Music for the Celebration of Marriage
Saint Matthew Parish
1150 Monks Passage
Oakville ON L6M 1M2
INTRODUCTION
Among the many festivities that surround the celebration of marriage, the liturgical celebration stands out as the most important for members of the Christian community. It is in this gathering that the bride and groom publicly celebrate the love of God in Jesus Christ and, in the exchange of their marriage vows, commit themselves to be ambassadors of this love to one another and the world for the rest of their lives.
Like every liturgical celebration in which the Church celebrates its life in Christ and offers worship to God, the celebration of Christian marriage involves the prayer of all who are assembled in faith, the proclamation of God’s word, and the song of God’s people. Music is integral to every celebration of marriage.
When considering the music for the celebration of marriage, the bride and groom, in consultation with the parish musicians, ought to consider the following:
- Does the music invite all who have gathered to participate fully in the celebration?
- Is the music appropriate for a public act of worship?
- Is the music appropriate for the particular ritual moment in the celebration for which it is being chosen?
- Is the music selected inspired by the scripture readings that will be proclaimed during the celebration?
- In the selection of music, is priority given to the parts of the celebration in which the entire assembly ought to be engaged in singing?
- What musical resources are available in the parish community? What hymn books are used? In general, the use of music which is found in the parish hymnal is always fitting for the celebration of Christian marriage.
PART ONE
MUSIC IN THE RITE OF MARRIAGE
The following outlines indicate the moments in the marriage rite when music is most appropriate. The elements in boldfaced print are the most important for song or music during the marriage liturgy. Priority should be given to the selection of these items and to the participation of the entire assembly in the hymns or acclamations. Music may be provided during other moments in the liturgy, as indicated, however, music is not necessary at these moments.
Rite of Marriage during MassINTRODUCTORY RITES
Processional Music
Instrumental music or a hymn sung by the assembly
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel Acclamation
RITE OF MARRIAGE
Intercessions
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Holy, Holy
Memorial Acclamation
Great Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Lamb of God
Communion Processional Hymn
CONCLUDING RITE
Instrumental Recessional Music / Rite of Marriage outside of Mass
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Processional Music
Instrumental music or a hymn sung by the assembly
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel Acclamation
Song following the Homily
RITE OF MARRIAGE
Intercessions
CONCLUDING RITE
Instrumental Recessional Music
PART TWO
SONGS FOR THE ASSEMBLY
Catholic Book of Worship III
Responsorial Psalms
The following list identifies settings of psalms with their designated refrains which the Lectionary provides for the rite of marriage; and are found in the Catholic Book of Worship III (CBW III). Some of the psalm settings were not composed for the Rite of Christian Marriage, therefore, the musicians may have to select verses from these settings in accord with the verses identified for use with the Lectionary texts for marriage.Psalmody may also be considered for use during the communion procession. Psalm 34 is particularly fitting fur use as a communion processional hymn.
Psalm 33
CBW III – 47May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
CBW III – 77The earth is full of love, full of the goodness of the Lord.
CBW III – 100Lord, let your love be upon us as we place all our trust in you.
CBW III – 109Happy are the people that the Lord has chosen as his own.
CBW III – 168Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Psalm 34
CBW III – 55Taste and see that the Lord is good.
CBW III – 167Taste and see, taste and see that the Lord is good; the Lord is good.
CBW III – 170O taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
CBW III – 173Taste and see the goodness of the Lord, taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Psalm 103
CBW III – 52The Lord is kind and merciful.
CBW III – 130The Lord is compassion and love.
CBW III – 181The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
CBW III – 217The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Psalm 128
CBW III – 33Happy are those who fear the Lord, and walk in his ways.
CBW III – 191May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
CBW III – 208O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
CBW III – 628Blest are those who love you, happy those who follow you, blest are those who seek you, O Lord.
Psalm 145
CBW III – 102I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
CBW III – 161Your hand, O Lord, feeds us; you answer all our needs.
CBW III – 163You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.
CBW III – 184The Lord is close to all who call him.
CBW III – 204I will bless your name for ever, O God my king.
Gospel Acclamations
Music for Gospel Acclamation refrains during Ordinary Time, Advent, Christmas and Easter may be found in the Catholic Book of Worship III (nos. 247-258, 549A). Music for Gospel Acclamation refrains during Lent may be found in the Catholic Book of Worship III (nos. 259-265). This short acclamation with an appropriate verse serves to announce the Gospel passage being proclaimed by the presiding minister. The current acclamation being used in the parish is typically the acclamation used at wedding liturgies, however, an alternate may be used upon request.
Eucharistic Prayer Acclamations
The use of familiar settings of the Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and Great Amen will be the most successful in encouraging the participation of those present for the marriage liturgy. The music ministers will choose the appropriate setting to use based on the parish’s repertoire.
Communion Processional Hymn
When the celebration of marriage takes place during the Eucharist, it is important that the entire assembly join in the singing of an appropriate hymn during the communion procession. The communion processional hymn expresses the unity and joy of all who approach the Lord’s table. The hymns listed below have easily sung refrains to facilitate singing by the entire assembly during the communion procession.
Catholic Book of Worship III
Blest are They / David Haas / 522Bread of Life / Bernadette Farrell / 597
Christians Let Us Love One Another / PICARDY / 595
Drink in the Richness of God / Howard Hughes / 612
Eat this Bread / Jacques Bertier (Taize) / 602
Gather Us Together / Owen Alstott / 601
Gentle Shepherd / Tobias Colgan / 598
Gift of Finest Wheat / FINEST WHEAT / 603
God is Love / David Haas / 473
I am the Living Bread / David Haas / 605
No Greater Love / Michael Joncas / 599
Now in this Banquet / Marty Haugen / 608
Our Daily Bread / Robert E. Kreutz / 600
Seed, Scattered and Sown / Dan Feiten / 604
Take and Eat / Michael Joncas / 611
Taste and See / James E. Moore, Jr. / 610
Ubi Caritas / Jacques Bertier (Taize) / 67
Where there is Love / David Haas / 631
Celebrate in Song
Bread for the World / Bernadette Farrell / 6.1For Countless Blessings / Michele Guimont / 6.11
Gather Your People / Bob Hurd / 6.12
Let Us Be Bread / Thomas J. Porter / 6.4
PART THREE
OTHER MUSIC FOR THE LITURGY
Catholic Book of Worship III
Music for the Preparation Rite
When the celebration of marriage takes place during the Eucharist, it is fitting to provide music during the preparation of the table and presentation of the gifts. This music may be instrumental, choral, or a piece of music composed for cantor and assembly in antiphonal style. It need not necessarily be a hymn sung by the assembly. Some suggestions are listed below:
As We Gather at Your Table / NETTLETON / 583Eye has not Seen / Marty Haugen / 482
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You / HYMN TO JOY / 511
Lord of all Hopefulness / SLANE / 497
Lord, Make us Servants of Your Peace / O WALY, WALY / 630
O God, Beyond all Praising / THAXTED / 561
Something Which is Known / Gregory Norbet / 393
We Praise You, O Lord / Darryl Ducote, Gary Daigle / 633
When Love is Found / O WALY, WALY / 629
You are the Voice / David Haas / 576
PART FOUR
SOLO MUSIC
Hymns
Although the only hymnals used in the Saint Matthew Parish community are the Catholic Book of Worship III and Celebrate in Song, the following hymns may be used by the cantor as prelude music or during the preparation rite. For wedding celebrations outside of the Eucharist, these hymns may be used following the homily.
Gather Hymnal
I Have Loved You / Michael Joncas / 504We Have Been Told / David Haas / 699
Miscellaneous
Ave Maria / Franz SchubertAve Verum / W.A. Mozart
How Beautiful / Twila Paris
I Can Only Imagine / Michael Smith
On Eagle’s Wings / Michael Joncas
Panis Angelicus / Cesar Franck
The Power of Your Love / Geoff Bullock
Walk Hand in Hand / Johnny Cowell
Wedding Song (There is Love) / Stookey
PART FIVE
ORGAN AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
The following selections include music which may be used as preludes, postludes, music for the preparation rite and during processions.
Abbot’s Leigh / C.V. TaylorAir (from Suite 3) / J.S. Bach
Air (from Water Music) / G.F. Handel
Allegro Moderato / G.F. Handel
Arioso in A (Air on the G String) / J.S. Bach
Canon in D / Johann Pachelbel
Festive Trumpet Tune / David German
Hornpipe (from Water Music) / G.F. Handel
Hymn to Joy / Ludwig van Beethoven
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring / J.S. Bach
Minuet (from Berenice) / G.F. Handel
O Had I Jubal’s Lyre / G.F. Handel
Prince of Denmark’s March / Jeremiah Clarke
Psalm 19 / Benedetto Marcello
Rigaudon / Andre Campra
Rondeau / Joseph Mouret
Thaxted / Gustav Holst
Trumpet Tune / Henry Purcell
PART SIX
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q:Who are the musicians that will provide music for our wedding? Can we invite our own musicians?
A:The Director of Music for Saint Matthew Parish is the designated musician for your wedding celebration. One of the parish cantors may also be present to lead the congregational singing and sing appropriate solo pieces. On the occasion when the Director of Music is not available for your wedding, he will make the appropriate arrangements for a replacement musician. From time to time, couples ask to have a friend or relative sing/play a piece of music at their wedding. Musicians from outside the parish are not unwelcome, however, consideration must be given to the person’s liturgical experience and knowledge of the Catholic marriage liturgy. After consultation with the Director of Music, a close friend or relative may be permitted to sing one song during the liturgy, with the parish cantor leading the congregational singing. It is not appropriate to hire musicians from outside the parish to play or sing at the wedding liturgy. At all times, and without exception, guest musicians will be expected to follow the general norms for liturgical music, the guidelines set for weddings at Saint Matthew Parish, and any direction given by the Director of Music.
Q:What is the policy if we don’t want any singing at our wedding?
A:All Roman Catholic rituals have an element of singing in them, and a wedding is no different. While the prelude music prior to the ceremony can be purely instrumental, elements of the wedding liturgy, namely the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, Eucharistic Acclamations (for weddings within Mass) and the Communion Processional Hymn, are always sung.
Q:When do we meet with the parish musicians to plan the music for our wedding?
A:Music planning meetings typically takes place approximately one month prior to the wedding date.
Q:May we select the Bridal Chorus or the Wedding March for our procession in and out of the church?
A:Due to their secular nature, these songs are not appropriate selections and therefore are not permitted for use in our parish.
Q:May we have more than one song for the procession?
A:The procession of the wedding party is one act from beginning to end. As such, only one song is permitted.
Q:What is the “Song following the Homily?”
A:When a wedding ceremony takes place outside of Mass, a song is sung following the homily. This was introduced as a means of pausing for a moment of reflection after the Scripture readings and homily before beginning the Rite of Marriage.
Q:There has not been any mention of music during the Signing of the Register so far. Why is that?
A:In its most technical sense, the Signing of the Marriage Registration is a purely legal act, and is not part of the liturgy. At Saint Matthew Parish, the signing of the documents takes place in the Narthex following the procession out of the church. There is no music associated with this act.
Q:I want to have “Ave Maria” sung during the Communion Procession, but it’s not listed as an option. Why?
A:Communion Processional hymns must be focused towards Christ in the Eucharist. When translated, you will find that the Ave Maria is the prayer, Hail Mary, full of Grace… and is therefore not appropriate during this time. For weddings within Mass, it may be sung during the Preparation of the Gifts. For weddings outside of Mass, it may be sung following the homily.
Q:I would like to have a song sung/played that is not listed. Is this allowed?
A:As long as the song is liturgically appropriate, absolutely. Out of consideration for the musicians, please provide as much advance notice as possible so they can learn the music, if necessary. Please keep in mind that songs that are not of a sacred nature are never appropriate in any church liturgy.
Q:Who do I contact for more information or to arrange a planning meeting?
A:The parish Director of Music is Dwayne Cahill. His email address is . He will return your message at his first opportunity.
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