The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera

(Photographs taken September 18, 2009 at 5:50 pm.)

We had the opportunity to play for a beautiful couple's wedding yesterday at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera. The staff was extremely courteous and helpful, and it was a great venue.
While the weather forecast looked great, this actually turned out to be the windiest and one of the toughest wedding we've ever played.

As the bride is a professional performer, there was considerable consideration given to the musical selections. We played several new pieces which were meaningful as the bride had previously performed them.

Our new additions which were used as ceremonial music included, "O Mio Babbino Caro" by Puccini, "The Flower Song" by Delibes, "The Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel, and "Morgen" by Strauss which the bride's friend had arranged for our string quartet.

We played many of our standard pieces such as Handel's "Water Music", Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze", and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", Handel's "Largo" Vivaldi's "Largo" from Winter, and Handel's "La Rejouissance" for the prelude and postlude.

Unfortunately, just before the processional the wind really kicked in. Our music folders were blown off of our stands, music was ripped from our folders and blown away, and the large overhead umbrellas were all blown over. Most of our music was lost to the whipping wind which constantly blew our stands back and forth.

We were very disappointed as so much time and thought had gone into the musical selections by the couple, and much of this was lost. It started to sprinkle and we had to put some of the larger instruments away. Finally, one of our quartet members ended up holding the large umbrella up while the other three crowded under it to be protected from the raindrops as we finished out the ceremony. While outdoor weddings can be breathtakingly beautiful, there is always a gamble on the weather. As the musical selections were gorgeous, we had hoped that they would have been easier to hear and enjoy, and that we could have played to the best of our abilities without having to battle such fierce elements.