The Great Lakes Chamber Players specializes in playing music at Roman Catholic weddings. We have collaborated with countless music directors at Catholic parishes to provide music for Masses, weddings, and other special days.
In this article we will go over some basic yet important information pertaining to music at Roman Catholic weddings. This article will cover,
- Roles the musicians take in Catholic weddings.
- When you will need a cantor.
- New Mass settings with links where you can hear music samples.
- An outline of a full Mass with indications where music is played.
Simple Wedding Ceremony (Not a Full Mass)
For a simple wedding ceremony, the music we typically provide is listed below. It is common for us to join forces with the parish organist/pianist for any number of musical selections. Generally, we play most of the prelude and postlude and join forces during the ceremony. All of this will typically be overseen by the Music Director or the Priest.
- Prelude Music:
Music before the start of the ceremony (usually 20 minutes).
- Processional Music:
Music for the seating of the mothers, the processional of the attendants, and bride. Many Catholic churches have a policy that the music for the attendants and bride must be the same. We suggest you ask the Priest or Music Director what the policy is.
- Music During the Ceremony:
Music for the unity candle, flowers to the Blessed Mother, between readings, or after the vows.
- Vocal Selections:
If you hire a vocalist, they could sing the Lord's Prayer or Ave Maria.
- Recessional Music:
Music while the wedding couple and bridal party recess out of the sanctuary.
- Postlude Music:
Music played while the guests exit from the sanctuary.
Full Mass - Playing Along With the Parish Organist and Cantor
For a full Mass, which role we take depends on the situation at each parish. Most of the larger Roman Catholic parishes have established music programs with a full-time music director. These parishes usually have set guidelines and policies for weddings. Rarely, in situations such as this, would we provide all of the music for a wedding, particularly if it is a full Mass. When the music director is a full-time position, often the contract includes playing at weddings. And typically there are cantors that the music director calls on as well.
In a large parish we usually provide the following music;
- Prelude:
Usually alone but sometimes with the organist/pianist.
- Processional:
Either alone or with the organist.
- Mass Parts, Psalm, Communion song, other music during Mass:
Usually with organist and cantor.
- Recessional:
Often with the organist.
- Postlude:
Usually alone but sometimes with the organist/pianist.
Providing All of the Music for a Full Mass
In other situations, particularly if the parish is smaller, we are sometimes asked to provide all of the music and musicians, including the cantor. We have cantors available that are experienced singing the Catholic Mass. This, of course, needs to be cleared with the parish Priest.
When we provide all of the music, some possible instrument combinations are;
- String quartet/cantor
- String quartet/trumpet/cantor
- Piano/violin/cello/cantor
- Piano/string quartet/cantor
- Piano/string quartet/trumpet/cantor
Note: The GLCP does not contract organists.
When You Will Need a Cantor
If you are planning to have a full Mass, you should count on having a cantor to sing the Mass parts. Without a cantor all of the Mass parts will be spoken and you probably will find the ceremony to be a bit on the dry side for a wedding. Imagine an hour-long, full Mass with very little music!
If you are not planning on having a full Mass, a cantor is not absolutely necessary unless you would like a vocal selection during the ceremony, such as the Lord's Prayer or the Ave Maria.
New Mass Settings
In 2011 there were changes to the wording in the Roman Catholic Mass. As a result, many new settings of the Mass were composed to accommodate these changes and familiar Masses were updated. If the music director/organist is playing for your wedding, the musical setting of the Mass will probably be the one used each Sunday at that parish.
If you have the Great Lakes Chamber Players provide all of the music at your wedding, we are able to play the Revised Mass of Creation
by Marty Haugen.
The original Mass of Creation
by Marty Haugen is probably the most popular Mass setting throughout the United States. The revised version (click on link above to listen) incorporates the new wording and keeps the music mostly the same.
Complete Music List for Catholic Wedding
If you listen to the Mass settings listed above, you will notice that there are quite a few musical selections. Below is what is typically sung and played at a full Mass for a Catholic wedding (in order). The musical portions are in bold;
Pre-service
Prelude Music
(usually instrumental)
Opening Rites
Music for the Seating of the Mothers
(usually instrumental)
Processional Music for the Attendants
(usually instrumental)
Processional Music for the Bride
(usually instrumental). Many Catholic churches have a policy that the music for the attendants and bride must be the same. We suggest you ask the Priest or Music Director what the policy is.
Gathering Song
(optional - instruments/cantor/congregation)
Welcome and Greeting
Opening Prayer
Liturgy of the Word
Old Testament Reading
Responsorial Psalm
(instruments/cantor/congregation)
Epistle Reading
Gospel Acclamation
(instruments/cantor/congregation)
Gospel Reading
Homily
Rite of Marriage
Declaration of Intent-Exchange of Vows-Blessing and Exchange of Rings
Unity Candle
(optional - usually instrumental)
Profession of Faith (Nicene Creed or Apostles Creed)
Prayer of the Faithful
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Presentation of the Gifts
(instrumental)
Eucharistic Prayer
Holy, Holy, Holy
(instruments/cantor/congregation)
We Proclaim Your Death, O Lord
(instruments/cantor/congregation)
Doxology/Amen
(instruments/cantor/congregation)
Lord's Prayer
(can be spoken or instruments/cantor/congregation)
Sign of Peace
Lamb of God
(instruments/cantor/congregation)
Communion Song
(instruments/cantor/congregation) and/or instrumental music
Prayer after Communion
Flowers to Blessed Mother
(usually Ave Maria
- either instrumental or instruments/cantor)
Concluding Rites
Presentation of Couple
Nuptial Blessing
(can be spoken or instruments/cantor/congregation)
Recessional Music
(instrumental)
Postlude Music
(instrumental)
We hope this gives you an overview of the Catholic wedding ceremony and full mass along with the options and possibilities available. Of course, every parish has their own set of guidelines so be sure to check what those are before choosing music.