June 26, 2010 Donovan Pavilion

We played for a wedding on June 26 at the Donovan Pavilion.

We had the honor of accompanying the bride's uncle, vocalist Bob Hansen as he performed Schubert's "Ave Maria", and Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up" during the ceremony.

 

As the guests were being seated, we played selections from Handel's "Water Music", Vivaldi's "Winter", Handel's "Largo", Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze", and "Arioso". The wedding party then entered to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and finally, the bride to Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary".

As soon as the bride's father was seated, Mr. Hansen performed "Ave Maria". Later on, just before the vows, we once again accompanied him as he performed "You Raise Me Up".

We played Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" for the recessional as the wedding party exited, and continued with Handel's "La Rejouissance" "Entrance of the Queen of Sheba", and "Hornpipe".

The Donovan also provided a beautiful backdrop with the river rushing along in the background, against the mountains covered in bright green spring time foliage.

June 25 - The Westin

This past Friday we had the opportunity to play for a very unique wedding at the Westin.
In fact, the wedding wasn't unique in that anything out of the ordinary was planned, and I was amazed at the beauty of the backdrop at The Westin.

We've learned however that sometimes things just don't go according to plans. As we arrived to the venue, a storm was moving in from the east (generally storms come from the west) - the wind was whipping like crazy, and after a few moments there were a few drops of rain and lightening was seen. Due to the expense of our instruments, (and because of the metal strings and parts,) we aren't able to play outdoors in such weather.

We met with the wedding coordinator, and she mentioned that they weren't planning on sending the guests out into the weather, so we relocated into the downstairs foyer and played our prelude music from there.

It was finally decided that they would try to brave the elements, and so we set up under an umbrella on the back patio.
The ceremony was beautiful, and the family members and wedding party entered to Pachebel's "Canon". The bride then chose Wagner's Traditional "Bridal Chorus" as she entered.

It truly was a breathtaking sight to take in the backdrop of Beaver Creek mountain, with the river rushing along right behind the bride and groom.

 

We played Mendelsohn's "Wedding March" as the bride and groom's recessional. We continued with a few other pieces, and then relocated (yes again) to a spot underneath the eaves so that we weren't in the middle of the patio.

Unbeknownst to us, on the deck right above us, a party was in full swing. Apparently they had a live rock band who had been gracious enough to hold off until the ceremony concluded. As we began to play during the cocktails and photos, the band above us decided that they'd waited long enough, and also began to play. After fighting through several songs, we realized that instead of providing something elegant and beautiful, the cacophony of the two groups (ours and the rock band)was really, well - cacaphonous. It was finally determined that it would sound better if we stopped, and so we packed up.

The Westin did a great job in dealing with the weather and music situations, however we felt very bad that we weren't able to play Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" a piece which was very special to the bride and groom which they had requested.

Here is a photo of the flowers and the table settings for the dinner which followed.

 

June 19 2010

We kicked off our 2010 Summer Wedding Season on June 19th with two back to back weddings.

Our first wedding was in the Beaver Creek Chapel which was beautifully decorated with big bright balls of peony flowers inside.

 

We arrived a little bit early so that we could spend some time rehearsing with a vocalist and pianist.
After a quick rehearsal, we began to play prelude as the guests entered and were seated.

As the processional began, we played "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" as honored family members were seated, and the bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearers entered.

The bride entered to "Canon" and we continued to play for half a minute longer as she reached the end of the aisle.

During the ceremony, we had the opportunity to perform a new piece with a vocalist - a friend of the bride and groom, accompanied by the groom's mother on the piano. We performed a beautiful song titled, "Beloved" - a Christian composition as performed by Kari Jobe.

As the ceremony concluded, we played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" as the recessional. We then followed up with a few other pieces while the guests exited, and then we sprinted to our next venue at the Eagle River Presbyterian Church.

 

I have to share a little background regarding the next wedding.
Back in 2005, our violinst Cindy and I were acquainted through a friend. As we spoke and were thrilled to find someone else to play with, Cindy mentioned that her daughter Whitney played violin as well. We all got together to meet each other and have some fun playing...and shortly thereafter, The Vail Valley String Quartet was formed. Whitney performed with us for our first season, and has subbed whenever we've needed her in the summer time.

This wedding was very special to us, as it was Whitney's wedding.
She chose several of her old favorites for her prelude music, including Handel's "Water Music", Vivaldi's "Winter",
Corelli's "Pastorale", and Bach's "Air". Just before the ceremony, we were asked to play O'Connor's "Appalachian Waltz". Whitney chose Ungar's americana sounding "Ashokan Farewell" as her processional music, and she then entered to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring".

During the ceremony, Whitney's brother and sister sang "Lucky" by Jason Mraz, and we played Ivers and Keane's "Bygone Days" during the unity candle.

As the ceremony ended, we played Beethoven's "Ode To Joy" as the recessional piece.

Vail's 2010 Summer Wedding Season

Our summer season has officially begun!

We started off last weekend with two weddings which were back to back, and have two more weddings this weekend.

While I generally try to post some photos and comments right after each wedding, discussing wedding music selections and details, June has been a pretty crazy month, and I haven't been around to do so.

I will however, be posting heavily this weekend and promise to get everything fully updated.

Welcome to our 2010 summer wedding season - we are very excited to meet so many of you, and participate in your upcoming weddings!

New You Tube account - VVSQT

Our new You Tube account name is VVSQT. We will use this station to play recorded selections from our repertoire in the very near future.

Right now there's a clip from a duo rehearsal of Simple Gifts - a piece one of our clients was thinking about using for her processional entrance.

While we've got most of our summer wedding season planned out, we have been busy keeping in touch with our clients as we prepare playlists and work out ceremony details for the upcoming season!

March 20, 2010

 

(Photo 3/20/2010 3:00 pm)

This afternoon, we played for a beautiful wedding at the Beaver Creek Chapel coordinated by JoAnn Moore of Mountains and Meadows.

Our prelude consisted a a couple of contemporary pieces mixed in with several classical pieces. We started off with Beethoven's 'Ode To Joy' from his ninth symphony, followed by Cohen/Buckley's 'Hallelujah', Bach's 'Ave Verum Corpus' - a slow and beautifully melodic piece, Enya's 'Only Time', an old Irish traditional 'Danny Boy' or 'Londonderry Air', Bach's 'Sheep May Safely Graze', Bach's 'Air', and we finished the prelude music with Bach's 'Arioso'.

Just prior to the processional, fellow musician Pat Hamilton beautifully performed a vocal and guitar solo of John Denver's 'Annie's Song'. She also performed several of the hymns throughout the ceremony.

The clergy, family members, and attendants all entered to Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring', and then the bride entered to the old Elvis tune 'Can't Help Falling in Love With You'.

During the ceremony, as the bride and groom lit the unity candle, we quietly played Gounound's 'Ave Maria'.

As the couple were presented to their family and friends for the first time as a married couple, we performed 'Here Comes the Sun' a familiar Beatles tune for the recessional. We concluded with Handel's 'La Rejouissance', and finally Handel's 'Entrance of the Queen of Sheba'.

It was our pleasure to play for this wedding on a perfect Colorado March day!

March 6, 2010

We recently had the opportunity to play as a violin and cello duo for a beautifully intimate wedding at The Lodge at Vail.

The ceremony took place in the Wildflower Restaurant which was breathtaking with its natural light and simple elegance. This was the first time we've played in this venue, and we were thrilled at the perfect set-up. As we entered the dining room, we were ushered down some steps to an open area with hardwood floors and fantastic windows. We sat on a bench in the back of this area while the ceremony took place up in front of the windows.

We played a few prelude pieces including Handel's 'Bouree', Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring', and the 'Andante, and Allegro' from Handel's Water Music. We then played Pachebel's 'Canon' for the bridal procession. As the couple lit the unity candle and signed their marriage documents, we softly played Handel's 'Air' as the officiator read some beautiful verses.

As the ceremony concluded, we played Telemann's 'Presto', followed by Handel's 'La Rejouissance', and Bach's 'Gigue'.

We continued to play several pieces including, Bach's 'Arioso', Schubert's 'Andante', Bach's 'Sheep May Safely Graze', Handel's 'Largo', Beethoven's 'Minuet in G', Rhimsky-Korsakov's 'Scherazade', Telemann's 'Vivace', 'Simple Gifts', Bach's 'March in D', and Brahm's 'St. Anthony Chorale' as the cake was cut and during the toasts to the bride and groom's happy future together.

Ice Instruments

 

We had the chance to work today as a duo and try out the instruments in the Crystal Grotto in Beaver Creek. Tim Linhart has been the on-site ice scupltor for Beaver Creek since the late 1980's. He started to wonder about making instruments from ice and today we got to play them.

It was a trip! It took a LONG time to get the instruments tuned as we had to apply the tension very slowly, but it was such an interesting experience. The violins and violas are actually suspended from the ceiling due to their weight.

 

The cello is cemented to the floor (with ice of course) and doesn't move at all.

 

As we are preparing for an upcoming wedding tomorrow, we whipped out our music and rehearsed there.

Tim was thrilled to hear his instruments as this is the first time they've been played since he scuplted them as string players are so difficult to find in our area.

We were thrilled at the opportunity and experience. Really - who else can say they've played 'ice instruments?'

February 20, 2010

Tonight we played as a full quartet for another beautiful wedding at the Beaver Creek Chapel in Beaver Creek. While we've had snow throughout the Valley for the past couple of days, the chapel was perfect inside. Deep red bunches roses (matching the bridesmaid's dresses) hung on each pew-contrasting with the gorgeous aisle runner. Lighted candles lit the steps to the chapel, and were also scattered throughout the chapel twinkling merrily in the subdued lighting.


This couple knew what they wanted in regards to their music selections, and we enjoyed learning a few new pieces for their ceremony.

Matching the weather outside, we started out playing the slow movement from Vivaldi's Four Seasons - 'Winter', and then launched into the 'Allegro' from the Spring movement. As the last prelude piece, we played Mozart's Brandenburg Concerto III.

For the ceremony, the family members and bridesmaids all entered to Pachebel's 'Canon', followed by a special piece we'd learned for the bridal procession, titled 'Appalachia Waltz,' written by Mark O'Connor.
During the unity candle lighting, we played another americana piece titled 'Ashokan Farewell' by Ungar.

Finally, as the couple was presented to the audience, we played Coldplay's 'Viva la Vida', followed by 'The Wedding' by Horner, from Legends of the Fall.

(Note - pause music at right hand side of page and click above on the titles Appalachia Waltz, Ashokan Farewell, and The Wedding to hear these pieces).

Beaver Creek Wedding - January 23, 2010

Today we played as a violin & cello duo for a beautiful wedding in the Beaver Creek Chapel. Our prelude went for about twenty minutes and consisted of the following pieces: Brahm's 'St. Anthony Chorale,' Bach's 'Sheep May Safely Graze,' Telemann's 'Presto,' Schubert's 'Andante,' Massenet's 'Meditation,' finishing with 'Be thou my vision,' a traditional Irish melody.

For the processional, the family members entered and the mothers lit the unity candles, and the bridesmaids entered while we played Pachebel's Canon in the background.

We then switched to Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring' for the bridal entrance.

As a personal touch for the unity candle, the mother had requested that we play 'Annie's Song' by John Denver as the bride's name is Annie.

As the ceremony ended, we played Handel's 'La Rejouissance' as the happy couple were pronounced man and wife and walked back down the aisle together.

Beaver Creek Weddding ~ January 9, 2010

Today we played for our first wedding of 2010.
This was a destination wedding, coordinated by Lisa Vorce of "Oh, How Charming" of Santa Ana, California.

We began our prelude as the guests entered, with classical favorites, "Sheep May Safely Graze", "Pastorale", Handel's "Largo", Vivaldi's "Largo", and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring".

The parents and grandparents entered to "Ode to Joy", while the bridesmaids followed to an upbeat arrangement of the ever appropriate, "Edelweiss".

As a surprise, we were asked to keep everything classical until the bridal processional, which the bride had requested be The Beatle's "Norwegian Wood".

As the ceremony ended, after the bride and groom were presented to the audience, they enjoyed their first walk back down the aisle together to "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.

As family and guests exited, we maintained played Elvis' "Can't Help Falling In Love", "La Rejouissance", Vivaldi's "Spring", and "Bygone Days".

Funeral Services for Tom D'Alessio

We were recently honored to be asked to play for the funeral services for long time Vail local, Tom D'Alessio.

While weddings are often planned out even a year in advance, funerals are often unexpected. As such, it can be very difficult for a grieving family to plan and pull everything together in just a few short days.

Although we didn't know Tom, we were touched by the life he led and the legacy he left for all of those who knew and loved him.

We played for these services as a trio, consisting of a violin, cello, and piano. A family member's sister flew in from Canada to offer her love and support. She is an accomplished vocalist and it was an honor to accompany her throughout the services.

We provided prelude and postlude music as well as music during the services and the communion. We accompanied Jennifer, the vocalist who beautifully sang "The Lord's Prayer", "Ave Maria", "On Eagle's Wings", and "Nella Fantasia". As Jennifer sang, the music extended into, and touched the hearts of those present.

We offer our condolences to the family and loved ones of this great man, and express our gratitude for the opportunity to play and contribute this celebration of Tom's great life.