Battle Creek Harpist ~ Wedding Ceremony & Reception Music

After having the first two weekends of November wedding-free, I was glad to be back behind the harp for Brittani and Evan's wedding!  They held both their ceremony and reception at the Potter's House Church in Battle Creek, Michigan.

As their guests arrived, I played a variety of classical and sacred pieces.  For the entrance of grandparents and parents, they chose "Winter" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.  The bridal party ~ including a precious ring bearer who stopped at the top of the aisle to take a picture ~ entered the sanctuary to Pachelbel's "Canon in D."  The church's organist played "Here Comes the Bride" for Brittani's processional.

During the ceremony, the pastor's wife and one of the groomsmen sang.  That is a wonderful way to include musical friends and family members in your wedding, without stressing them with providing all of the music for the service!  The recessional was "At Last."  Once the wedding party and families exited, they had recorded music ready to go as I moved the harp downstairs.

The reception of hors d'oeuvers and wedding cake was also enhanced with  harp music.  Again, the music was from the classical and sacred genres, and included:

• Cantique de Jean Racine
• His Eye is on the Sparrow
• Finlandia
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
• Prelude in C
• The King of Love My Shepherd Is

If you are planning a wedding in Battle Creek, please contact me about providing harp music for your ceremony and reception!  Music options range from traditional to contemporary.  You'll find additional information on my website:  Battle Creek Wedding Harpist.

Southwest Michigan Harpist ~ Wedding at Shadowland Pavilion on Silver Beach

Andrea and Chris had a beautiful wedding ceremony at the Shadowland Pavilion on Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Michigan.  For an amazingly hot summer and one of the hottest months in history, the bride and groom were lucky to have a gorgeous and comfortable wedding day.

The bride and groom selected traditional wedding music to accompany their day.  For the entrance of the bridesmaids, the song chosen was Canon in D by Pachelbel.  Andrea had wanted to keep her entrance classic, so she opted for the Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride) by Wagner.

During the ceremony, the bride and groom performed a unity sand ceremony as I played Hymne by Vangelis.  Finally it was time for the bride and groom to walk "up the aisle" as a married couple!  This recessional was accompanied by Purcell's Trumpet Tune.

If you are planning a Silver Beach wedding, visit my website ~ St. Joseph Michigan Wedding Harpist ~ for more information on having a harpist at your beach wedding!

Kalamazoo Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony at Stetson Chapel

The beautiful Kalamazoo College was the setting for Brooke & Jarrod's July 21st wedding.  Stetson Chapel, set in the middle of a campus with brick-paved streets, was the location for the ceremony.

As the parents and grandparents were seated, I played "Fields of Gold" by Sting.  The bridal party entered to "All I Ask of You" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.  Brooke went a little more traditional with her processional music, and chose "Canon in D" for her entrance.

For the lighting of the unity candle and as the background music while a poem was read, they chose the Styx song "Come Sail Away."  It was this piece that got me the most compliments from the guests!  It is definitely not something that anyone expects to hear on the harp, but it works remarkably well.  The ceremony concluded with the newlyweds and bridal party exiting the chapel to "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz.  From Broadway to classical to classic rock, this ceremony had a great variety of music, with a little something for everyone!

If you are looking for a wedding harpist in Kalamazoo, visit my website ~ Kalamazoo Wedding Harpist ~ for information on wedding ceremony and reception music.  Happy planning!

Southwest Michigan Harpist ~ Wedding at the Shadowland Pavilion

Samantha and Aaron had a picture perfect day for their wedding at the Shadowland Pavilion in St. Joseph, Michigan.  The ceremony had plenty of blue skies and nice breezes, not to mention the heatwave finally breaking to provide a perfect temperature!

Samantha and Aaron selected traditional music for their wedding ceremony.  For the entrance of the bridesmaids the couple chose Pachelbel's "Canon in D."  Samantha and her dad came down the aisle to the traditional "Bridal Chorus" (also known as "Here Comes the Bride").  During the wedding, the couple performed a sand ceremony.  While this was happening, I played "The Wedding Song."  Finally, the recessional piece played was "Andiam Mio Tesoro."

If you are interested in having harp music for your Southwest Michigan wedding ceremony, please visit our website, Berrien County Wedding Harpist.

Southwest Michigan Wedding Music ~ Harpist at Willow Harbor Vineyards

The hottest weekend of the summer (so far...) couldn't stop the party for Kimberly & Michael!  They were married on July 7th at Willow Harbor Vineyard in Three Oaks, Michigan.  Like many of the couples I've worked with at the vineyard, they live in Chicago but chose to get out of the city and to the other side of the Lake Michigan for a close-to-home destination wedding.

Samantha from Simply Unforgettable Occasions was their day-of planner, and was able to get some umbrellas set up to provide shade for the harp.  With the extreme temperatures, it just isn't possible to leave the wood harp sitting in the sun for a couple of hours!  With the help of Samantha and her crew, everything was able to go ahead as planned, all while keeping the harp safe.

The matron of honor came down the aisle to "Hymne" by Vangelis, followed by the bride's entrance to "Canon in D."  Although the unity candle didn't stay lit for long - always a hazard with outdoor ceremonies! - "Only Time" by Enya accompanied the ceremony.  Once they were pronounced husband & wife, the newlyweds headed off the the nearby tent for their reception to the Third Movement of "Spring" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

No matter where you live, Southwest Michigan's wine country and beaches make the perfect location for a destination wedding!  Adding harp music to your ceremony and reception makes the whole event even more romantic and memorable.  To find out more about hiring me as the musician for your wedding, visit my website:  Southwest Michigan Wedding Music.

South Haven Harpist ~ Wedding Music at Lake Bluff Inn

This wedding at Lake Bluff Inn in South Haven, Michigan, had the perfect start time.  For a very dry summer, June 16th was sure seeing a lot of rain!  Fortunately, about thirty minutes before the start of the ceremony, the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the sun came out.

The bride and groom's approach to their wedding music ~ and to the whole wedding ceremony ~ was that of classical, but not necessarily traditional.  They had their law school friend perform the ceremony and their families (including those who traveled to Michigan all the way from Israel) were actively involved.

The prelude music was all chosen from the classical genre.  As for the entrance of the wedding party, the couple selected "Caro Mio Ben."  For the bride's entrance, I had the chance to play one of my favorite pieces for the harp: "Romance Without Words." For the recessional, the bride and groom walked down the aisle to "Trumpet Voluntary."

If you are interested in having wedding music for your South Haven, Michigan ceremony or reception, please visit our website, South Haven Wedding Harpist.

Michigan Wedding Harpist ~ Ceremony Music at the Ponds of Coldwater

Lauren and Marcus had their wedding at The Ponds of Coldwater, in Coldwater, Michigan.  The location was a beautiful, hidden away site, with the wedding ceremony happening at the gazebo, surrounded by the pond.  The location provides a beautiful aisle for the bride to walk down, with the guests on both sides.

The bride and groom's wedding music selections were a good mix of popular and traditional.  The bridal party entered to "Unchained Melody," while Lauren entered to the traditional "Bridal Chorus."  During the ceremony, the bride and groom performed a unity sand ceremony while I played "What a Wonderful World."  The bride and groom then ended the ceremony with Mendelssohn's "Wedding March."

If you are looking for wedding music in the Coldwater, Michigan area please visit our website, Coldwater Wedding Harpist.  Devon and I are available to provide harp music for weddings throughout Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana, and we'd love to work with you!

Photo by Ponds of Coldwater

Harpists for New Year's Day at Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo

Happy New Year!  We welcomed in 2012 by playing for a private brunch at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan.  Guests were divided between the Copper Rock Steakhouse and the adjacent Player's Lounge for a New Year's Day buffet.

Copper Rock Steakhouse, from the harpist's point of view

We set up the Classic harp in the Copper Rock, and the Penti in the Player's Lounge to match it's more contemporary decor.  Jeff and I alternated the restaurants in which we played, so guests in each venue could hear both of us! 

Four Winds Casino Player's Lounge

The guests loved listening to the harp music, especially the popular pieces that you might not expect to hear on the harp (imagine "Walk the Line" or "Come Sail Away").  It was a nice, relaxing way for them to recover after a late night on New Year's Eve.

As professional harpists, we play for corporate events, private parties, and weddings throughout the year.  Contact us at 1-877-HARP-578 or visit our website ~ New Buffalo Harpist ~ for information on including harp music in your plans!

Kalamazoo Harpist ~ Christmas Music at the Comstock Library

The first event of the year when I get to bring out my holiday music is always an exciting time!  This year, it was for a holiday open house at the Comstock Township Library near Kalamazoo, Michigan.  The library staff went all out to make this a memorable occasion for their patrons of all ages.

As I played a variety of Christmas and Chanukah songs, people gathered around to listen.  Some kids even gave me special requests for their favorites!  There were also cookies, cider, a visit from Mrs. Claus, and my favorite - reindeer!  They might have upstaged me a little, but I didn't mind!

This was also the first time I tried out using the sheet music I've stored on my iPad instead of a binder full of music.  It took some getting used to (I only tried to flip it over to turn the page once), but I loved having so much music available in such a small package.  When you're moving a huge harp around, it's a benefit to downsize everything else whenever possible!

For holiday events, the harp can provide for all of your musical needs.  From traditional Christmas carols to modern popular pieces and Chanukah selections, even a sing-along is possible!  Visit my website, Kalamazoo Harpist, for more information on having a harpist for your celebration.

Introduction to the Harp Class ~ St. Joseph, Michigan

A colleague of mine from the South Bend Area Music Teachers association invited me to be the guest artist at two of the Monday Musical Club's student recitals in November.  It's always such a pleasure to be able to introduce young musicians to the harp!

The recital and class were held in the Whitcomb Parlor in St. Joseph, Michigan.  I loved being able to listen to the student performances ~ everything from beginning violinists to accomplished pianists.  After they played their pieces, I talked a bit about the early history of the harp, and its origins in the hunter's bow.  I described how, as the range of the harp expanded, the construction changed to include a front pillar to support the added tension of additional strings.  As some of the earliest examples of harps with columns are from the British Isles, I played the folk songs "The Water is Wide" and "O Danny Boy" on my Laurel Leaf lever harp. 

Since the audience was primarily musicians and their parents, they were very responsive when I asked the group questions!  We talked about how to get chromatic notes on the harp and the development of levers and pedals.  There was a collective gasp when I unveiled my beautiful Venus Classic pedal harp!  With the invention of the pedal harp, a wider range of music was playable on the harp, and more composers began to write specifically for the instrument.

I demonstrated with Bach's "Prelude in C," Godefroid's "Romance Without Words," and "All These Woes" by the modern Canadian composer John Weinzweig.  The special effects that can be created on the harp are always a big hit!  I showed them glissandos, percussion effects, vibrato, pedal slides, and special ways of muffling the strings.  I always allow time for questions after the presentation, and there were many! 

When I'd answered their questions, the audience was able to come up and give the harps a try for themselves.  This wasn't just limited to the kids!  It's amazing how the students, once they have been introduced to the instrument, don't find it intimidating at all.  Some were even able to pluck out familiar melodies and create their own effects!

If you are interested in having a program about the harp for your studio, club, class, church, or other organization, please contact me.  Visit my website, www.TheClassicHarpist.com, or call 1-877-HARP-578 to get on my schedule!

Harpist in St. Joseph, Michigan ~ Wedding at the Hertiage Museum

November is typically a slow month for weddings, but 2011 has proven to be the exception.  We also have several Friday ceremonies and receptions - Friday is the new Saturday!  When you plan your wedding for a less popular month or day of the week, you will not only receive discounts from some of your wedding professionals (venues particularly), but you will also have a better change of being able to book your top vendor picks.  With fewer brides competing for the best professionals in each field, you are more likely to find that the person you want to hire is available for your date.

This can be a tricky month for weather, but November 4th was an especially pleasant fall day.  It was so nice, the bride and groom were even able to head to the lakeshore for some pre-ceremony pictures!  Their colors of red and black, along with the favors of caramel apples, continued the autumnal theme.

Abby and Timothy celebrated their ceremony and reception at the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center in St. Joseph, Michigan.  Their ceremony and took place in Shepard Hall, with guests seated on the ground level.  The bridal party and the parents of the bride and groom stood on the balcony above. 

I played harp music as the guests arrived, and switched to "Falling Slowly" for the entrance of the parents and bridesmaids.  The bride's processional music was "All You Need is Love" by the Beatles. 

During the ceremony, the groom's uncle sang "Steady as We Go" by the Dave Matthews Band.  The recessional was the Jason Mraz song "I'm Yours," which was also the couple's first dance selection.  Once the ceremony was complete, the guests headed upstairs to the museum for the cocktail hour.  They were greeted with glasses of champagne and passed hors d'oeuvres - and harp music! 

 
The exhibit was Ice Age Imperials, and guests were able to explore while they waited for the downstairs to be re-set for dinner service.  I've played in some fairly unique places before, but this was the first time I was set up next to a musk ox! 

I am available throughout Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana to provide harp music for wedding ceremonies, receptions, and other events.  Contact me by phone (1-877-HARP-578) or email, or visit my website, Southwest Michigan Harpist, for information on having a harpist for your event!

Wedding Music in Southwest Michigan ~ Willow Harbor Vineyards

Liz and Matt had a perfect Fall day for their outdoor ceremony at Willow Harbor Vineyards in Three Oaks, Michigan.  It had rained earlier in the day, but by late afternoon, the sun was shining and the sky was blue!

When I arrived at the vineyard (early, of course!), I was the first one there.  The chairs were all set up, and flowers delivered, but there was no one to be found.  Just to be on the safe side, I called their back-up ceremony location to make sure that the earlier rain hadn't relocated the ceremony.  With their assurances that it was still going ahead at Willow Harbor, I set up the harp, and was ready to go long before the first guests arrived!

As the families were seated, I played "Canon in D" by Pachelbel,  They didn't have a traditional wedding party ~ just two ring bearers and a flower girl.  The kids entered to "Sheep May Safely Graze" by J.S. Bach.  The bride arrived at the ceremony in Willow Harbor's vintage Rolls Royce, and her entrance music was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (another Bach piece).

 
The ceremony included a wine sharing ~ perfect for a vineyard wedding! ~ with Schubert's "Ave Maria" playing in the background.  The recessional was "All You Need is Love" by The Beatles.

Photo:  Earthbound Officiants

Every summer, Jeff and I play for several weddings at Willow Harbor.  It's a beautiful venue for your ceremony or reception, and we'd love to add harp music to your wedding!  Visit our website, Three Oaks Wedding Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for additional information and a quote for your wedding music.

Photo:  Earthbound Officiants

Harp Concert ~ Southwest Michigan

Last Wednesday evening, I presented a solo harp concert at the Lincoln Township Library in Stevensville, Michigan.  I had given a concert there a few years ago, and was delighted to be back! 

The program included works by Bach, Handel, Godefroid, Weinzweig, Andres, Salzedo and Gustavson, along with folk songs and the popular songs "At Last," "In My Life," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and "Glitter in the Air."

After the performance, many members of the audience (including a fellow harpist!) stayed to ask questions and to get an up-close view of the harp.  I love to give recitals and presentations for organizations!  Please contact me about providing musical entertainment for your club, church, or community event.  You can visit my website, The Classic Harpist, or call 1-877-HARP-578 for details.

Kalamazoo Harpist ~ Wedding Music at Pine West

My wedding on September 3rd was an outdoor event where the weather seemed to be timed and located just perfectly!  When I arrived at Pine West, the sun was shining and the temperature was pleasant.  Just a few miles south, the weather was so bad that major college football games were being put on hold due to the lightning and thunderstorms!

For the wedding ceremony, the family was seated to Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.  The bridal party had a rather long walk to make it to the gazebo as they entered to Canon in D.  The bride entered to the Bridal March. During the ceremony, I provided interlude music for the readings as well as during the sand ceremony.  The bride had chosen Hymne and Prelude in C for music during the ceremony.  The couple and the wedding party exited to Wedding March. 

If you would like more information about how we can provide music for your Kalamazoo wedding, please visit our website, Kalamazoo Wedding Music.

Battle Creek Wedding Music ~ Harpist for an Outdoor Ceremony

This summer has had some crazy weather on the weekends!  It seems as if it has either been extremely hot, or raining.  Last Saturday, we had rain in Michigan.  The ceremony was scheduled to take place on the lawn outside the Historic Sullivan Barn in downtown Battle Creek, MI.

When I arrived about an hour and a half before the ceremony starting time, the rain had just started to come down.  Running inside, I met with the groom and the friend of the bride who was coordinating.

We all huddled around the radar, and watched the storm move through.  Going over back-up plans, we discussed moving the ceremony inside the barn, to the reception hall, or to the pastor's church.  Fortunately, the longer we watched the radar, the faster the rain passed!

The wedding was supposed to start at 4:00, and that's exactly when the rain stopped.  The bride's family and friends rushed to take down the canopy and dry off the chairs.  I set up in the lobby and played prelude music from there for awhile.  When it was time to get everyone moved outside, I was able to get the harp out there quickly (thank goodness for my ultra-portable BlevinSong harp!).

The bridal party entered to Canon in D.  The flower girl needed a little encouragement to make it down the aisle, but she did it!  The bride's entrance music was the the traditional Wagner Bridal Chorus (also known as Here Comes the Bride).  For the pouring of the unity sand, the couple requested the Enya song Only Time, and the recessional was My Heart Will Go On from Titanic.

In Battle Creek and throughout central Michigan, my husband Jeff and I play the harp for wedding ceremonies and reception.  If you are interested in hiring one (or both!) of us a your wedding harpist, visit our website for more information:

Michigan Wedding Harpist

or call 1-877-HARP-578.

Michigan Harpist ~ Willow Harbor Vineyard Wedding Ceremony Music

Willow Harbor Vineyards in Southwest Michigan is one of our favorite wedding venues.  We play for ceremonies there several times each summer, and I was back for Jenni & Kyle's beautiful outdoor wedding in the Chardonnay Vineyard.

The three bridesmaids entered to Pachelbel's Canon in D, and the bride's processional was Wagner's Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride).  For the recessional, they went with a more contemporary selection, Fields of Gold.

After the ceremony, I often have guests stop by and tell me how much they enjoyed the harp music.  At this one, one of those guests is also a professional musician - with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra!

The BlevinSong harp used for this ceremony is the perfect choice for outdoor ceremonies, as it is very portable.  Unlike my other harps, this instrument is strung with nylon strings, so the tuning is more stable when the weather and humidity are not!

From vineyards to the beach, harp music is the perfect addition to your Southwest Michigan wedding!  Visit our website, Southwest Michigan Wedding Music, for more information.

Southwest Michigan Wedding Music - Fernwood Botanical Garden Harpist

Whether you have to have your wedding inside due to rain (which almost happened) or the weather breaks and you are able to have a beautiful garden wedding, the harp is a perfect fit for weddings at Fernwood Botanical Gardens!

For Danielle and Will, the outdoor wedding was almost moved inside because of some rather threatening storms that were moving through the area.  With the help of the Fernwood staff and family members, the reception room was turned into a beautiful place to hold a wedding ceremony.

 

Fortunately for the couple, the storms broke and the weather cleared up!  The couple was able to move their ceremony into the gardens as they originally planned.  

 

For the ceremony I played All My Loving for the bridesmaid and flower girl.  Danielle entered the garden to Here Comes the Bride.  The couple left the ceremony to Only Time.  

To learn more about how we can provide wedding music in the gardens of Fernwood, visit our website Niles Wedding Harpist.  

Southwest Michigan Wedding Music ~ Chapel at the Morris Estate

Every year, Jeff and I play the harp for several weddings at the Morris Chapel.  It has gone through a few name changes (Morris Farms, Centre Meeting House), and now it is the Chapel at Morris Estates.  The new owners have great plans for the coming years - including air conditioning!  This is a popular location for Southwest Michigan weddings since it is a blank slate that you can decorate in any way you choose. 

Jeff did one in the chapel earlier this year that covered the stage/altar area with candles!

For this wedding ceremony, I played my BlevinSong lever harp.  It is a 36-string harp and has a simple, Celtic style and a natural maple finish.  During the prelude, the guests entered to a variety of popular love songs and classical pieces.  When the officiant signaled that the ceremony was ready to begin, I transitioned into the traditional "Canon in D" for the entrance of the bridal party, followed by "Bridal Chorus" - also known as Wagner's "Here Comes the Bride".

During the lighting of the unity candle, the bride and groom opted for something more contemporary - "Fields of Gold" by Sting.  You'd be surprised how well songs like that can be adapted for the harp!  When they ceremony concluded, the newlyweds and the bridal party exited to "King William's March".

Whether you are planning a simple & sweet or formal & luxurious wedding, the harp can fit in perfectly!  Visit our website:

The Classic Wedding Harpist

to find out more about including a harpist in your wedding plans!

Beach Wedding Music ~ Southwest Michigan Harpist

I have played at the Lakeside Inn several times before (most memorably a few weeks ago when the ceremony carried on through a downpour - fortunately the harp stayed dry in an artists' studio right behind the ceremony site), but this was my first time on their private Lake Michigan beach.  It's a beautiful setting, but a very challenging set-up.

This wedding was a harp & violin duet, so at least I had help with moving all of the equipment down to the ceremony site.  When we got down with our first load, we were thrilled to see an umbrella already set up for us - shade is a MUST for musicians playing on the beach!  We were able to leave our things there, and climb back up the 104(!) steps back to the parking lot.  Vowing to get everything else in one trip, we made it!

The BlevinSong lever harp is the most portable of my harps, and it is the only harp that it is possible to get down to this beach.  Even taking this one wasn't easy!

The bride had only one request for her ceremony music ~ she wanted to enter to "Canon in D" by Pachelbel.  Other than that, she left the rest of the music up to us. For the entrance of the mothers and bridal party, we played "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J.S. Bach.

The unity sand ceremony almost didn't happen - someone forgot the sand!  Lucky for them, the beach has plenty, and they blended sand together with their hands.  While this was going on, the aunt of the groom sang "The Wedding Song", accompanied by the groom's brother playing the guitar.  The recessional was "Trumpet Tune" followed up by "Rondeau" by Mouret, "Trumpet Voluntary", and other joyful pieces for the postlude.

Back up the stairs...and we had help!  Most of the time, I don't have any trouble moving my harps on my own, but was glad when a couple of wedding guests offered to assist us getting everything back up all of those stairs in one trip.  Thank you!!!  Now I just need to get all of the sand out of my harp case!

From weddings on the Lake Michigan beach to a local winery, I love providing harp music for weddings and events throughout Southwest Lower Michigan.  Visit my website:

Southwest Michigan Wedding Music

for information on having harp music for your wedding ceremony or reception.  Along with solo harp, I offer many different ensembles.  Harp & violin (what this bride chose) is the most popular choice.  Other ensembles include:

• Harp & Flute
• Harp, Violin & Cello
• Harp & Trumpet
• Two-harp Duet
• Harp & String Quartet
• Harp, Flute & Cello
• Harp & Guitar
• Harp & Marimba

...or anything else you can think of!  With connections with hundreds of professional musicians, I can create the perfect ensemble for your event.