weddingtraditions2.page

I took a music appreciation class several years ago, with an instructor who was a church organist. During a discussion, he said that he was "not allowed" to play the traditional wedding march during ceremonies at his church, because they are considered secular music. I decided to do some research on the subject, and here is what I found:

10 Reasons Why You Might Not Want to Use the
Traditional Wedding Music for Your Church Wedding

The traditional wedding processional "Here Comes The Bride" is from the opera Lohengrin by Richard Wagner. In the opera, the relationship between Elsa and Lohengrin was doomed because of a broken promise. http://www.weddingmusicsource.com/muscat.htm

Bridal Chorus (Here comes the Bride) by Wagner

Although a number of melodies may be suitable music for weddings, there are two in particular from the world of classical music that are most frequently played. One is the Wedding March by Mendelssohn, and the other is this Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner. This is associated with weddings because it is used in his opera Lohengrin at the marriage between the title character and Elsa. http://www.mfiles.co.uk/Scores/wagner-bridal-chorus.htm

Wagner's last opera, Lohengrin. Ironically, this work inspired both Adolf Hitler,s perverse theories and the formation of the modern state of Israel. Through this example, we see more than the ability of art to inspire human action. Source

THE STORY OF LOHENGRIN - Elsa of Brabant is accused of killing her own brother by Frederick of Telramund. A knight in shining armor mysterious appears to fight for her honor under the condition that Elsa would vow to never ask him of his name or where he came from. The mystery knight wins and marries Elsa.� On their wedding night, Elsa could not fight her curiosity, asks the knight for his name and lineage. The knight finally realizes that Elsa is destined to break the vow.. In front of everyone, the mystery knight announces that he is Lohengrin, son of Percival (subject of another Wagner opera), and he receives his strength from the Holy Grail as long as the secret of the power is unrevealed. At the same time, everyone finds out that Elsa's brother Godfrey is not dead but was turned into a swan by Ortrud, Frederick's evil wife. Lohengrin turns Godfrey back to human form before returning to the Holy Grail. Elsa, hopelessly tries to persuade Lohengrin to stay, falls dead in her brother's arms. SOURCE

Because both the bride and groom are expected to process together and enter marriage mutually , it seems that the title of the song focuses on the bride alone, not the couple. The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments did give a directive in 1971 not allowing the Bridal March from "Lohengrin" by Richard Wagner. Reasons are based on the introductory paragraphs in the rite [see 19 & 20] where all are expected to be singing the entrance song. Also, parts of the world consider opera music as we consider popular songs on the radio not appropriate for liturgical use. http://www.blessedsacrament.com/theology/q42.html

How many folks realize that the wedding march comes from Mendelssohn's Incidental Music to A Midsummer Night's Dream? Ever since Shakespeare chose summer for that famous triple wedding, brides and grooms have chosen the warmest season and June in particular for tying the knot. SOURCE

Mendelssohn's wedding march

Most Episcopal churches don't use 'Here Comes the Bride", said David Ouzts organist and director of music at Grace Episcopal Cathedral. Ouzts explained that the piece comes from Richard Wagner's opera "Lohengrin"; and that "certain themes are not thought of to be the best representation for a church wedding", he said. http://www.cjonline.com/stories/010500/wed_localmusic.shtml

The playing of "Here Comes The Bride" is frowned on because it comes from the composer Richard Wagner, a rabid anti Semite.� SOURCE

Lohengrin - Richard Wagner:� ACT II Before dawn in the castle courtyard, Ortrud (mezzo-soprano) and the lamenting Telramund swear vengeance. When Elsa appears serenely in a window, Ortrud attempts to sow distrust in the girl's mind, preying on her curiosity, but Elsa innocently offers the scheming Ortrud friendship. Inside, while the victorious knight is proclaimed guardian of Brabant, the banned Telramund furtively enlists four noblemen to side with him against his newfound rival. At the cathedral entrance, Ortrud and Telramund attempt to stop the wedding - she by suggesting that the unknown knight is in fact an impostor, he by accusing Elsa's bridegroom of sorcery. The crowd stirs uneasily. Though troubled by doubt, Elsa reiterates her faith in the knight before they enter the church, accompanied by King Heinrich. SOURCE

Try these links for other wedding ideas:

VIBRIDE� http://www.gettingmarried.bigstep.com/generic.html?pid=160

WEDDING CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS http://www.weddings.co.uk/info/tradsupe.htm�

The African Wedding Guidefor an African-inspired or traditional wedding.http://www.africanweddingguide.com/�

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The so-called traditional "wedding marches" by Wagner and Mendelssohn have nothing to do with the Sacred Liturgy and may not be used. In fact, the origin of these compositions borders on the profane and the ridicules. The "Bridal Chorus" (Here Comes the Bride") from Wagner's opera, Lohengrin, accompanies an illicit ceremony, a tragic bedroom fiasco. Mendelssohn's incidental music to Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream accompanies a farcical wedding. Even though they are frequently used in the United States in Protestant churches, they are rarely used in Catholic churches. For the above-mentioned reasons, to use them in connection with a church ceremony is simply inappropriate. SOURCE