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.

December 10, 2010 - Vail Interfaith Chapel wedding

We had the opportunity to play for a second wedding on December 10th - this one at the Vail Interfaith Chapel. The roads had iced over and there were many accidents and road closures... we counted ourselves lucky that we made it to the chapel!

While we play for many weddings and events, it is amazing how different each one is. Every now and then we hear part of a couple's romance story - this wedding was one of them.

As we worked together planning the music, the bride shared some of their story with us. This couple originally met in high school but later on went their separate ways. After many years their romance was rekindled, and their romance came to fruition last night as they were married.

When we began discussing the playlist with the bride, only one song mattered to her. She asked us to play whatever we would like to play for everything else. This was a complete shock to us, because we don't generally play what 'we' want, we play whatever our clients ask.

Apparently, the song 'Keeper of the Stars' by John Michael Montgomery had been this couple's song back in high school, and they wanted it to be part of their ceremony. So, we put together a custom strings arrangement of this piece and then put together a mix of classical and contemporary for their prelude music borrowing some of the pieces from the wedding we'd played for previously that day.

Our prelude consisted of Bach's 'My Heart Ever Faithful', Elvis' 'Can't Help Falling in Love With You', Silvestri's 'Feather Theme', Mozart's 'Menuetto' from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Delibes' 'Flower Song', Telemann's 'Presto', Horner's 'The Wedding', Puccini's 'O Mio Babbino Caro', and John Denver's 'Annie's Song'.

The wedding party entered to Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring', and the bride entered to the traditional Wagner's 'Bridal March'.

While we had discussed playing 'Keeper of the Stars' as part of the processional, the bride and groom really wanted to be able to hear and enjoy this piece. We decided to use this piece for the unity candle. After the candles were lit, they spent a few moments with each other just listening to this song which was so important to them.

As the ceremony ended, we played Handel's 'La Rejouissance' for the recessional as they headed back down the aisle, followed by Handel's 'Hornpipe'.

While we don't normally blog about the flowers and decor of our venues, we wanted to give a shout out to Sweet Pea Designs who did the floral work for this wedding. They created one of the most exquisite arches we've ever seen. At approximately 6 1/2 feet, it was made with pine garlands, red berries, white orchids, flowers, and bows, and laced with white lights. It was absolutely breathtaking.

October 23, 2010 - Vail Interfaith Chapel and The Lodge at Vail

We had the pleasure this afternoon and evening of playing for a wedding at the Vail Interfaith Chapel, and then for the reception at The Lodge at Vail.

We enjoyed working with this family as they have a great appreciation for classical music and the musical selections were very important to them.  They helped pick almost all of the music for the prelude and ceremony with just a few extra pieces added in for extra time/cushioning in case it was needed.

We began with Bach's "Air", Handel's "Allegro" from the Water Music,  Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro", Handel's "Largo", Vivaldi's "Autumn" from the Four Seasons, Schumann's "Traumerei", Bach's "Arioso", Lizt's "Liebstraum", Beethoven's "Pathetique", Schubert's "Andante", and we then finished up with Mozart's "Romanza".  


The wedding party entered to Handel's "Air" from the Water Music, and the bride entered to Vivaldi's "Winter" - a very appropriate piece as the mountains were just beginning to fill with snow outside.  


During the ceremony we were asked to play Franck's "Panis Angelicus", and Delibes' "Flower Music".


As the couple was presented to the audience, we played a new piece, Mendelssohn's "War march of the Priests" which despite the ominous title is a very stately and celebratory piece which worked great for the recessional.  We continued to play Handel's "La Rejouissance" from the Fireworks Music, and finally Tartini's "Cantabile".  

            

After the ceremony was finished, we headed to the Lodge at Vail to set up and play for the later reception.  Prior to dinner, we played as family members and guests greeted and mingled with each other over appetizers.    

 The reception and later dinner were held in the Cucina Rustica - one of the Lodge at Vail's onsite restaurants.      Contrasting with the purely classical genre of music played in the ceremony, the majority of the pieces we played for the reception were modern.

We began with Webber's "All I Ask of You" from the Phantom of the Opera, followed by Cohen's "Hallelujah:, and Iver's "Bygone Days".  We threw in Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze", and then once again Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" as the bride's mother hadn't been at the chapel for the prelude and had missed it and requested that we play it again.  We then played John Denver's "Annie's Song", The Beatles' "I want to Hold Your Hand", Enya's "Only Time", and "The Wedding" from Legends of the Fall.
We headed back into the classical genre to play Bach's "My Heart Ever Faithful", then Groban's "You Raise Me Up", The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony", and Elvis' "Can't Help Falling in Love".  As our time was nearing the end, we finished up with Telemann's "Presto" - a very fun jaunty little piece, and finally, Santori's "Con Te Partiro" - also known as "Time to Say Goodbye".

It was a beautiful ceremony and reception which we were honored to play for.  

August 21, 2010 - The Vail Chapel Back Lawn Area

This weekend we had the opportunity to play in a completely new venue. While we've played at the Vail Interfaith Chapel numerous times, this was the first time we'd ever played on the lawn behind the chapel next to the ministry house. It was a lovely location, especially with the river (which is fairly low at this time of the year) running right behind the wedding party providing a contrast to the backdrop. It was a beautiful day and venue for a great wedding.

 

We performed for this wedding as a trio consisting of two violins and a cello. This was an almost strictly classical event with the exception of "Bygone Days" the first piece we played. Following "Bygone Days", we played Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze", Vivaldi's "Spring", Bach's "Arioso", Mozart's "Eine Kleine", Schubert's "Andante", Franck's "Panis Angelicus", Schumann's "Liebstraum", Delibes' "Flower Song", Handel's "Largo", followed by Handel's "Water Music".

The wedding party entered to Pachebel's "Canon" and the bride to Vivaldi's "Winter" from the Four Seasons.

During the ceremony we played Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" for the lighting of the unity candle.

We played Handel's "La Rejouissance" for the recessional, followed by "Entrance of the Queen of Sheba", and finally "Hornpipe".

Here's a view from the parking area as the guests crossed the back lawn of the chapel.

 

I was amazed at how many chairs they were actually able to get into the area!

 

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.