chose to have a quartet with flute, violin, viola, and cello.

Wedding Ceremony Music:

Prelude ~ What a Wonderful World  (Armstrong), Arioso  (Bach), Spring (Vivaldi), Rondo (Mozart)

Processional for the Maid of Honor ~ Canon in D (Pachelbel)

Bridal Processional ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)

Signing the Marriage License ~ "Only Hope" from A Walk to Remember

Recessional ~ Psalm 19 (Marcello), Hornpipe (Handel), Allegro from Spring (Vivaldi), Divertimento in D Major, 1st mvmt. (Mozart), selections from Autumn (Vivaldi)

First Dance ~ "Unchained Melody" from Ghost

We played for the cocktail hour at the Twin Owls Steak House. We played a wide selection of classical, jazz, rock, and popular songs. A shortened sample is listed below.

Selected Cocktail Hour Music:

All You Need is Love (Beatles), Unforgettable (Nat King Cole), Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton), Blue Moon, Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol), Don't Stop Believing (Journey)

Flute and Cello Duo Wedding Music at The Pines at Genesee

Flute and Cello Duo Wedding Music at The Pines at Genesee

Wedding season is in full swing in Colorado, and this past Saturday, I had the pleasure of playing flute for a wedding at the Pines at Genesee in Golden, CO. I played the flute and was accompanied by Marcelo Sanches on the cello. One of my favorite parts about playing for weddings in Colorado is having the opportunity to explore beautiful locations and venues, not to mention enjoying the gorgeous weather. Saturday turned out to be a very hot day, but upon arriving at the Pines, the elevation combined with some helpful clouds cooled things down. With the added shelter of the beautiful towering pine trees, it turned out to be a perfect evening.

With brick pathways, arbors, and towering pine trees, the ceremony location was rustic with a simple understated elegance. The bride's choice of a flute and cello duet complemented the setting perfectly.

Marcelo and I played a selection of classical music for the cocktail hour. For the wedding ceremony, the bride asked for traditional and classical music. Other than the Bridal Chorus by Wagner, this busy bride left the specific song selections up to me:

Attendant’s Processional ~ Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Bridal Processional ~ The Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
Recessional ~ Hornpipe (Handel)

Boulder Symphony Orchestra Concert

Brahms

I play the cello with the Boulder Symphony Orchestra and am pleased to announce our upcoming performance: The Boulder Symphony Orchestra along with the Cherry Creek Chorale presents the Brahms Requiem conducted by Devin Hughes on May 18th and 19th. Soloists are soprano Teresa Castillo and baritone Thomas Fitzpatrick Kittle. The concert also features the world premiere performance of “Inter” by Austin Wintory. Tickets are $15. Join us for a wonderful evening of music on one of the following days:

Friday, May 18th at 7:00pm, First Presbyterian Church, Boulder Saturday, May 19th at 7:30, Bethany Lutheran Church, Denver

New Music Samples for Flute and Harp Duo

Recording Session at Swallow Hill in Denver, CO

Thanks to Brian Hunter at the Swallow Hill recording studio in Denver, I have replaced my ten year old homemade flute and harp recordings with new professional ones. On the recordings I am playing on my new solid rose gold and silver Powell flute that I bought last summer. I was accompanied by talented harpist, Mary Keener. Our duo is available to play for your Colorado wedding or event.

Colorado Flute Fair 2012

Carol Wincenc

I attended the Colorado Flute Fair at the University of Colorado in Boulder this past weekend and it was a great day packed full of instructional classes, masterclasses, and concerts. The fair featured guest artist Carol Wincenc, professor of music at Julliard School of Music.

The day began with a warm-up class that focused on relaxation techniques for comfortable and injury free practice. Following that was a tone development class which focused on the importance of breath control. Then Carol Wincenc gave a surburb masterclass. She has a flair for the stage and spreads her enthusiasm to those she teaches. She also has a knack for pushing her students to reach their highest potential while allowing them to remain true to their personal musical style.

After lunch we heard a demonstration of Carol Wincenc’s edition of Andersen’s Op. 15. Anderson’s original etudes are combined with a duet part that Ms. Wincenc wrote for the teacher to play. The duet part highlights the chord structure of each etude, and is a valuable resource for flute teachers.

Following the demonstration was a Flute Association members recital and then a fabulous performance featuring Carol Wincenc. Carol chose an engaging variety of songs from different time periods, in different styles, and with a variety of instrumentation. Her playing is suburb and her technique flawless, and her performance was much enjoyed.

Win Free Live Music for Valentine's Day

Gigmaster's is hosting a contest to win $200 towards a Valentine's Day performance from a Gigmaster's musician like myself. If you win and choose solo flute and/or solo piano from me, this means a nice long free performance! Enter before February 6th: Win a Serenade for Valentine's Day

Romantic Music

Romantic music for Valentine's Day and Wedding Ceremonies

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and spring weddings drawing near, it’s time to start thinking about romantic music to complete the occasion. With the help of friends, I’ve compiled a list of romantic songs, and I hope you enjoy listening to them. What makes a song romantic? Romantic music mirrors four aspects of romance in life – intimacy, time, conversation, and passion. But just as we all experience intimacy in different ways, we all have our personal preferences in romantic music. Intimacy

Every romantic song has some level of intimacy. Intimate songs tend to be personal and not showy or performance oriented. They frequently have sweeping strings or soulful guitar or piano in the background. Also, most romantic songs fall between the pulse of 60 -100 beats per minute which also happens to be the average heartbeat of a human being. Coincidence? I think not. This gentle pulse is often done with soft percussion, or naturally emphasized in the music. Over this pulse is usually a warm and tender voice or instrumental lead.

Time

Romance flourishes when you give another person your full attention and time.  The following songs are all about the element of time and they do this by drawing out words and spacing phrases:

Can’t Help Falling in Love With You, Elvis

Come Away with Me, Norah Jones

Fascination, Nat King Cole

I Will Love You, Fisher

Unchained Melody, Righteous Brothers

Wonderful Tonight, Eric Clapton

Conversation

This is an easy one, because words of love and devotion can be translated directly into music as in the following examples:

Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson

Devoted to You, Everly Brothers

For You, John Denver

I Will Be Here , Steven Curtis Chapman

Longer Than, Dan Fogelberg

Time in a Bottle, Jim Croce

Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden

Your Song, Elton John

Passion

Passionate songs have energy, intensity, perhaps a faster pulse than the typical heart rate, and often the element of the unexpected. Some of the most passionate songs are classical, particularly from the aptly named “Romantic Period” of music. Following is a wide range of passionate songs:

Everything I do, Bryan Adams

Hello Young Lovers, Stevie Wonder

Libestod from Tristan Und Isolde (Richard Wagner), Birgit Nilsson

Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet, Henry Mancini and his orchestra

Meditation from Thais (Massenet), Yo-Yo Ma

‎Someone to Watch Over Me, Herb Alpert

For fun I looked for a song from above that, in my opinion best blends all four categories. The result was a tie between “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers and “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” by Elvis. "Unchained Melody" frequently uses the word “time” which enhances its slow development, then crescendos with passion towards the end. “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” brilliantly combines all the elements of intimacy, along with slow romantic words.

The Irish Session in Colorado

An Irish session is an informal gathering of people to play traditional Irish music. If you live in Charlotte, NC you will have a very hard time finding a traditional Irish session. In fact, I’ve lived there for almost twenty years without finding a single regular session closer than the two hour drive to Asheville. So imagine my happy surprise when I moved to Colorado a few months ago and found over ten Irish Sessions less than thirty minutes from where I live!

I was classically trained in flute, but what really sparked my interest in traditional music was an old-time/bluegrass jam session I found in a nearby small town in North Carolina. After the group broke up a year later, I continued to explore on my own, and fell in love with traditional Irish music. I found that my extensive experience with improvisation and playing by ear was a great asset when learning Irish music.

And so my adventure began in Colorado. I began going to Irish sessions in Denver, CO and Boulder, CO and my appetite was whet for more. I still play Irish music on my classical flute and various whistles, but I’m going to start saving my money and realize my long time dream of buying an Irish flute.

If you are interested in listening to or playing Irish music, you can visit these local Irish Sessions in Colorado. Swallow Hill in Denver also has regular sessions. Each session is a bit different so there is something for everyone, from beginners to advanced musicians, or music lovers who come to listen.

Two Concerts

Cello

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending two great concerts – one by the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, and the other by the Broomfield Symphony Orchestra. As a flute player, I enjoyed that both concerts had some great flute solos. As usual, I also loved watching the cello and bass sections, given that I play cello and my husband plays bass.

The Jefferson Symphony played at the Colorado School of Music in Golden, CO. They performed a lively and engaging concert featuring works by Brahms and Richard Strauss. The concert ended with an impressive performance of Ravel’s “La Valse” featuring Peggy Lyon on piano.

The Broomfield Symphony performed to a packed Broomfield Auditorium, just minutes from my home. They played an enjoyable selection of pieces by Haydn and Tchaikovsky to an enthusiastic audience. The second half of the program featured solo pianist David Korevaar playing Rachmaninov’s 2nd Piano Concerto. David’s passionate playing and flawless technique had me riveted, and his inspiring performance elicited a standing ovation from the audience at the end of the concert.

Settled in Colorado

During my first few months here in Westminster, CO I have been getting to know local musicians in the Denver and Boulder areas. I am now available to play for weddings and events both with solo flute and piano, and in various ensembles. I am also currently accepting new flute students. In addition to this, I am working with folk songwriter and guitarist John Matthews and along with other local musicians to record several CDs featuring his original music. John describes his music as a mix of folk, country, rock and pop. He has unique and fresh approach to his music writing, and each CD and song has a different flavor. I am writing the flute and keyboard parts and recording them at Swallow Hill Music Association in Denver, CO. We are planning to release a folk style wedding CD in the spring of next year, and I am currently working on some folk rock songs for a future CD.