Wedding organist
Selection of pieces to choose from for your wedding music
The pieces below are organised into four sections
- The two “classics” for the entrance and exit music
- “slow and / or quiet pieces”
- “fast and / or loud pieces”
- hymns for the wedding service
This list is to help you narrow down the vast array of music that exists to make your special day unique to you. Each piece has a link to a recording that approximates how it would sound on the day, although the home computer or a phone is a poor substitute for live music.
I am more than happy to meet you either at your home or at a church organ and go through a selection of pieces if you want me to help you choose in person!
In the past I have also found that favourite hymn tunes can be incorporated as instrumental pieces if desired.
I have a huge variety of well known softer pieces for before the service and during the signing of the register.
Section 1
The two classic wedding marches
The entrance – The Bridal Chorus from ‘Lohengrin’ by Richard Wagner
The exit – The Wedding March from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Section 2
Slow and / or quiet pieces before the service or during the signing of the register
J.S. Bach – Herr Christ, der ein’ge Gottessohn (BWV 601)
J.S. Bach – “Air” from the Orchestral Suite number 3 in D major (BWV 1068)
The popular title for this piece is the “Air on a G string” from an arrangement in the past by a violinist who wanted the tune to be played entirely on a violin’s lowest string, i.e., the G string!
J.S. Bach – “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme” (BWV 645)
The translated title for this piece is “Sleepers, wake! a voice is calling” and comes from a beautiful hymn tune melody that Bach wrote an arrangement for.
J.S. Bach – Jesu joy of man’s desiring
J.S. Bach – Sheep may Safely Graze (From Cantata 208)
Leon Boellmann – Priére à Notre-Dame (Prayer to Our Lady)
This beautiful piece is particularly appropriate if you as a couple wish to offer flowers to Mary, Our Lady, but is equally beautiful as a prayer at any point.
G. F. Handel – Eternal source of light divine
This piece was performed at the wedding ceremony of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.
G.F. Handel – Minuet from Water Music
W.A. Mozart – Ave Verum Corpus K.618
Johann Pachelbel – Canon in D
J.S. Bach / C. Gounod – Ave Maria
G.F. Handel – Largo (from the opera Xerxes)
Cesar Franck – Panis Angelicus
Section 3
Fast and / or loud pieces
Henry Purcell – Trumpet Tune and Air
The first of two trumpet pieces on this list by Henry Purcell written in the late 1600s for the grand cathedrals and churches of London and the royal court.
Henry Purcell – Trumpet Tune “The Cebell”
The “Cebell” is a famous piece that comes from an orchestral suite. It’s quite a grand one! I usually recommend this Trumpet Tune for a Recessional March but it does work quite well as a Processional for the bridal party as they enter the church.
Jeremiah Clarke – Prince of Denmark’s March (also known as Trumpet Voluntary)
David N Johnson – Trumpet Tune in D Major
A more modern (20th century) trumpet tune that sets the toes tapping!
John Stanley – Trumpet Voluntary
G.F. Handel – Zadok the Priest: Coronation Anthem
G.F. Handel – The Rejoicing from the “Fireworks Suite”
Marc-Antoine Charpentier – Prelude to the Te Deum
Charles Piroye – “La Royal”
A “royal poem” that is a cross between poetry and dancing! Lively and tuneful. A fun and different piece that will have your guests at least toe tapping if not dancing down the aisle with you!
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre – Noël: Votre bonté grand Dieu (Deuxième Suite de Noëls, Nr. 1)
G.F Handel – Alla Hornpipe – HWV 349 (Suite No. 2 in D from “Water music”)
Section 4 – Suggested hymns for a wedding
The hymn numbers are for the pew editions of the green Laudate hymnbook
- Alleluia, sing to Jesus (Laudate 644)
- All things bright and beautiful (Laudate 685)
- As I kneel before you (Laudate 360)
- Amazing grace (Laudate 846)
- Be thou my vision (Laudate 970)
- Bind us together
- Come down O love divine (Laudate 303)
- Lord of all hopefulness (Laudate 969)
- Love divine all loves excelling (Laudate 801)
- O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder (Laudate 721)
- Praise my soul the King of heaven (Laudate 807)
- Shine Jesus Shine (Laudate 770)
- Sing Hosanna (Give me joy in my heart) (Laudate 722)
- Tell out my soul (Laudate 880)
- The Church’s one foundation (Laudate 830)
- The King of love my shepherd is (Laudate 804)
- Thine be the glory (Laudate 287)