Weddings at All Souls Catholic Church

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES!

As bride and groom-to-be, you are beginning one of the most exciting journeys in your lives. Your marriage liturgy at All Souls Catholic Church will be your point of departure for this journey. In order to help make this a memorable occasion for you, your families, and your guests, this information will assist you in understanding about and selecting music that will create an atmosphere that reflects the sacrament as a celebration, uniting God and you in a new relationship.

Read on, or choose one of the following topics:

1. MUSIC AND ITS ROLE IN THE WEDDING LITURGY
2. ARRANGEMENTS FOR MUSIC AT YOUR WEDDING
3. CANTORS, VOCAL/INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS, CHOIRS
4. COMPENSATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
5. MUSIC RESTRICTIONS
6. SELECTING MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING
7. CHOOSE YOUR MUSIC

MUSIC AND ITS ROLE IN THE WEDDING LITURGY

The Marriage Rite is a liturgical celebration, a sacrament of the church. As in any liturgical setting (i.e., Mass), the music is to be chosen with care and discrimination. Since in the liturgy the assembled people of God join with the bride and groom in asking God's involvement and blessing as a new home is established, the music should accentuate the reverence of the liturgy.

The texts and music should contribute to the worship atmosphere of the service. The selections should be of a musical quality. The texts should correspond to the themes which are inherent in a Christian marriage liturgy (e.g., God's love for the church displayed through Christ,) forming the foundation for the love a man and woman share. God's involvement and blessing petitioned for the marriage; the praise of God necessarily expressed when Christians rejoice.
For that reason, operatic selections, art songs, along with popular and theatrical love songs, are inappropriate. While they are being used frequently in marriage services, their texts extol romanticized or secular ideas about love and marriage and, therefore, detract from the worship of God.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MUSIC AT YOUR WEDDING

As the Director of Music & Principal Organist for All Souls Church, I will be available to play for your wedding, barring any previously scheduled conflicts on my part. You may reach me (David McGhee) by calling the All Souls Music Office (407-322-7003), or at my home (321-784-5765) to make initial arrangements concerning your music. You may also reach me at musicdirector@allsoulsmusic.com. Please use "All Souls Wedding" in the subject field.

Should you prefer to use your own organist, you will also need to speak with me about this, since it is my prerogative to consider this as a possibility. Additionally, it will be necessary for me to speak with the organist whom you will be using about their experience, as well as discussing our instruments and practice availability. As the music director, I will make this determination. You are responsible for providing me a list of the proposed music a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to the wedding.

CANTORS, VOCAL - INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS, CHOIRS

Whether you will be having a Simple Service or Mass, the cantor/soloist has an important role. All of our weddings have a cantor present. If you plan to provide your own cantor/soloist, this person is responsible for singing all necessary selections. Should the person be unable to do this, we will supplement your cantor/soloist with one of our church cantors.

NOTE: If you will be making your own arrangements for a cantor/soloist, here are additional responsibilities:

1) Getting to me all the music that will be used (at least a week before the wedding)

2) Having original copies available in the key they will be performed

3) Being prepared well enough that we will only need to practice each selection one time prior to the wedding to determine tempos and other things which will enhance the music

It has become more common for couples to request our Parish Choir for the wedding. The All Souls Parish Choir has participated in numerous weddings -- adding a particularly festive touch! Depending upon when your wedding is scheduled, I can most often arrange to have a balanced schola present. This is part of the music ministry fund raising efforts.

COMPENSATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The fees for the Organist/Music Director and Cantor are arranged through the Director of Faith Formation. These fees cover the consultation, my professional services the day of your wedding, and a cantor.

Additional music fees not included:

• Parish Choir - $250.00

• Providing music at your rehearsal - $75.00
  
• Instrumentalists - $150.00 approximately (per instrumentalist)

A rehearsal with singers/instrumentalists one hour prior to the wedding is included in the regular fee for the Organist/Music Director. If your singer/instrumentalist desire additional rehearsals, the fee per rehearsal is $25.00.
When it is necessary for me to coordinate multiple musicians/instrumentalists (outside of the choirs), the fee is $50.00, and would increase according to the complexity of the situation.

I will be happy to discuss the additional fees with you during the consultation.

MUSIC RESTRICTIONS

1) All Souls Church follows all musical and liturgical guidelines set by the Diocese of Orlando.
2) Usage of pre-recorded tapes or CDs is not permitted whether for music during seating of guests, processionals/recessionals, or to accompany any vocalist. This in keeping with the musical and liturgical guidelines set by the Diocese of Orlando.
3) When and if the Lord's Prayer is sung, we only use arrangements in which every person present can participate. If you feel it is necessary to have a solo version performed (such as the Malotte setting), this can be included in the music selected for the seating of your guests prior to the liturgy.
4) The music used prior to and during the Service/Mass must be the same in nature as that which would be used in any Mass. Additionally, the songs must be in keeping with Catholic theology. Secular songs are to be used during the reception.
5) You are not limited to the selections that appear in this booklet. Should you prefer something else, please feel free to make this preference known at the consultation. However, you will need to obtain such if it is not in my music library.

SELECTING MUSIC FOR YOUR WEDDING

The following music needs to be selected for a SIMPLE SERVICE:

PROCESSIONAL(S)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM*
ALLELUIA (GOSPEL ACCLAMATION -- during Lent)
RECESSIONAL

The following music needs to be selected for a MASS:

PROCESSIONAL(S)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM*
ALLELUIA (GOSPEL ACCLAMATION -- during Lent)
HOLY, HOLY
MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION
AMEN
LAMB OF GOD
COMMUNION SONG
RECESSIONAL

Additional vocal/instrumental music may be used in the following places:

- During the seating of guests/relatives (Simple Service, Mass)
- Preparation of Gifts (Mass)
- Meditation (Mass)
- Taking flowers to the Blessed Mother statue [i.e., Ave Maria] (Simple Service, Mass)

* If your wedding is a Mass and scheduled for any time after 5:00 p.m. on a given Saturday, normally the appointed readings and Responsorial Psalm for the Sunday Masses are used. If you choose readings other than those for the regular Sunday Mass, then you may choose a Responsorial Psalm from the list.

Sound samples with musical selections have been provided to give you and those unable to be present at the consultation time, an opportunity to listen to certain pieces as often as desired. You will hear brief examples of all the music listed.

The Solos/Duets and Instrumental selections are offered as examples of additional programming, using various combinations of instruments. You are not limited to these choices. They have been put together from popular choices over the years and offer you an opportunity to hear various possibilities. Note: There are additional fees for musicians (beyond a cantor), based solely upon what each individual musician charges for services.

MAKE YOUR SELECTIONS

Choose which songs you would like in the form below. Click on the link (Listen) next to the name to hear the piece: