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July 18, 2011
Looking for interesting wedding ceremony music? The bandleaders at Starlight Orchestras love to share the custom programs we create for our brides and grooms to walk down the aisle. Here are a few from this past weekend.
| WEDDING OF |
Melissa and AJ |
| PROCESSIONAL |
MUSIC |
| Grandparents |
My Hero (Foo Fighters) |
| Bridesmaids & Ushers |
With A Little Help From My Friends (Beatles) |
| Best Man |
Better Man (Pearl Jam) |
| Groom |
Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney) |
| Maid of Honor |
In My Life (Beatles) |
| Bride |
Canon (Pachelbel) |
| RECESSIONAL |
New York, NY (Sinatra) |
| Ensemble (3 pieces) – harp, violin, sax/clarinet |
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| WEDDING OF |
Jodie and Brian |
| PROCESSIONAL |
MUSIC |
| Grandparents |
Can You Feel The Love Tonight (Lion King) |
| Bridesmaids & Ushers |
Just For A Moment (St. Elmo’s Fire) |
| Groom |
For The Love of a Princess (Braveheart) |
| Maid of Honor |
Feather Theme (Forrest Gump) |
| Bride |
A Whole New World (Aladdin) |
| RECESSIONAL |
Theme from Castaway |
| Ensemble (5 pieces)- electric harp, piano, upright bass, 2 violins |
July 3, 2011
We love to share the interesting and unique programs we have customized for “music for weddings ceremonies.”
Here are the Starlight bandleader’s picks from our favorite June processional music selections.
| WEDDING OF |
BLAKE AND ROB |
| Processional |
Sous Les Domes, Danza Pastorale |
| Bride |
Dvorak Romantic Piece #1 |
| Recessional |
Wedding March by Mendelssohn |
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| WEDDING OF |
BRITTANY AND ADAM |
| Processional |
All You Need is Love, Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Kamakawewo) |
| Bride |
What a Wonderful World |
| Recessional |
Beautiful Day |
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| WEDDING OF |
RACHEL AND JEFFREY |
| Processional |
V’rushalayim Shel Zahav, Al Kol Eleh, L’Chi Lach |
| Bride |
Erev Shel Shoshashanim |
| Recessional |
Od Yishama into Dodi Li |
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| WEDDING OF |
AMANDA AND SAYLES |
| Processional |
Over the Hills and Far Away, Romeo and Juliette |
| Bride |
Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Kamakawewo) |
| Recessional |
True Romance |
| WEDDING OF |
ELISSA AND DAVID |
| Processional |
Maybe I’m Amazed, And I Love Her, Til There Was You |
| More Processional |
What a Wonderful World, In My Life |
| Bride |
Just The Way You Look Tonight |
| Recessional |
Viva La Vida |
What interesting ceremony selections can you think of?
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May 20, 2011
As the weather gets warmer, some couples want to tie the knot outdoors. In a garden, on a beach, on a terrace or a rooftop; outdoor ceremonies have a special kind of romance and magic. Whether you are using a playlist from your IPod, having a DJ, or engaging live musicians to perform, here are some suggestions for your wedding ceremony music.
1. Music for Processional
You can choose pieces with an “outdoor theme.” Some of our favorites are:
Classical:
Spring from The Four Seasons
Danza Pastorale from The Four Seasons
Berceuse from Dolly Suite by Faure
Flower Duet from Lakme
The Minuet from Le Tombeau de Couperin by Ravel
Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream: (AKA “Here Comes The Bride)
Film Score:
The Legend from Practical Magic
Storybook Love
A River Runs Through it from that film
Haunted by Waters from A River Runs Through
You’re So Cool from True Romance
Pop:
Harvest Moon by Neil Young
Moondance by Van Morrison
Here Comes The Sun by the Beatles
2. Instrumentation:
It is nice to add some “wind” instruments to the traditional string ensembles: flute, oboe, and clarinet. Harp is particularly lovely at this time of year. If the wind blows, it catches the harp strings and they can reverberate on their own. Vibes and percussion are unusual and interesting, and the simplicity of acoustic guitar can be a fresh color in the palette as well.
3. Equipment:
Any equipment that is not battery operated (amps, speakers, keyboards etc.) will need a source of power and extensions cords.
Also, in order to fully hear the officient, it is a good idea to have a sound system (microphone and speakers). Usually your DJ or band can provide this for you. Enhance the music by providing clip-on microphones for the musicians as well.
4. Pre-Ceremony and Arrivals:
Your guests will be arriving and seated for a period of time, in some cases up to 20 minutes before the processional actually begins. Here is an opportunity for a lovely program of music to set the mood. Enjoy choosing the music for your wedding ceremony, or rely upon your music-provider to create the repertoire based on your style and taste.
For a comprehensive list of wedding ceremony music, visit Starlight’s CEREMONY MUSIC suggestions.
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September 23, 2010
 Whether you are hiring live musicians for your wedding or creating a playlist for your Ipod, the musical selections are an integral part of your wedding ceremony. There are so many choices, and so many different genres to choose from. We get so excited thinking of all of the ways you can mix and match, to create a totally individual and unique experience for your trip down the aisle on your special day. At Starlight Orchestras, we are happy to be a resource for couples’ planning the musical program for their ceremonies.
You can choose from the traditional classics, chamber music, opera music, film score music, Broadway, jazz standards, rock, pop, alternative, ethnic, on and on. You can have an entirely classical ceremony, or you can include one of your favorite Cold Play songs. You can do a program full of Broadway love songs with a dramatic opera piece for the Bride’s entrance. You can have one song for all the marchers, or a different song for every person. Check for updates on this blog monthly, as we often post specific ceremony playlists from our recent weddings.
We have compiled some lists to get the juices flowing and start the thoughts rolling. Click on the links below to view our most current lists. And please feel free to “add a comment” at the end of this article and tell us some of YOUR favorites.
Our string trios, quartets, and larger Custom Ensembles set the tone for a magical evening of romance and magic. The instrumentation, the musicians, and the music selections are handpicked for each event, making every evening distinctly different from all others. When you book a Starlight Custom Ceremony Ensemble, we invite you to a specific “music meeting” where we help map out the entire processional and then assign the different song selections. Once the music is chosen, we then advise you what instruments will present most effectively. The process is exciting and fun, and the result is a unique and very special beginning to a new chapter in your lives! And whether we perform at your wedding, or merely offer you this lists of ceremony music suggestions to give you some ideas, we are thrilled to be a part of your most important day!
Click on the following links to see our newly posted songlists:
CLASSICAL CEREMONY MUSIC
ROCK AND POP CEREMONY MUSIC
FILM SCORE AND BROADWAY CEREMONY MUSIC
ENTIRE COMPILATION OF CEREMONY MUSIC
JEWISH CEREMONY MUSIC
MUSIC FOR CHILDREN MARCHING
August 23, 2010
Notes
This couple wanted a mix of many of their favorite tunes, and were willing to cross genres. The result, a blend of traditional and contemporary.
Pre-Ceremony Selections
As guests made their way into the ballroom for the ceremony, the string ensemble added to the romantic setting by performing pieces from famous films, such as:
- Pretty Woman
- Life is Beautiful
- West Side Story
Ceremony Music
| UNCHAINED MELODY |
Grandparents |
(The Righteous Brothers) |
| WONDERFUL TONIGHT |
Groom & Parents |
(Eric Clapton) |
| ALL I ASK OF YOU |
Bridesmaids & Ushers |
(From Phantom) Lloyd Weber |
| SWEET CHILD OF MINE |
Flower Girl |
(Guns & Roses) |
| CANON IN D |
Bride & Parents |
(Pachelbel) |
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| OH WHAT A NIGHT |
Recessional |
(Franki Valli & Four Seasons) |
Ensemble
6 Piece String Group- harp, bass, 3 violins, woodwind (sax/clarinet/flute)
August 16, 2010
 Last night we performed for a wedding at one of my favorite venues, the Hotel Pierre. What a fantastic night it was. When I walked in several hours before the wedding was to start, the family and bridal party were having photos taken in the Cotillion Room. I could tell by the upbeat atmosphere in the room, by the big smiles and hearty hugs that this was going to be a really great night! And so it was!! The string ensemble and I did a run-through of the ceremony selections while the family was posing for their photos. Everyone got excited when they heard the Broadway numbers that the bride and groom had chosen. We had a harp, 2 violins, cello and bass, and with this ensemble we performed the following selections for the processional:
“Tradition” from Fiddler on The Roof for the Rabbi and 2 sets of grandparents;
“One Boy” from Bye Bye Birdie for the Best Man,
Then, the Groom and his parents walked in to “Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls.
“Seasons of Love” from Rent for the 8 sets of Bridesmaids and Ushers;
“Popular” was played for the Maid of Honor;
“Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” for the 2 little Flower Girls
Finally, and dramatically, the bride and her parents walked down the aisle to “Memory” from Cats.
At the end, after breaking the glass, everyone recessed to “You’re The One That I Want,” from Grease.
Aftr the cocktail hour, we opened the ballroom with very upbeat dance music. When the Bride and Groom did their grand entracne, they asked us to play Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T.!”
They came onto the dance floor and did their dance to the David Cook version of “Always Be My Baby.”
For cake cutting, they dedicated the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias” to the Father of the Bride.
Throughout the evening, the Starlight Orchestra performed a variety of contemporary and classic dance music, concentrating on Top 40 (lots of Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Lady Gaga!) classic rock (Def Leppard, anyone?) to classic favorites by Abba and Madonna.
The guests had a wild and crazy night, and at this one, so did the band!
I just have to end the way I so often do, and thank my band-mates as well as the team at Starlight for their contribution to making this event as wonderful as it could be. It takes an enormous effort to present in the maner that we do; to prepare all of the special music, learn all of the intricate parts and make it sound realistic, fresh and exciting, and then add the sparkle that makes it all seem magical! I used a phrase in a recent article, where I alluded to the “invisible artistry” that goes into band-leading “Starlight style.” I will leave that as an open ended mysterious statement, and one day I will write about that concept. For now, suffice to say that the result is something truly incomparable, and we are all very proud!
August 8, 2010
People are often looking for some new ideas for Wedding Music. Here is a playlist from a recent wedding at the Hotel Pierre.
“Tradition” from Fiddler on The Roof for the Rabbi and 2 sets of grandparents;
“One Boy” from Bye Bye Birdie for the Best Man,
“Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls for the Groom and his parents;
“Seasons of Love” from Rent for the 8 sets of Bridesmaids and Ushers;
“Popular” for the Maid of Honor;
“Thank Heaven for Little Girls” for the 2 little Flower Girls
Finally, and dramatically, the bride and her parents walked down the aisle to “Memory” from Cats.
“You’re The One That I Want” from Grease for the recessional.
Instrumentation-
The instrumention was harp, 2 violins, cello and bass
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