Читать книгу Weddings from the Heart - Daphne Rose Kingma - Страница 19

Music has great power to draw us together, to touch us deep in our souls, at the place far beneath where language begins. In fact nothing, not even the setting, will do more to create the mood and spirit of your wedding.

The spoken portions of the ceremony will resonate their meanings to a higher and lovelier degree when they are set off by music. Music creates a meditative and reflective mood and, when juxtaposed with the spoken word, enables you and your guests to feel even more deeply the meanings of what is being said. Music is particularly effective as a kind of meditative punctuation after the readings, the address, and the exchanging of the vows.

Choose each musical selection as an expression of some unique aspect of your relationship, a reflection of something you've experienced together or of the hopes you hold for your marriage. There are, of course, numerous traditional wedding selections: the march from Lohengrin, the “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” and “Promise Me.” If these don't suit your fancy or reflect the depth of your feeling, or if they fail to create the kind of ambiance you have in mind, make your own selections. Don't be afraid to use something totally exceptional—a song you write or sing yourself, a Broadway show tune, something you heard on the radio last week, or your favorite Brahms intermezzo. Of course there are different musical genres—classical, popular, jazz. You may feel inclined to stick to one theme, but, again, allow the music to be a reflection of your feelings and your preferences.

Above all, the music should have meaning. If you know a singer, songwriter, composer, flautist, or guitar player, it would be lovely to include their original talent in your wedding. Don't be afraid to ask; it's an honor and a pleasure for most musicians to perform, even if they're not first-rate professionals. Let the love they express through their gift, and your love and appreciation for them, be a touching part of your ceremony.

Along with the music you include to delineate each step in the unfolding of your ceremony, consider beginning your wedding with a small concert or serenade. If you can, feature live music, although recorded music is fine, and can be a boon, especially if you're featuring a specific piece—an aria by Caruso, “your song” as a couple, or your favorite symphony. But, because you're looking for the heartfelt for all aspects of your wedding, if you can possibly arrange it, go for the real thing—the singer you know, a local harpist, the live piano performance.

Finally, be realistic. You probably don't have room for the New York Philharmonic. If that tiny chapel you've both decided is perfect doesn't have a pipe organ, be willing to settle for a piano or a string quartet. Also, check to make sure that whoever performs will actually have enough room to do so comfortably.

Let the music play on! Allow it to touch you, to bring you and your guests together, to be a magical veil of beautiful sounds that floats through your wedding like a breeze.