Although weddings are the "bread & butter" of my business, I occasionally make the foray into the corporate entertainment world. I have had two such gigs in the past couple of weeks, so I thought it was about time to cover them here!
On September 15th, I trekked to downtown Chicago to play for a party. Actually, I had no idea what kind of event it was, just knew that I was supposed to play all Celtic music. Turned out that it was an 80th birthday party for a judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals! The Republican candidates for Governor and Attorney General were there, as well as justices from the Illinois Supreme Court. The gig was lots of fun, and held in a law firm's office overlooking the Chicago River - right on Wacker Drive. It's not often that I get to break out my Celtic music binder, but the planners wanted to honor the Irish heritage of the judge. He commented several times how much he enjoyed the music, and how he recognized most of the tunes I played. Of course moving all of the harp equipment up from an underground parking garage, through a lobby with tight security, and onto the 28th floor of a highrise wasn't the easiest set-up I've done. Fortunately, I got there early (as always...I read lots of books waiting for events to begin) and had everything set up and ready to go before guests started to arrive. Driving downtown with a harp in the back of the car is never exactly stress-free, but the harp, car & I arrived safely back in South Bend late that night.
Yesterday, I was back near Chicago in the northern suburb of Long Grove, IL. I was hired by a country club there to provide harp music for their ladies' fall tea. They modeled the event after the High Tea at the Drake Hotel - so I got to pretend be one of the fancy harpists they have on staff there! (If you are ever looking for a wonderful way to relax after shopping downtown, head to the Drake any afternoon for tea & harp music - it can't be beat!) I had been at the country club once before for their Mother's Day brunch last May, and this was a much smaller and intimate group. They had the fireplace going (not next to the harp of course!) and served finger sandwiches, salads, scones & pastries. Several of the ladies commented that a tea would make a lovely alternative to the traditional bridesmaids' luncheon or bridal shower.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Wedding Reception (Harp & Violin)
For a September weekend, this one was rather light! The only wedding I had was a one-hour reception on Saturday night. It was a harp and violin duet with a new violinist, and it went extremely well! The bride was a violinist herself, and she picked some unique and beautiful music for her cocktail hour, including:
Air from "Water Music" (Handel)
Arioso from "Cantata 156" (Bach)
Juliet's Waltz Song from "Romeo & Juliet" (Gounod)
Hornpipe from "Water Music" (Handel)
Nocturne from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Mendelssohn)
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
Fur Elise (Beethoven)
Fantasie-Impromptu in C# minor (Chopin)
Air on G from "Suite #3 in D Major" (Bach)
Minuet from "Quintet in E Major" (Boccherini)
Jupiter Theme from "The Planets" (Holst)
Despite a missing tuning key (the fear of every gigging harpist!) - my husband managed to tune the harp with a pair of vise grips he bought that night at Menards - the reception went off perfectly. The colors were rich autumn browns and golds, and they had a pair of live doves in the lobby of the banquet center. While the manager was briefing the staff before the guests arrived, she was sure to caution them not to release the birds or torment them! The favors were a toothbrush and toothpaste - the groom is a dentist. When it was time to cut the cake, the bride and groom went first, followed by their parents. It was a wonderful way to start off the reception by honoring the parents and their marriages. The couple and their families really made this an event to remember, and I was thrilled to be a part of it!
Air from "Water Music" (Handel)
Arioso from "Cantata 156" (Bach)
Juliet's Waltz Song from "Romeo & Juliet" (Gounod)
Hornpipe from "Water Music" (Handel)
Nocturne from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (Mendelssohn)
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
Fur Elise (Beethoven)
Fantasie-Impromptu in C# minor (Chopin)
Air on G from "Suite #3 in D Major" (Bach)
Minuet from "Quintet in E Major" (Boccherini)
Jupiter Theme from "The Planets" (Holst)
Despite a missing tuning key (the fear of every gigging harpist!) - my husband managed to tune the harp with a pair of vise grips he bought that night at Menards - the reception went off perfectly. The colors were rich autumn browns and golds, and they had a pair of live doves in the lobby of the banquet center. While the manager was briefing the staff before the guests arrived, she was sure to caution them not to release the birds or torment them! The favors were a toothbrush and toothpaste - the groom is a dentist. When it was time to cut the cake, the bride and groom went first, followed by their parents. It was a wonderful way to start off the reception by honoring the parents and their marriages. The couple and their families really made this an event to remember, and I was thrilled to be a part of it!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A Three-Wedding Weekend
What a weekend! Three wedding ceremonies & several students crammed into just a couple of days. What can I say - I love to stay busy!
On Friday, I played for a wedding in a small country church. The late mother of the groom was a harpist, so the bride's family hired me in her memory. It was a beautiful ceremony officiated by the father of the bride. The music included:
First Arabesque (Debussy)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
All I Ask of You (Webber)
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
After teaching a lesson after the ceremony and getting back to South Bend around 11pm, I was back on the road to Northwest Indiana early Saturday morning. My first wedding of the day just booked about a week ago - so it is never too late to check and see if I have your date available! The weather was gorgeous for an outdoor morning wedding. It took place at the hall where I had my wedding reception, so it was fun to go back and see everyone there that had to deal with me when I was a bride! The music for this ceremony was also very traditional: Bridal Chorus & Trumpet Voluntary.
Between my two Saturday weddings, I had the pleasure of teaching a harp lesson. I spent the rest of the afternoon in Valparaiso, leerily watching the sky fill with grey clouds. Of course, my evening wedding was outside!
I set up at Coffee Creek with my waterproof harp cover within arm's reach. Fortunately, the weather held for the ceremony! The amphitheatre is a stunning location for a cerem
ony with the geyser-like fountain in the background, but it can be very windy - one of those places where I'm afraid to ever take my hands off the harp! It also requires that I use amplification because the wind carries the sound away from your guests. The colors were perfect for a Fall day - dark brown, orange, and yellow. The music the couple selected:
All I Ask of You (Webber)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
Throughout the ceremony, I played light glissandos that fit in perfectly with the outdoor setting - it sounds like musical wind!
On Friday, I played for a wedding in a small country church. The late mother of the groom was a harpist, so the bride's family hired me in her memory. It was a beautiful ceremony officiated by the father of the bride. The music included:
First Arabesque (Debussy)
Canon in D (Pachelbel)
Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
All I Ask of You (Webber)
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke)
After teaching a lesson after the ceremony and getting back to South Bend around 11pm, I was back on the road to Northwest Indiana early Saturday morning. My first wedding of the day just booked about a week ago - so it is never too late to check and see if I have your date available! The weather was gorgeous for an outdoor morning wedding. It took place at the hall where I had my wedding reception, so it was fun to go back and see everyone there that had to deal with me when I was a bride! The music for this ceremony was also very traditional: Bridal Chorus & Trumpet Voluntary.
Between my two Saturday weddings, I had the pleasure of teaching a harp lesson. I spent the rest of the afternoon in Valparaiso, leerily watching the sky fill with grey clouds. Of course, my evening wedding was outside!
I set up at Coffee Creek with my waterproof harp cover within arm's reach. Fortunately, the weather held for the ceremony! The amphitheatre is a stunning location for a cerem
ony with the geyser-like fountain in the background, but it can be very windy - one of those places where I'm afraid to ever take my hands off the harp! It also requires that I use amplification because the wind carries the sound away from your guests. The colors were perfect for a Fall day - dark brown, orange, and yellow. The music the couple selected:All I Ask of You (Webber)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach)
Bridal Chorus (Wagner)
Wedding March (Mendelssohn)
Throughout the ceremony, I played light glissandos that fit in perfectly with the outdoor setting - it sounds like musical wind!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Choosing Your Wedding Ceremony Music
One of the questions I receive most often from brides is "How do I pick my music?" All of the brides with whom I work meet with me to go over their ceremony logistics and hear a wide variety of pieces that are appropriate for the wedding. When you pick out your songs, there are several elements of your ceremony that will require music:
1. Prelude. This is the background music that is played while your guests are arriving prior to the beginning of your ceremony. You do not need to select all of the pieces to be played during this time, but you can give your musicians ideas of the types of music you would like to have played (or the types to avoid). I have played a prelude that was all songs from Disney movies, another one that was all John Denver music, and many that chose traditional classical melodies. If your wedding location does not allow popular music during the ceremony itself, it may be possible to include your favorites here.
2. Seating of the families. This is an optional selection played during the seating of parents, grandparents, and other guests of honor. If you do not select a specific piece for this time, prelude music will continue through this time up until the bridal processional is ready to begin.
3. Bridesmaids' processional. Once the families are seated, the music for the bridesmaids' entrance typically begins. The most traditional choice is Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. However, any piece at a good walking tempo can be used. This music continues until the last bridesmaid (usually the maid/matron of honor) or the child attendants have reached the front.
4. Bridal processional. A fanfare announces the arrival of the bride. Richard Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" (also known as "Here Comes the Bride") is traditional. If you are being married in a Catholic, Lutheran, or Episcopalian church, check with your priest or pastor before selecting this piece, as it is not allowed in some houses of worship. This can really be a place to use your imagination, and select a song that has special meaning to you and your fiance.
5. Ceremony music (optional). This may include lighting of the unity candle, communion, congregational hymns, service music (Catholic and Episcopalian Masses), or instrumental solos. Be sure to have an outline of your ceremony before you meet with your musicians to select ceremony music. That way, you will know how many pieces you will need during the ceremony itself.
6. Recessional. After you have been announced as husband and wife to your guests, the recessional begins and the bridal party files out. Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" is traditional, but again, this is not allowed in some churches. Always check with the person who will be performing your ceremony before deciding on specific pieces of music. This piece should be uptempo and joyous.
7. Postlude. The upbeat character of the recessional should carry over to the postlude music that is played as your guests exit the ceremony site. As with the prelude, you do not have to select specific songs for this time.
That's it! Although selecting your wedding music may seem like a daunting task, professional musicians can help you wade through the vast amount of music that is available, and help you choose songs that fit your vision of your wedding day. Ceremony music should always be customized to reflect the couple and their unique tastes. Whether you prefer the traditional wedding pieces, Broadway love songs, Celtic tunes, or jazz standards, make sure that the musicians you select can accommodate your requests. I am always happy to answer questions or offer guidance for brides planning their ceremony music. Email: devon@theclassicharpist.com.
1. Prelude. This is the background music that is played while your guests are arriving prior to the beginning of your ceremony. You do not need to select all of the pieces to be played during this time, but you can give your musicians ideas of the types of music you would like to have played (or the types to avoid). I have played a prelude that was all songs from Disney movies, another one that was all John Denver music, and many that chose traditional classical melodies. If your wedding location does not allow popular music during the ceremony itself, it may be possible to include your favorites here.
2. Seating of the families. This is an optional selection played during the seating of parents, grandparents, and other guests of honor. If you do not select a specific piece for this time, prelude music will continue through this time up until the bridal processional is ready to begin.
3. Bridesmaids' processional. Once the families are seated, the music for the bridesmaids' entrance typically begins. The most traditional choice is Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. However, any piece at a good walking tempo can be used. This music continues until the last bridesmaid (usually the maid/matron of honor) or the child attendants have reached the front.
4. Bridal processional. A fanfare announces the arrival of the bride. Richard Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" (also known as "Here Comes the Bride") is traditional. If you are being married in a Catholic, Lutheran, or Episcopalian church, check with your priest or pastor before selecting this piece, as it is not allowed in some houses of worship. This can really be a place to use your imagination, and select a song that has special meaning to you and your fiance.
5. Ceremony music (optional). This may include lighting of the unity candle, communion, congregational hymns, service music (Catholic and Episcopalian Masses), or instrumental solos. Be sure to have an outline of your ceremony before you meet with your musicians to select ceremony music. That way, you will know how many pieces you will need during the ceremony itself.
6. Recessional. After you have been announced as husband and wife to your guests, the recessional begins and the bridal party files out. Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" is traditional, but again, this is not allowed in some churches. Always check with the person who will be performing your ceremony before deciding on specific pieces of music. This piece should be uptempo and joyous.
7. Postlude. The upbeat character of the recessional should carry over to the postlude music that is played as your guests exit the ceremony site. As with the prelude, you do not have to select specific songs for this time.
That's it! Although selecting your wedding music may seem like a daunting task, professional musicians can help you wade through the vast amount of music that is available, and help you choose songs that fit your vision of your wedding day. Ceremony music should always be customized to reflect the couple and their unique tastes. Whether you prefer the traditional wedding pieces, Broadway love songs, Celtic tunes, or jazz standards, make sure that the musicians you select can accommodate your requests. I am always happy to answer questions or offer guidance for brides planning their ceremony music. Email: devon@theclassicharpist.com.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
New teaching job!
I just got hired today to teach private voice lessons at the largest high school in South Bend!
I begin next week, and it looks like I'll have about 12 students to start out. They will be mostly 9th and 10th graders, and about half are from the mens' chorus. My music library is a little lacking in the tenor and bass sections (wonder why), so I spent part of the morning at one of the local music stores buying way too much stuff.
The school has a great & well-funded fine arts department, with three choir directors and 300 students involved in the choirs they offer.
Only downside - my day will start at 7:15 AM!!! I thought I became a musician so I could sleep til noon and play all night.
But really, I couldn't be more excited about this! Along with the private students I am already teaching, I'll have 20 harp & voice students now. This is just the sort of gig I've always wanted - teaching, but not having to put up with all of the garbage that comes along with an ed degree or working directly for a school district.
I begin next week, and it looks like I'll have about 12 students to start out. They will be mostly 9th and 10th graders, and about half are from the mens' chorus. My music library is a little lacking in the tenor and bass sections (wonder why), so I spent part of the morning at one of the local music stores buying way too much stuff.
The school has a great & well-funded fine arts department, with three choir directors and 300 students involved in the choirs they offer.
Only downside - my day will start at 7:15 AM!!! I thought I became a musician so I could sleep til noon and play all night.
But really, I couldn't be more excited about this! Along with the private students I am already teaching, I'll have 20 harp & voice students now. This is just the sort of gig I've always wanted - teaching, but not having to put up with all of the garbage that comes along with an ed degree or working directly for a school district.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Navarro Wedding
It was a long day for a short gig - 11 hours gone from home, and we only played for 2 of those hours! I was in Frankenmuth several years ago, and had almost forgotten what a cute town it is. We will definitely plan on a return trip soon!
This wedding was especially fun because I got to share it with a great friend of mine from college. She works in Ann Arbor, so it worked out perfectly for her to play violin for the ceremony. We had a wonderful time catching up on all the gossip and news of other friends from our days together at Valparaiso University. It's so easy to perform with musicians you know so well. Even though we had never done a wedding together before, all of the music came together perfectly! The ceremony selections included:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Canon in D
Bridal Chorus
Air on the G String
Wedding March
Very traditional, and lovely! I also played for the first hour of the reception with just harp - that was a mix of popular songs and classical pieces. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
This wedding was especially fun because I got to share it with a great friend of mine from college. She works in Ann Arbor, so it worked out perfectly for her to play violin for the ceremony. We had a wonderful time catching up on all the gossip and news of other friends from our days together at Valparaiso University. It's so easy to perform with musicians you know so well. Even though we had never done a wedding together before, all of the music came together perfectly! The ceremony selections included:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Canon in D
Bridal Chorus
Air on the G String
Wedding March
Very traditional, and lovely! I also played for the first hour of the reception with just harp - that was a mix of popular songs and classical pieces. Congratulations to the newlyweds!
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