I just had a very nice lady ask me to perform on my whistle for her Wedding reception, and as it is my first performance at a wedding/wedding reception, I need help as to suitable Celtic music…
I know about classical wedding music but I’m kinda baffled as to the celtic genre in this aspect…
Thanks for any input!
Glad you started this thread, since I have a similar happy task to perform in August! I will probably be playing flute though.
One classical thing I plan to play is Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring, which is beautiful on whistle too. Many slow airs would work too-- Fanny Power ( LOVE that name!), Southwind. Star of the County Down played slowly. As a snappy recessional, what could be better than Haste to the Wedding?
Try:
Women of Ireland
Mouret Rondeau (Masterpiece Theater theme)
Gentle Maid
Dawning of the Day
Country Gardens/The Ashgrove
Parson’s Farewell
The Osprey (Dougie MacLean)
Good luck with your endeavor.
Cheers.
Byll
Thanks for the advice!
I was thinking about the Southwind, as well as some other not so mournful slow airs… Especially some stuff by O’Carolan.
And a few jigs and reels… Oh, and Classical on the whistle? Interesting concept! I’m glad someone else besides me thinks that classical on the whistle does sound good!
I’m going in this coming Sat to “audition” for her and I’m planning to run through everything and see what she wants… besides, it’s going to run about 2-3 hrs and I’m not totally sure if I’m going to be the only music. Plus I’m not sure as to which whistle to use because I’m going to be playing outside…
Anyhoo! Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to know that someone wants you to be the entertainment for such a special occasion? That they feel you’re good enough to do that for them?
I feel very honored.
Congrats, my elvish friend. Sounds like you’re gonna have fun.
Of course, if you’re the only music for the recption, then you’re gonna have to do some disco too, you realize! Better brush up on your Bee Gees, Village People and Donna Summer. 
Also, welcome to the Matrix. Nice post.
Thank ye much! 
I can see it now… BeeGees on the whistle…
Ah Ah Ah Ah Stayin’ Alive! Stayin’ Alive!
Ah Ah Ah Ah Stayin’ Aliiiiiiiiiiiiiive!
If you play something having directly to do with the bride, you might consider Aisling Gheal, called Bright Vision in English. Mary Bergin plays it, and I think it quite beautiful. It’s a slow air, but not mournful.
At my son’s wedding a friend and I played some Swedish wedding marches. They were arranged for two fiddles but we played them on wooden flutes. I think fiddle music is also used a lot at weddings in Shetland. Some of the Swedish pieces are very lovely.
Steve
I know most of us are irish trad players, but despite its scottish origins, I think ‘Mairi’s Wedding’ is highly appropriate!
(If anyone sings with it, you might change
the lyrics a tad, though…)
–Chris
As far as I know, it’s basically Celtic stuff that she’s interested in. Not specifically Irish, even though that’s pretty much all I play…
"Anyhoo! Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to know that someone wants you to be the entertainment for such a special occasion? That they feel you’re good enough to do that for them? "
It’s the best! I was gonna be just another attendant in a tux, then Kitti ( my future stepdaughter) asked if I would not prefer to provide the music. I would rather do that EASILY! Tunes of my choice before the ceremony, Here Comes the Bride as she comes down the aisle ( works pretty well on solo flute/whistle) then something cheery to usher the newlyweds back up the aisle.
I played in a wedding many years ago. This couple wanted something somewhat slow for the processional, for which they chose Fanny Power, and fast for the recessional, for which they chose Dandelion River Run (by Richard Farina). Pace and how well they can march in and out are probably worth considering.
Charlie
Check out the Groom’s hair colour. The Red Haired Man’s Wife would be great if the tonsorial tint fits.
My former wife
I buried my wife and danced on top of her
Only kidding (twenty-seven years married to the same wife).
On 2002-05-12 17:44, SteveK wrote:
At my son’s wedding a friend and I played some Swedish wedding marches. They were arranged for two fiddles but we played them on wooden flutes. I think fiddle music is also used a lot at weddings in Shetland. Some of the Swedish pieces are very lovely.Steve
Steve, could you tell me where I could get Swedish pieces, or at least listen to them?
kitty
How about “Oh, Hag! You’ve killed me” ?
Uh, ok, back to disco then.
Y. M. C. A. …
My suggestion, listen to a bunch of tunes, and say, is this tune about this Mr. and Mrs. ? If it feels like them, then it should go over well.
Ever since I heard it I’ve been dying to play the Schottische Fran Havero as a postlude to a wedding or at a reception.
Here’s a link to Schottische](http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/564/564533.html%3ESchottische) Fran Havero. Its a traditional tune, performed by Lothlorien</a](http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/99/lothlorien.html>Lothlorien</a)> available through MP3.COM. Some of their other tunes like Ghostwood</a](http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/563/563544.html>Ghostwood</a)> might also be appropriate. Their new tune, A](http://artists.mp3s.com/artist_song/1396/1396260.html%3EA) Stor Mo Chroi might make a nice prelude.
Also the tune, Tabhair Dom Do Lamh (Give Me Your Hand) works well.
You may also want to pick a set of common jigs to play very slowly, almost like waltzes, as a prelude, and at speed for the postlude. It marks both the change and the joy of the marriage.
Weddings are such a joyous occasion it always easy to …
On 2002-05-13 10:23, DazedinLA wrote:
How about “Oh, Hag! You’ve killed me” ?Uh, ok, back to disco then.
Y. M. C. A. …
There’s also Cailleach an Airgid (the hag with the money) in which a young woman savages her boyfriend who rejects her to marry an older woman with money (no doubt if he were given a verse in the song he’d say that it’s about emotional security and nothing to do with the money…)
On 2002-05-13 11:30, LeeMarsh wrote:
A Stor Mo Chroi might make a nice prelude.Weddings are such a joyous occasion it always easy to …
Lee, A stor mo croi is a song of sad departure and as such better suits funerals and that sort occasions rather than weddings.
To really hear the song work listen to Mick Flynn sing it [on Lambs on the Green Hills]
There is a Canadian band (now split up) called Rawlins Cross who play a gorgeous tune called “The Wedding Gift” that was written by the piper for a member of the band who tied the knot. It is performed by Ian McKinnon on the soprano D and it was one of the first tunes I learned, and I always wanted to play it at a wedding! Beautiful tune.
Phlebas