Music for a religious ceremony with live violin

A few weeks before the wedding we talk by phone or video call. We go through the order of the mass or the liturgy of the word and choose a piece for each moment: the guests’ arrival, the bride’s or groom’s entrance, the psalm and alleluia, the offertory, communion, the signing and the recessional. I send you a proposal with recordings so you can listen at your leisure and change whatever you like.

If the parish asks for the list of pieces in advance, I send it myself. Many churches accept a modern song in an instrumental version for the entrance or the recessional; others prefer only sacred or classical repertoire. We check beforehand so there are no surprises on the day.

On the day of the ceremony I arrive early to set up and sound-check without disturbing anyone. In large churches or where there are no sockets near the altar I use a 500 W wireless system, discreet and with no cables down the aisle. I play my classical wooden violin, the most traditional sound for a church, and start with background music as the guests come in.

Most played pieces in church

• Pachelbel’s Canon in D and the Air from Bach’s Suite No. 3 for the entrance.
• Ave Maria by Schubert or Gounod and Franck’s Panis Angelicus for communion.
• Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe, Mozart’s Ave verum corpus or Einaudi for the signing.
• Handel’s Hallelujah or Mendelssohn’s Wedding March for the recessional.

If you want a piece that isn’t in the repertoire, I’ll prepare it for violin in good time. After the ceremony I can carry on into the cocktail reception, on classical or electric violin.