Deborah Chan
There are several songs that are commonly associated with weddings. One of the most popular is Canon in D Major, written by Johann Pachelbel in the late 17th or early 18th century. Another is Here Comes the Bride, also known as the Bridal Chorus, which was written by Richard Wagner in 1850 as part of his opera Lohengrin. The Wedding March, composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1842 for a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, is also commonly used in weddings. Wedding Song (There Is Love) is a popular modern wedding song written by Paul Stookey and first performed at the wedding of his bandmate Peter Yarrow in 1969.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding Song (There Is Love) | "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" is a title of a 1971 hit single by Paul Stookey |
| Date written | 1971 |
| First performed | October 18, 1969, at the wedding of Peter Yarrow |
| First recorded | July 23, 1971, for the album "Paul and" |
| First released | June 28, 1971, as an advance single from the album "Paul and" |
| Peaked at | No. 24 on the Hot 100 in Billboard, No. 3 on the Easy Listening chart |
| Other versions | Harry Belafonte, the Lettermen, Helena Vondráčková, Nana Mouskouri, Daliah Lavi, Bonnie St. Claire, Sandler and Young, James Last, O'Neill Brothers, Bradley Joseph, Petula Clark, Captain & Tennille, Mary MacGregor, Southern Comfort |
| Canon in D Major | Composed by Johann Pachelbel |
| Date composed | Late-17th or early 18th century |
| Bridal Chorus | "Here Comes the Bride" is the official name of the Bridal Chorus from Richard Wagner's 1850 opera Lohengrin |
| Wedding March | Composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1842 for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream |
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What You'll Learn
Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel
"Canon in D Major" by Johann Pachelbel is one of the most popular pieces of classical music ever written and is a staple at weddings. However, the exact date of its composition is unknown, with estimates ranging from the late 17th to early 18th century. The piece was originally scored for three violins and basso continuo, with a gigue intended to be played immediately after the canon.
Pachelbel was a German Baroque composer and organist in his hometown of Nuremberg. He wrote over 500 pieces during his lifetime, yet very little of his chamber music survives. "Canon in D Major" is one of his most famous works and is admired for its serene yet joyful character. The piece uses a canon, or round, structure, with the same bass line and melody repeated throughout, creating a harmonious and intricate composition.
There is speculation that "Canon in D Major" was written as a wedding gift for Johann Christoph Bach, the older brother of Johann Sebastian Bach, who was a pupil of Pachelbel. The wedding took place on 23 October 1694, and Pachelbel attended. However, this claim is unsubstantiated and considered pure speculation by some scholars.
The piece remained obscure for centuries until the late 20th century when it experienced a surge in popularity. A 1968 recording by the Jean-François Paillard chamber orchestra, performed in a slower, more Romantic style, is credited with bringing the piece into the mainstream. Since then, it has been recorded hundreds of times and featured in numerous films, television shows, and advertisements. It has also been transcribed for a full array of instruments, both acoustic and electronic.
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Here Comes the Bride by Richard Wagner
"Here Comes the Bride", also known as Wedding March or Bridal Chorus, is a song written by German composer Richard Wagner. It was first introduced in 1850 as part of the opera "Lohengrin", which was staged in the German city of Weimar and directed by Hungarian musician and composer Franz Liszt.
The opera's storyline, crafted by Wagner himself, explores the tragic tale of Lohengrin, the son of a Knight of the Holy Grail, and his new bride Elsa. Shortly after the bridal chorus is sung, Elsa starts questioning Lohengrin, wanting to know his true identity. As a result, he is forced to reveal himself and eventually leaves a heartbroken Elsa behind.
The song is played for the bride's entrance at many formal weddings throughout the Western world. It was popularised when it was used as the processional at the wedding of Victoria, Princess Royal of England, to Prince Frederick William of Prussia in 1858. In English-speaking countries, it is generally known as "Here Comes the Bride". However, the song has also been associated with Wagner's controversial ideologies, including his anti-Semitic views and belief in the purity of the white race. As a result, some couples, particularly Jewish ones, choose to eschew the song during their wedding ceremonies.
Despite the controversy surrounding Wagner's beliefs, "Here Comes the Bride" remains a popular wedding song in Western culture, often signalling the bride's entrance during the ceremony.
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Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn
The "Wedding March" by Felix Mendelssohn, also known as "Here Comes the Bride", is one of the most popular and frequently used wedding marches. It is commonly played as the bridal party files out at the end of the service. The piece was written in 1842 or 1843 as part of an Overture for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Mendelssohn wrote this particular piece for a Potsdam production of the play, which was commissioned by King Frederick William IV of Prussia. The composer had a strong attachment to Britain, where his music was rapturously received, and he often played for the British royal family during his visits.
The "Wedding March" gained popularity at weddings after it was selected by Princess Victoria, the daughter of Queen Victoria, for her marriage to Prince Frederick William of Prussia on 25 January 1858. The piece was first used at a wedding in June 1847 for the wedding of Dorothy Carew and Tom Daniel in Tiverton, Devon. Mendelssohn, unfortunately, did not live to see the triumph of his most famous work, as he died in 1847 at the age of 38.
The "Wedding March" is usually played on a church pipe organ and is often paired with Richard Wagner's "Here Comes the Bride". Wagner's piece, however, is considered inappropriate for a wedding ceremony by some due to the pagan themes of his opera "Lohengrin". On the other hand, some churches do not consider Mendelssohn's piece suitable for a wedding ceremony either, due to the pagan themes in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Despite these controversies, the "Wedding March" remains one of the most common choices for wedding recessional music. It has been arranged and recorded by many notable composers and performers, and its melody is almost universally recognised.
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Wedding Song (There Is Love) by Paul Stookey
"Wedding Song (There Is Love)" is a song by Paul Stookey, released in 1971 as a single from his solo album "Paul and". The song is a popular choice for weddings and has been recorded by various artists. Stookey first performed the song at the wedding of his friend and bandmate Peter Yarrow, crediting its creation to divine inspiration. Stookey considers the song a gift from God, meant to be shared and performed by others.
The lyrics of "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" speak of the union of two spirits in marriage and the presence of love. Stookey's original performance at Yarrow's wedding included the line "I am now to be among you", which was changed to "He is now to be among you" after feedback from his wife, who felt the original phrasing presumed to be God. The song's message revolves around the idea that when two or more people gather in the name of love, there is a divine presence.
"Wedding Song (There Is Love)" reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 3 on the Easy Listening chart. It also charted in Canada and Australia, peaking at No. 31 and No. 55, respectively. The song has been recorded by numerous artists, including Petula Clark, Mary MacGregor, Harry Belafonte, and Captain & Tennille, who included it on their 1976 album "Song of Joy".
The popularity of "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" endures, with Stookey receiving requests to perform it at weddings across America. However, he often turns these requests down, believing that the song no longer belongs to him but to the couples who choose to make it a part of their special day.
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Ave Maria by Schubert
"Ave Maria" by Franz Schubert, also known as Hail Mary in Latin or Ellens Gesang III in German, is one of the Austrian composer's most popular and financially successful works. Schubert composed the music for the song in 1825 at the age of 28, and it was first published in 1826 as "D839 Op 52 no 6." The song is a setting of a prayer from the Canto III of Sir Walter Scott's famous 1810 poem "The Lady of the Lake." The German translation of the poem, "Das Fräulein vom See," was written by Adam Storck in 1819 and served as the basis for Schubert's composition.
Schubert's "Ave Maria" is a prayer to the Virgin Mary from a frightened girl, Ellen Douglas, who, along with her father, James Douglas, is forced to hide in a mountain cave. The song is a part of Schubert's "Liederzyklus vom Fräulein vom See" (Song Cycle of "The Lady of the Lake"). It is one of seven songs from Scott's poem that Schubert composed in 1825 and published in 1826 as his Opus 52. The songs are not intended for a single performer; the three songs of Ellen are for a woman's voice with piano accompaniment, while the songs for Norman and Malcolm Graeme were intended for a baritone.
Despite being a prayer, Schubert's "Ave Maria" was not written with religious practices or the Catholic church in mind. In a letter to his father, Schubert stated that the song captivated its listeners and devoted them completely to it, heart and soul. The song is often performed and recorded by many singers with simplified musical arrangements and various lyrics that differ from the original context of the poem. It has been arranged in three versions for piano by Franz Liszt.
Although Schubert's original composition was not called "Ave Maria," the song has become commonly associated with this title due to the presence of these words in the song, which refer to the traditional Roman Catholic prayer "Ave Maria." The Latin version of "Ave Maria" is now frequently used with Schubert's melody, giving the impression that he originally wrote it as a setting for the prayer. The song has been recorded by numerous artists, including Andrea Bocelli, Maria Callas, Celine Dion, and Luciano Pavarotti, and has been a commercial success, with two separate versions reaching the Top 40 in the UK charts.
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Frequently asked questions
Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" was written in 1842 to accompany a production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" became popular after it was played at the wedding of Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Queen Victoria's oldest child, and Frederick William IV of Prussia on January 25, 1858.
"Here Comes the Bride", officially called the "Bridal Chorus", was written in 1850 as part of an opera called Lohengrin by Richard Wagner.
"Wedding Song (There Is Love)" was written by Paul Stookey and first performed at the wedding of his bandmate Peter Yarrow in 1969. It was released as a single in 1971.
Pachelbel's Canon dates to the late 17th or early 18th century.
