Ceremony songs

[Blair138]

I need some help...

We are getting married in a church. It is not a Catholic church but the Bible and God will be part of our ceremony, that being said, FI and I are not very religious. I am having a soloist and she is singing twice, once when our mothers come in and light the unity candle and then again when FI and I light the unity candle.

What should she sing? I love Ave Maria, but worry that it''s not appropriate since normally it is sung when the gifts are presented to the Virgin Mary (which I won''t be doing). What did you ladies have or what will you have? Thanks!

 

[jstarfireb]

Oooh, this is totally my element! I''m a classically trained singer. It depends on the voice part of the soloist. Is she a soprano, mezzo, or contralto? Also, take a look at the translations - the first piece is about chaste love, the next 2 are parts of the Catholic Mass, and the last is a secular piece.

A few of my favorites are:

Vivaldi - Nulla in Mundo Pax (long, so I''d cut it at about 3:00)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU7IZM6hHBA

Mozart - Laudamus Te from Great Mass in C Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUL-AI6sa6w

Vivaldi - Domine Deus from Gloria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppz5wxzLBKo

Schumann - Du Ring an Meinem Finger (PERFECT wedding song, but not religious)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Ee4oVCm4g

Here''s the translation of the last one:

Thou ring on my finger,
my little golden ring,
I press thee piously upon my lips
piously upon my heart.

I had dreamt it,
the tranquil, lovely dream of childhood,
I found myself alone and lost
in barren, infinite space.

Thou ring on my finger,
thou hast taught me for the first time,
hast opened my gaze unto
the endless, deep value of life.

I want to serve him, live for him,
belong to him entire,
Give myself and find myself
transfigured in his radiance.

Thou ring on my finger,
my little golden ring,
I press thee piously upon lips,
piously upon my heart.

...so you can see how it might be applied to both love of your husband and love of God.

 

[Blair138]

Thanks jstar! I will look into those songs and ask my soloist about them...

Does anyone else have suggestions?