970.471.2618

vailvalleystringquartet@gmail.com



Monday, March 30, 2009

Vail Interfaith Chapel



As an ensemble, we attend several weddings each year. That said, it is amazing how different every single wedding actually is. Each is a reflection of the particular couple, of their cultures, tastes, and ultimately, them.

After spending time with our clients discussing musical preferences, genres, and their musical selections, it is always exciting to see how each wedding comes together.

This past weekend we played for a wedding at the Vail Interfaith Chapel which had a very interesting, fun twist.

While the ceremony was very traditional, an underlying motif also emerged. The prelude consisted of Handel's Water Music interlaced with various Beatles tunes. The family and attendants entered to Pachebel's Canon, and the bride entered to Wagner's 'Wedding March.' While this is a traditional wedding piece, this may have been only the second bride we've worked with to use this piece.

Upholding tradition, as the unity candles were lit, we accompanied the groom's mother as she beautifully sang Schubert's 'Ave Maria.'

As the ceremony concluded, the bride and groom exited the church to 'All You Need Is Love,' and we continued to play Beatles tunes as the guests exited and greeted the couple after wards.

It was great to see everything fall into place. We enjoyed the novelty of playing some not so traditional wedding music for this beautiful wedding.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Beaver Creek Chapel


Tonight we had the honor of playing as a violin and cello duo for a wedding in the Beaver Creek Chapel. The couple was blessed with bright blue skies accented by snow covered slopes.

The musical selections played for the prelude were energetic and upbeat as we were asked to avoid the slower standard wedding pieces. The bridal processional music included Pachebel's Canon, Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, and Air.

Maintaining the excitement of the celebration, we played Handel's La Rejouissance and Hornpipe as the couple and their guests exited the chapel after a beautiful ceremony. We enjoyed the challenge of maintaining the upbeat feel the couple desired musically, as well as the opportunity to play some less well known beautiful classical pieces.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Vail Interfaith Chapel



This weekend we had the opportunity to play for a wedding at the Vail Interfaith Chapel. The weather lent itself to the occasion and it was a gorgeous Colorado day.


While the bride and groom had very different tastes, their musical selections nicely juxtaposed their differences and the end result was extremely complimentary.
As the groom had somewhat more traditional tastes, all of our prelude music was strictly classical, though not necessarily the typical wedding selections. We played several Mozart pieces, a short, brisk piece by Tartini named Cantible, Winter from the Four Seasons, Handel's Largo, Schubert's Andante, and one of our favorites, Pastorale by Corelli.

As the parents and wedding party entered, we played 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen/Jeff Buckley. Continuing to drift away from the traditional/classical genre, we played 'Just Like Heaven,' by the Cure for the bridal processional.
The ceremony was light, laced with humor and a special musical number by a friend.

After the ceremony, as the bride and groom began their recessional exit we played the main theme to 'Star Wars,' which we understood was a special surprise for the groom. We continued with the contemporary genre as the wedding party exited to selections by Coldplay, Elvis, and the Beatles.