Monday, April 12, 2010

Wedding Music


Yesterday 75 % of my quartet rode in our Toyota chariot, driven by my warrior, Muffin, to a small town about 75 miles southeast  of here to play for a wedding.  It was a beautiful day--about 80 degrees, clear blue sky and gorgeous wildflowers blooming in the bucolic fields with cows and horses and sheep grazing and lazing along the way.  We all chatted about musical experiences and teaching and ministry, new apps for making all of those easier.  Arriving about 50 minutes before the beginning of the wedding we sat up our ensemble in the brand new chapel (stained glass windows installed just days before), rehearsed briefly with the violist, who was from that town, and double checked all the details of the ceremony with the officiate and the harpist.  The bride is beautiful, the groom is handsome and has a voice like James Earl Jones, and the attendants were the adult children of the couple.  The flowers were gorgeous and al the toddler children in the audience were well behaved.  We fumbled a little finding the music because the folders are too full--even though we had sticky flags marking the pages. Note to self: must reorganize the folders for future events.  The only hitch was that there was a wasp chasing me and which almost landed in the bride's hair and bouquet during the photo session after the ceremony.  These things happen where there is perfume in the air!
We played Spring and Concerto in Dm for Two violins by Vivaldi, Air on the G String, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach, Air from Water Music by Handel, Canon in D by Pachelbel, the Trumpet Tune and Voluntary by Clark and Purcell, The Prayer by Bayer/Sager, Rondo by Mouret, and the traditional Wedding March by Mendelssohn.  A harpist played a very nice arrangement of Be Thou my Vision for the communion service.  All instrumental music in a brand new chapel, packed with friends and family for a brand new life.  Beautiful!

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