Rhiannon Hendricks
Music is an integral part of weddings, with many couples opting for standard wedding songs like Mendelssohn's Wedding March and Wagner's Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride). The tradition of wedding songs can be traced back to centuries, with pieces like Pachelbel's Canon in D Major and Schubert's Ave Maria becoming sensations despite their obscure origins. Royal weddings, such as that of Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Victoria, in 1858, have also played a pivotal role in popularizing certain songs. Today, couples have a wide range of options, from classical pieces to modern favourites, to choose from for their special day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding Song | Canon in D Major |
| Composer | Pachelbel |
| Date | Late 17th or early 18th century |
| Wedding March | Mendelssohn's Wedding March |
| Bridal Chorus | Wagner's Bridal Chorus or Here Comes the Bride |
| First Used in a Wedding | 1847 |
| Popularised By | Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, the oldest child of Queen Victoria |
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What You'll Learn
Mendelssohn's Wedding March
The tradition of playing Mendelssohn's Wedding March during weddings began with Victoria, The Princess Royal, who selected it for her marriage to Prince Frederick William of Prussia on 25 January 1858. Victoria was the daughter of Queen Victoria, an admirer of Mendelssohn's music, and the composer often played for the royal family during his visits to Britain.
The Wedding March was originally composed in 1842 as part of the incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, a comedy with a happy ending by William Shakespeare. The work was transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt in 1849-50 and later by Vladimir Horowitz, who played it as an encore at his concerts.
The popularity of Mendelssohn's Wedding March can also be attributed to its association with happiness and celebration. It is often chosen to create a joyous atmosphere during the important moment of the bride's entrance. The piece has become a traditional and familiar part of wedding ceremonies, adding a touch of elegance and grandeur to the occasion.
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Wagner's Bridal Chorus
The "Bridal Chorus", more commonly known as "Here Comes the Bride", is a song that is played for the bride's entrance at weddings throughout the Western world. The song was composed by Richard Wagner for his 1850 opera "Lohengrin". In the opera, the chorus is sung by the women of the wedding party as they accompany the heroine Elsa to her bridal chamber after her doomed marriage to Lohengrin. The "Bridal Chorus" gained popularity when it was used as the processional at the wedding of Victoria, the Princess Royal, to Prince Frederick William of Prussia in 1858. Before this wedding, music was generally only played at the wedding reception, but the princess's love of opera and the music of Wagner and Mendelssohn led her to set her ceremony to their music, starting a trend that would be followed by couples at their weddings.
The "Bridal Chorus" is also known as "Treulich geführt" in German and is often paired with another piece called the "Wedding March", written by Felix Mendelssohn. Wagner's piece is a march, and the term "wedding march" can refer to any piece in a march tempo accompanying the entrance or exit of the bride. The "Wedding March" has also been transcribed by Franz Liszt and Vladimir Horowitz, who created a virtuoso showpiece for piano that he played as an encore at his concerts.
Some Christian churches disagree with the use of the "Bridal Chorus" at wedding ceremonies due to its theatrical and pagan associations, as well as its sentimentality from frequent use in film and television. However, the song remains a popular choice for brides to make their entrance at weddings, along with more modern alternatives.
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Pachelbel's Canon
The piece begins with a single melody in the ground bass, typically played by a cello and a harpsichord or organ. This melody is then repeated in different registers and instrumental parts, while additional melodies are introduced in the upper registers. The basic melody gradually evolves, becoming more elaborate each time it returns.
The origins of Pachelbel's Canon and the composer's intentions behind its creation remain largely unknown. Music historians have speculated that it may have been written as a wedding gift for Johann Sebastian Bach's older brother, who studied with Pachelbel. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim. The oldest existing manuscript of the piece is a 19th-century copy found in the Berlin State Library, Germany.
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$5 $25
Franz Liszt's Wedding March and Dance of the Elves
The "Wedding March and Dance of the Elves" is a piece of piano sheet music written by prominent Early Romantic composer Franz Liszt. It is a transcription of Felix Mendelssohn's original piece, written in 1842 for Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" is one of the best-known pieces from the suite of incidental music and is one of the most frequently used wedding marches today, often being played on a church pipe organ.
The first known instance of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" being used at a wedding was when Dorothy Carew married Tom Daniel at St Peter's Church, Tiverton, England, on the 2nd of June 1847. It was performed on this occasion by organist Samuel Reay. The piece is commonly used as a recessional at weddings in many Western countries, although it is often stripped of its episodes in this context. It is frequently paired with the "Bridal Chorus" from Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin" or with Jeremiah Clarke's "Prince of Denmark's March", both of which usually accompany the bride's entrance.
Franz Liszt's transcription of "Wedding March and Dance of the Elves" was published in 1851 and is available for download or purchase as sheet music for the piano. The piece is in C Major and is also known as "Mendelssohn: Wedding March and Dance of the Elves" or "Hochzeitsmarsch und Elfenreigen aus dem Sommernachtstraum von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy".
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Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe
"Gabriel's Oboe" is a beautiful two-minute piece composed by Ennio Morricone for the 1986 film "The Mission", starring Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, and Liam Neeson. It serves as the main theme of the movie, playing prominently when the protagonist, Jesuit Father Gabriel, walks up to a waterfall and begins to play his oboe. The piece is both lyrical and stately and has become an increasingly popular wedding processional over the last decade.
The Italian composer is renowned for his mastery of movie music, having written the scores for hundreds of films. Beginning his career in the 'Spaghetti Westerns' genre, Morricone's music for "The Mission" brought him worldwide fame. The eclectic score, which includes liturgical chorales and indigenous drumming, earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and an Academy Award nomination.
Several orchestras have performed "Gabriel's Oboe", often under the direction of Morricone himself. The most famous renditions outside of the film are likely those from the "Morricone Conducts Morricone" series of concerts in the mid-2000s. The theme has also been arranged and performed by various artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Holly Gornik, and Brynjar Hoff. Vocalist Sarah Brightman convinced Morricone to let her set lyrics to the melody, resulting in her song "Nella Fantasia". In 2010, Morricone encouraged soprano Hayley Westenra to write English lyrics for "Gabriel's Oboe" for her album "Paradiso".
"Gabriel's Oboe" has earned acclaim for its unforgettable and celebrated melody, solidifying Morricone's place as an undisputed movie-music master. The piece's popularity at weddings and its arrangement by various artists attest to its enduring appeal and impact on popular culture.
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Frequently asked questions
"Here Comes the Bride", officially known as the Bridal Chorus, was written by Richard Wagner for his 1850 opera "Lohengrin".
The "Wedding March" was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1842 to accompany Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". It was first played at a wedding in 1847 and then again in 1858 during the wedding ceremony of Victoria, the Princess Royal and Queen Victoria's daughter.
The origins of Pachelbel's Canon are largely a mystery to music historians. It dates back to the late 17th or early 18th century, with speculation that it was written as a gift for the wedding of Johann Sebastian Bach's older brother.
Traditional wedding songs include Schubert's "Ave Maria", Ennio Morricone's "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission", and Canon in D Major by Pachelbel.
