2011 Wedding Season Opens for the Vail Valley String Quartet & Trio June 4th!

This evening, I realized that we haven't posted for quite a while.  Never fear - we are still here!
 
Honestly, as the ski season wraps up (even though we still got snow today) we always experience a bit of a lull...in theory, the snow begins to melt, and we see lots of mud - the post ski season is known as 'mud season', and the entire valley seems to wipe it's brow and let out a collective sigh with the close of the ski mountain.

While it may seem that we hit a lull, this can often be one of our busiest times... hidden behind the seeming quiet, we've been busily receiving contracts, booking, putting together timelines and playlists, and working with our clients to make sure that everything is 'perfect' for their quickly approaching wedding day.

We are VERY excited to play for our first wedding of the 2011 Summer wedding season next week on June 4th - and kick off a season full of beautiful music and blissful unions.

March 5, 2011 - Vail Interfaith Chapel

Today we played for a wedding at the Vail Interfaith Chapel.

This was a very fun wedding for us to play as the couple asked if our trio could include a harpist.  We were able to meet a local harpist, and were very excited for the opportunity to include her in a trio - consisting of a violin, a cello, and the harp.

We began our prelude with a request by the couple for Bach/Gounod's 'Ave Maria', then played Bach's 'Air', and then Telemann's 'Presto'.

We began the ceremony music with Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' as the parents, groomsmen, and the officiator entered.

The bridesmaids entered to Pachelbel's 'Canon', followed by the bride's entrance to Clarke's 'Trumpet Voluntary'.

After the ceremony, we played Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March' as the wedding party exited back down the aisle, followed by Handel's 'La Rejouissance', Mouret's 'Rondeau', Schubert's 'Andante', and ended with Bach's 'Arioso'.

We enjoyed performing for this beautiful wedding, and are thrilled to have added a harpist to our ceremony musicians.

February 26, 2011 - Beaver Creek Chapel

Today we had the opportunity to play for a wedding at the Beaver Creek Chapel.

It was great to see all of the guests and family for this wedding who came from all over the world.

We began our prelude music with contemporary pieces, eventually working our way into the classical genre just before the ceremony.

We began with The Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand', followed by John Denver's 'Annies Song', Cohen's 'Hallelujah', Ungar's 'Ashokan Farewell', and Titanic movie's love theme, 'My Heart Will Go On'.

We then eased into the classical genre with Puccini's 'O Mio Babino Caro', followed by Beethoven's 'Pathetique', Handel's 'Allegro' and 'Andante' from the Water Music, 'Winter' from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and finished up with Bach's 'Arioso'.

The wedding party entered to Bach's ' Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' and the mothers then lit the unity candles.

We were very excited to play the bride's processional piece 'I had a Farm in Africa', which was a custom arrangement from the movie, 'Out of Africa'.

After a beautiful ceremony, the couple exited down the aisle to one of our favorite celebratory recessionals, 'La Rejouissance' by Handel. As guests exited and awaited their their shuttles to the reception, we played Clarke's 'Trumpet Voluntary', Santori's 'Con Te Partiro', Coldplay's 'Viva La Vida', the Beatles' 'Here Comes the Sun', and ended with the bride's special request, 'New York, New York'.

February 24, 2011 - Four Seasons, Vail

On February 24, we had the opportunity partner with the Four Seasons and other local vendors in sponsoring a 'Wedding/Event Planner Luncheon and Spa Event' at Vail's new Four Seasons hotel.

Several wedding and event planners traveled to Vail from Denver and various locales as The Four Seasons introduced their property and amenities to their guests. The wedding and event planners enjoyed property tours, spa treatments, cocktails, lunches, linen displays, photos, floral arrangements, cake tastings, and of course - an opportunity to hear the Vail Valley String Quartet & Trio perform, as the sponsors showcased our industries.

We performed as a cello and viola duo outside of the ballroom as the guests arrived and enjoyed pre-luncheon cocktails and socializing.

We started off with the ever upbeat and peppy, 'Presto' by Telemann, followed by Bach's 'March in D Major', then one of our all time favorite Traditional Irish melodies, 'Be Thou My Vision', Handel's 'Largo' from Xerxes, and Bach's 'My Heart Ever Faithful'. We threw in a contemporary piece which we often perform for ceremonies - John Denver's 'Annie's Song', then went back into the classical genre with Schubert's 'Andante', and then we played an excerpt from the quintessential wedding piece, Pachelbel's 'Canon', followed by one of our favorite recessional pieces, Handel's celebratory 'La Rejouissance', and then his 'Air' and 'Allegro' from the Water Music. For the last piece, we switched back into the contemporary genre and finished up with Coldplay's 'Fix You'.

Following the cocktail hour, we enjoyed meeting and getting to know many of Denver's wedding planners - some we have worked with previously, and some were new accquaintances.

We are excited to have been a sponsor for this fun event, and look forward to working with many of our new friends in the upcoming future!