Music is not required for Catholic Wedding Mass. However, it will enhance the beauty and the joy of the wedding celebration. If you choose to have music, soon after you receive the confirmation of the date of your wedding, please contact the organist/pianist directly to reserve the date. The parish is not responsible for this request.
Music for the wedding should be planned jointly by the couple utilizing the information and the list of hymns/songs found on this website. They are sacred hymns/songs which derive their context from scriptural and liturgical sources and are carefully chosen specifically for a Catholic Wedding Mass. Remember that the Sacrament of Marriage is a liturgical celebration. Therefore, one of the basic principles that should underlie your selection of music is whether the music is indeed liturgical music. Popular songs and secular music, no matter how meaningful they may be to you, have no place in the liturgy. Additionally, pre-recorded music (CDs, etc.) is not permitted in the Church. They may be appropriately performed at your wedding reception. If you choose other hymns or songs, they must be approved by the pastor and music director to ensure they are suitable for the Roman Catholic wedding Mass. You are also required to discuss with the pianist/organist and cantor before they agree to play and sing for your wedding.
LITURGICAL PLANNING
You are required to turn in the liturgical planning form, (Wedding Mass planning form) to the parish office a few weeks before your wedding. However, you must discuss your choices of music with the music director/ organist and cantor, especially if they are different from the list on this website.
For the Mass Setting (Gloria, Gospel acclamation, Holy, memorial acclamation, Lamb of God): The parish is using the Mass of Renewal by Curtis Stephan. You need to speak with the organist/pianist and cantor if you choose another Mass Setting.
CHOOSING PIANIST/ORGANIST AND CANTOR
This website lists the pianist/organist and the cantors. They mainly serve the parishioners of St. Martin de Porres. However, they can serve the wedding of the non-parishioners if they are available and willing. If you are parishioners or non-parishioners of St. Martin de Porres and would like to have music for wedding, please contact the Pianist/organist and cantor directly to arrange the choice of music.
If you are not a parishioner of St. Martin de Porres, you are welcomed to use another pianist/organist and/or cantor. However, they must have played at a Catholic Wedding and be familiar with the Catholic Wedding Mass. There is no exception for this requirement. The Wedding Mass must be Sacred, holy and reverent, there should not be any distraction from the use of inappropriate music or irreverent singing. The pastor, presider priest, or parish wedding facilitator is not responsible to instruct them how.
PIANIST/ ORGANIST
The Parish Pianist/Organist serves as the principal musician at all St. Martin de Porres’s weddings and bears the essential responsibility of ensuring the proper performance and timing of the various musical portions of the wedding liturgy. The honorarium for the organist/pianist is $200.00. The fee will be higher if the couple chooses to include more instrumentalists and/or the vocalists who are not from the St. Martin de Porres as well as different Mass Settings because it requires more time to practice. This should be paid by check or cash directly to the organist. Payment should be made no less than 2 weeks before the rehearsal or wedding day.
Serena Kim, Music Director/pianist/organist
512-940-1544
CANTOR
Our parish cantors are permitted to serve in this capacity at weddings. The honorarium for the cantor is $150.00. The fee might be higher if requesting unfamiliar approved hymns/songs and Mass Setting because it requires more time to practice. This should be paid by check or cash directly to the cantor. Payment should be made no less than 2 weeks before the rehearsal or wedding day.
Lauren Warren, Vocalist
[email protected]
512-605-9470
Abby Caswell, Vocalist
[email protected]
512-636-5918
Grace Hvizdos, Vocalist
[email protected]
512-871-9325
ORDER OF SERVICE/WORSHIP PROGRAM
The parish or the music director is not responsible to provide the program for your wedding. It is not required. However, due to the participatory nature of Catholic liturgical celebrations, it is highly recommended that you provide your guests with an Order of Service or Worship Program to assist them in their active participation at your wedding celebration. This is especially important for Catholics and non-Catholics alike when the wedding will be celebrated within Mass.
MUSIC COMPONENTS OF WEDDING LITURGIES
Prelude
Music during this time is usually selected at the discretion of the Organist and encompasses a combination of pieces that mirror the festive nature of the occasion as well as the quiet dignity of prayerful reflection. Prior to the beginning of the wedding liturgy, the pianist/organist plays a solo organ/piano repertoire, but the utilization of other instruments (trumpet, flute, harp, etc.) is possible as well if the couple hired them.
Seating of the Generation
Couples often wish to have the seating of their parents and/or grandparents highlighted and accompanied by a special piece of music. The seating of the generation takes place just prior to the procession of the wedding party, so the music should be clearly different from that of the processional. A meditative vocal solo or relatively quiet instrumental piece is usually best here.
Processional
The processionals are usually played by the piano/organ alone or hymn/song with cantor.
Glory to God (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)
During Introductory Rites of a Nuptial Mass, the Glory to God is sung. The cantor will lead the assembly in singing the hymn. Musical settings of the Glory to God are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Martin de Porres (Mass of Renewal).
Responsorial Psalm
The responsorial psalm follows the first reading and is always sung and led by the cantor, if you have selected someone.
Gospel Acclamation
Before the gospel reading, an Alleluia is always sung (except during Lent). This will be led by the cantor. During the season of Lent, alleluias are omitted from the Church's liturgies, and the Lenten gospel acclamation "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ" is sung instead, led by the cantor. Musical settings of the Gospel Acclamation are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Martin de Porres.
Offertory (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)
If your wedding will be celebrated within a Eucharistic celebration (Mass), the liturgy continues with music during the offertory and preparation of the altar. This usually takes very little time, so a short organ improvisation or instrumental selection is usually most effective at this point. The selection of the offertory music is usually left up to the musicians. However, if you want the hymn to be sung, you can.
Memorial Acclamations (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)
During Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer follows next. The cantor will lead the assembly in singing the responses within the prayer. These acclamations include the Sanctus (Holy, Holy), the Mysterium Fidei (Mystery of Faith), and the Amen. Musical settings of these acclamations are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Martin de Porres.
Lord's Prayer
Sometimes couples ask to have the Lord's Prayer (Our Father) sung. Keep in mind that your wedding guests will likely come from several different churches and faiths. Since this is the one common prayer among all Christian denominations, it is very important that everyone be able to join in praying it together. For these reasons, the Lord's Prayer is spoken, rather than sung, at wedding ceremonies.
Lamb of God (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)
The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) is sung immediately following the sign of peace, just before communion. Musical settings of the Lamb of God are taken from the standard liturgical repertoire of St. Martin de Porres.
Communion Procession (skip if you are not celebrating within Mass)
In selecting music to accompany the communion procession, couples will want to keep in mind the nature of the Eucharistic rite as a sign of the unity of everyone gathered, so the singing of a congregational hymn is the norm to accompany the communion procession. Please note that one piece of music is usually sufficient for communion.
Meditation to the Blessed Virgin Mary (optional)
If you plan on making a visitation to the image of Mary, it will take place after communion (or after the Lord's Prayer if you're not celebrating within mass). At this point in the liturgy, a meditation could be sung by the vocalist as a reflection of the personal, devotional prayer of the bride and groom and of the whole congregation. Music during this moment is usually a setting of the "Ave Maria" or another appropriate hymn to Mary. This action may also be accompanied by an instrumental by the organist.
Recessional
The wedding recessional is usually the liturgy's most festive and joyous of musical expressions. Most often played by the piano/organ alone or songs with cantor. There are many possibilities.
prelude/Processional (instrumental only)
Traditional
Recessional hymns