The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-29
Topeka Brides Adopt New
Marches for Their Weddings.
FavOrites of Allied Nations Arr
Being Used Exclusively.
PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM
bertha Hampstead Makes Mar.
riage Music Suggestions.
Selections of g. s., Italy, Rus
STA, France, Belgium, England.
BY BERTHA HAMPSTEAD.


The brides both OF soldiers and
civilians in Topeka have decided that
there is no place for the Hun in we'd
ding ceremonies. This means that the
old favorits wedding marches from
Wagner and Mendelssohn are to give
place to some OF the charming music
of the democratic nations. To be sure,
there Is less opposition to the older
German composers, who do not in any
way reflect the spirit of modern Ger
many, but Wagner, Strauss and others
of the newer school Of German music.
are strictly taboo. Schubert, Schu-
mann, MendeIssohn and others of the
old type of the Teutonic music COM
posers, are allowed to unger. but still
the feeling prevails that there is a
certain inappropriateness in the
march to the nuptiaI altar Of an
American soldier and his bride to the
strains OF a German song.
It is, in fact, not a difficult thing
to get rid of the German composer
for wedding music, and the sugges-
tons given herein are intended to as
sist the bride in her choice Of suitable
and beautiful music for her marriage
service.
Pretty Belgian March.
In thinking Of composers of the al
lied nations, one naturally turns first
to Belgium. Nicholas Jacques Lemmes,
suitable number. "Marche Trionl-
phaIe," neither too short nor too long.
that is proper for either a professional
or occasional wedding march
Good American Compositions.
Among American compositions are
not a few that offer excellent wedding
songs. For the musical background
during the ceremony some or Mac,
DowelFs sketches are both beautiful
and fitting. ''The Spring Song" from
Victor Herbert's "Natoma." or Hora-
ito P4eker's wedding Song would
serve for music before or after the
ceremony. Chaffin has written Wed
ding Chimes" suitable for the march
up or down the aisle.
The English Composers.
Recent English composers have a
rich offering of excellent wedding mu-
sic. From Governs Rose Maiden" are
a number of lovely selections that have
already begun to be used for wedding
ceremonies. Edward Cigars "Salut
d'Armour" should be a favorite. and
Reginald de KoFen's 80 Promise Me-
has been sung at weddings for a good
while and continues popular.
French Music.
Turning to tha French composers
one thinks first of the "Marche Nup-
tale" by Alexandra GuiImant which
is especially pleasing as a occasional
march Music to be played during the
ceremony might include the inter-
mezzo from "Cavalleria Rusticana"
Saint-Saenss Camille offers suit
able wedding professional from its
score. From Ambrose Th3mas's
opera "Mignon" are some lovely gems
ali nT11( n 70 1a zIa4
on the hunt for wedding music. One
OF these IS the Duet of the Swallows"
and another is the "Gavotte" '-AIedf-
tation" from That's" by Massanet, is
an unfailing favorite.
Plenty In Italian.
italian music offers almost an end
less list of suitable selections. From
the score of Verdi's Aida" an entire
program of wedding music could be
made up. There are a dozen selec-
tons from it for a prelude, while the
grand finale Of the second act would
aptlY furnish forth the professional
especially If the organist so timed it
that the bride entered to the melody
OF the chorus for women which is re-
produced in the orchestral part THE
Laurel with the Lotus Bound" The
march in the temple scene of the sec
ond act could be made the occasional
and other numbers, such as Celeste
Aida" could furnish the musical back
ground for the ceremony. La Ira
vfata." by Verdi, contains a song of
much beauty. The One of Whom I
Dreamed" and also the song Pure
as an Angel that is sometimes chosen
FOR the nuptiaI service.
John Philip Sousa is writing a we'd
ding march for the very purpose of
relieving our brides of the EN- barrass-
ment OF relying on the Hun music
makers. The march will doubtless be
as welcome as Sousa's music ALWAYS
is. with an added three cheers for a
piece of music written in response to
popular demand.
Russian Contribution
Other music, not Of Teutonic origin.
adapted to wedding services. includes
Gr1eg's Bridal Procession and Nor
weglan Wedding March," Rubensteir's
Romance in E Flat" and Melody in
y. and Tschaikowski "MeIodie F"
The greatest of the Russian COMPOST
lions, however, are too somber to be
entirely acceptable for marriage cere-
monies.
The selections mentioned by no
means exhaust the list but rather
merely hint at the wealth of musical
stores available for the girls who are
planning their weddings and want
tnen TO be consummated without a
trace or any contribution from the
Iand OF the Huns and Vaudals