The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-01
MUSIC AT THE 3e., MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

once in while we read in the daily papers that the musical program play ed at the church wedding was arranged by the bride herself, who at certain rare in- tervals happens to be musician and woman of taste. There Is need Of reform in this matter as in many others along the line of musical endcavor Long age the approximations bride forbade the organist to play that hackneyed. thread bare bridal chorus from Lohengrin.' . which some of the young society re- porters on the daily press describe as the
 Lohengrin Wedding March,, But as the conventional brides outnumber the su- perstitious and thoughtful brides, we pre- sume wedding guests must continue to be tortured with those maddenihg, strains from Wagnef's opera.
 Now, the organist. poor man, is the one who can change aff this. if he will. Let him tell the bride, If she insists on the Wagner music on entering and. the Men deissohn on going out, that the original wedding at which the bridal chorus was sung terminated ,,unhappily. By ali means tell the lady preparing to don the white satin. ttille veil and orange blos- sorns the story of Elsa vcf Brabant and Lohengrin, Knight of the Grail. Men delssohn's Wedding March," usually played as a recessional at church we'd dings' is appropriate music. it being, as well all of us know, from the Mid summer Night" music, written when the composer was only F years, old. But even that becomes tiresome when it is played at every wedding where music Is a feature s''I
 While the organist may not succeed in persuading the bride to depart from the conventional bridal chorus and we'd ding march, he can, and shosild, be held responsible for the remainder of the musical program. As Is the custom in the case of a church wedding, the organist plays while the ushers seat the guests. Brides are usually late, and so the guests who arrive in time must hear concert. There are of course organists who play appropriate compost uons for the place and occasion. but there are other men who show poor taste and a decided disregard for their art and the solemnity which should surround a church wedding. Once upon time, and not many moons since, either, the writer witnessed fashionable weddipp In Brooklyn church. where the organist played the usual bridal chorus, and ad ded to the agony by playing very softly during the ceremony selections from
 Cayalleria Rusticana. As all readers Of The Musical Courier know sby this time this is a fierce little opera, written around libretto founded upon lust murder. revenge and betrayal.
 With Bach. Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn. Handel. Schubert, Gounod, SchumSnn, Brahms Mendelssolp Mcdowell, and many others to choose from. can there be any excuse for the performance of vulgar and inappropriate music at a church wedding? Why should operatic music be played 3t all on such occasions? IS 1t necessary Tor the bridal party to walk to the altar to a march or music written in march .time?
 The ceremony at church wedding is beautifully enhanced when the choir sings nuptial hymn as the bridal party enters and proceeds to the altar. The soft playing of the organ during the cere- mony is also very impressive. provided the music be celestial and not terrestrial In character. As for the prenuptial con cert, that seems important, too. The or ganist should be mindful of the guests who have the good manners to arrive early at the church.. Compelling them to listen to a potpourri of Faust" and other dinner" music is but another in- dcation of returning evil flor good.- Musical Courier.