Marches for wedding service

Mateusz Marcinowski: Enjoyed your organ home article. Here is a project that I did to have piano and pedals. I found an ago pedal board, built a stand, put the keyboard on top and pedals on bottom. No sound from the pedals, though. Very simple project. Feel free to share this email or picture to your readers who may be having a hard time finding an organ to play on (Easthampton Massachusetts, USA)

If you are asked to play for a wedding service at church, you might get to prepare several pieces:

1. Prelude (at least 5 minutes prior the ceremony)
2. Processional
3. Hymn, Worship Song or Solo (after Giving Away of the Bride)
4. Recessional

Some denominations may add  the Latin hymn Veni Creator after the Processional as well as some quiet music before the Exchange of Rings and even music for Communion.

The most popular choices are for Processional and Recessional. Here's a March Album. I hope you will find it useful.

I'm sure a lot of my readers would play Mendelssohn's March for the Recessional during wedding service. I do too whenever I get the chance. However, if you can't play it properly, it's better not to take it because every single person in attendance will know it.

I've heard very poorly executed versions with sloppy technique and unconvincing harmonization. As much as I love improvisation, in this case it's way better to play from the score (elaboration, extension, and improvisation on the theme of this March sounds nice, of course, if you know how to do it).

I recommend you prepare a set of pieces suitable for weddings in advance and have them in your long-term repertoire because when you get asked to play, you will be ready.

Sight-reading for today:
Morning Mood (p. 3) from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 by Edvard Grieg arranged for organ by Harvey B. Gaul. It's not easy but very familiar quality music is well worth the try.

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NPeter: What a wonderful, concise self analysis. Thank you so much for this and all that you do.
Thanks, Peter. To be an organist today takes more than practicing and performing great music.

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James: Thanks for the tips. As one who has played more than 2000 weddings & 1000 funerals in the last several decades (mostly Lutheran, but some Episcopal & Presbyterian, as well), I've often played triumphant Easter music as the Recessional, if there isn't a Hymn being sung, such as "Christ lag in Todesbanden" from Bach's Orgelbuechlein, a favorite @ my large & famous Chicago parish.
You're right! It's amazing on how many occasions Bach's music can be used.

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Heidi: I really needed this today... thank you, dear Vidas. For me, I've been really busy and am lately always thinking I don't have enough time to practice.
Thanks Heidi. The benefits of even 15 minutes a day build up over time. Can you find 15 minutes in your day?

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Thanks Leon. Enjoy this piece. It's best learned in combinations of separate parts, then two-part combinations, three-part combinations and finally all four parts together. Work in fragments of 4-5 measures.