The Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch

We recently performed for a wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Bachelor Gulch. The weather definitely lent itself to the occasion with skies of blue, and a light breeze keeping it cool.

As we arrived to set up, we noted that The Ritz had made some great improvements to their wedding area. In a slightly new location, timber work frames the wedding area, a wood chip path strewn with rose petals serves as an aisle, and mountains provide a majestic backdrop. Very well done - breathtaking.



Our music for this wedding was strictly classical. We played Bach's 'Arioso', and Corelli's 'Pastorale' for the prelude. We were asked to play Haydn's 'Emperor's Hymn' (also known as Austria) just before the processional. This was a new piece which we hadn't previously played, but what a beautiful piece! We were happy to add it to our repertoire.

The wedding party entered to Bach's 'Air', and as the party was quite large, it was repeated several times with different variations each time. The bride entered to Pachebel's 'Canon'. The ceremony was conducted by family members and included a very interesting 'handfasting ceremony'. For the recessional, we played Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring', followed by Handel's 'La Rejouissance'.

While we use many of the same pieces for different weddings, it is always interesting to see how differently they turn out musically. While we often use 'Jesu' as part of the processional, this may have been the first time we've used it as a recessional piece. We played it just a bit more quickly and brightly and it turned out great.

On a personal note, while we played for this beautiful wedding, my breath caught for a moment. Sometimes I forget what a privilege it is to live locally in the Vail Valley, and to be able to share my music. As I took in the vistas and scenery, I recognized once again how much I really love to live and play in the mountains, working with our clients, to help make their day into something they'll remember for forever.

Vail Interfaith Chapel & The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

On the last weekend in June, we had the opportunity to play for two beautiful weddings.

The first was in the Vail Interfaith Chapel. Joanne Moore of Meadow and Mountains was the wedding coordinator. She amazingly transformed the chapel with the runners, flowers, and swaths of material which were draped along the pews.

For our part, the music was strictly classical and we started off the prelude with Bach's "Air". We continued with Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", "Sheep May Safely Graze", and "Arioso". We then went into some of Handel's Water music because it led into the processional music. The attendants entered to Handel's "Air", and the bride to Pachebel's "Canon".

During the lighting of the unity candle, we played Liszt's "Liebstraum", and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" as the recessional. We finished with several celebratory pieces including Hornpipe, La Rejouisannce, Trumpet, Tune and Trumpet Voluntary.


The second wedding was in Vail's Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. While afternoon rain was on the forecast, the skies were blue and it ended up gorgeous, and rain free.

 

While we played several classical pieces by Bach, Handel, and Mozart, the wedding party entered to Pachebel's "Canon". This piece was great as the parties crossed the footbridge, entered from the back, and also descended from the steps. As Canon's counterpoint wraps and layers itself, this piece is ideal for seamless repetition.
In a non-traditional fun twist, the bride came down the steps to the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun". Also, instead of a unity candle, the parents came together and planted seeds to Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze". We played Purcell's "Trumpet Tune" for the recessional and also ended with several celebratory pieces.

We truly enjoy the individuality of every wedding we play for, and love to see the couples with whom we've worked with for several months as everything they've planned for finally comes together.

Congratulations to both of these couples - we enjoyed playing for them!