July 2009 in Review

July 3rd, 2009
Deep River County Park, Hobart Indiana
Music Selections:

• Hymne by Vangelis for seating of families
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach for the bridal party processional
• Canon in D by Pachelbel for the bride's processional
• Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke for the recessional

July 5th, 2009Center Meeting House at Morris Farms, Niles, Michigan
Music Selections:

• Arioso by Bach for seating of families
• Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach for bridal party processional
• Andiam mio tesoro (Anonymous) for bride's processional
• Reverie by Grandjany for the unity candle lighting
• Spring (First Movement) from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi for the recessional

July 11th, 2009
Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Mishawaka, Indiana
Music Selections included:

• Hymne by Vangelis as the processional
• Love Divine All Love's Excelling (congregational hymn)
• Prelude in C by Bach
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach
• Arioso by Bach
• Canon in D by Pachelbel
• Trumpet Tune by Purcell
• Trumpet Voluntary by Clarke as the recessional

July 11th, 2009

Narnia Estate, Lemont, Illinois

Music Selections:

• Aria from "Rinaldo" by Handel for the bride's processional
• Hymne by Vangelis for the sand ceremony
• Wedding March by Mendellssohn for the recessional

July 17th, 2009
Holy Family Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois
Music Selections:

• Canon in D by Pachelbel (Harp & Violin duet) for the processional
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach for the unity candle
• Panis Angelicus by Franck for the offertory
• Lady of Knock (Violin & Piano duet) for the rose ceremony
• Bagpipes for the recessional

July 18th, 2009
Oliver Mansion Gardens, South Bend, Indiana
Music Selections:

• All I Ask of You from "Phantom of the Opera" by Webber for the seating of families
• Romance without Words by Godefroid for the bridal party processional
• Hymne by Vangelis for the bride's processional
• Fanny Power by O'Carolan for the recessional

July 24th, 2009
Willow Harbor Vineyards, Three Oaks, Michigan
Music Selections:

• Hymne by Vangelis for the processional
• Spring (Third Movement) from "The Four Seasons" by Vivaldi as the recessional

July 26th, 2009
Coffee Creek Amphitheatre, Chesterton, Indiana
Music Selections:

• Canon in D by Pachelbel as the bridal party processional
• I'll Be by Edwin McCain as the bride's processional
• All You Need is Love by McCartney as the recessional

July 26th, 2009
Oliver Mansion Gardens, South Bend, Indiana
Music Selections:

• Claire de Lune by Debussy for the processional
• Hymne by Vangelis for the recessional

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 ceremony 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!