PW Guide Article: Choosing Your Ceremony Music

When people submit an article on the guide does it automatically pop a message on the boards? It says "expert advise" above the actual article but nowhere does it say who the author actually is. Just wondering.

Hi Jessie,

The "expert advice" articles are written by Project Wedding staff writers (of which apax is one).

We've recently set it up so that any article submitted to the guide - whether by us (our staff writers) or by the community (you guys) - also creates a forum entry automatically so people can comment on it.  And those comments appear on the article as well.

That's pretty cool, so are the staff writers going to let us all know who they are and what wedding experiences they bring?

Yep! Apax just got married this fall actually! =D

The traditional string quartet is a popular choice for ceremony music.  It consists of two violins, a viola and a cello.  For smaller weddings, or smaller budgets a trio can also be a good choice. The Eloquence Trio has a growing collection of specially crafted trio arrangements that include styles ranging from arrangements of U2 and Coldplay songs to Tangos, Beatles hits, and standards from the American Song book.

   Be sure to listen to audio samples and read reviews of the quartet you select.  A good quartet will often be booked as much as a year in advance.  It is advisable to book early, around 6 months before the date.

Can I have a special piece arranged and how much notice do I need to give
Although the Eloquence String Quartet and Trio has probably one of the  largest repertoire of any string quartet in the North Bay Area, there are times when a client wants a piece especially prepared because it is meaningful to them and will make their occasion memorable. To create a quartet arrangement of an average 4 minute pop song takes approximately 6 to 8 hours of work, depending on the complexity. Although we could simply buy the piano / vocal score and tweak it for strings in about an hour, the results would usually be dull and oversimplified. To really bring a song alive, we arrange by listening directly to the track. It's a painstaking and highly detailed task, but the only way to truly capture the spirit and vitality of the original.  If you would like a special arrangement written uniquely for a special moment in your event we do ask for 2 months notice.

Don't string quartets usually just play classical music?
We have found a real shortage of modern popular music available for string quartet not much for trio and  absolutely nothing for string duo. Often collections consist of 1930s Broadway pieces, or a few pop songs lacking in detail. We have discovered that many people nowadays are looking for a variety of different styles of music. As a result we are constantly arranging new music and our repertoire is expanding all the time. Our unique library of hand crafted arrangements is only available from Eloquence String Quartet and we are able to offer a huge variety of musical styles. We are happy to select a program of music so there is something for everyone, so if you like folk, jazz, tangos, waltzes, rags,rock,traditional Jewish wedding music, Irish jigs,classical or baroque we will happily play it for you.

Are you able to accompany a a vocalist
Yes, we are more than happy to arrange an accompaniement for your vocalist.  We woule need to meet with the vocalist a half hour before the prelude music begins to have a short rehearsal on the day of the ceremony.

I want classical music but don't know where to start, can you give me any advice over which pieces would work well?
Yes, once your booking is confirmed we will spend as much time as you need to help you choose your music.  As musicians we have an encyclopaedic knowledge about different pieces of music and how suitable they'll be, do feel free to pick our brains, we're very happy to make suggestions.

How do I make a booking?
To book musicians, we ask for a signed booking form and a deposit of 50% to reserve the date.  Once we have received this, the date will be reserved for you and we can start thinking about your musical program whenever you are ready. From day one, clients always deal directly with the musicians who will be playing for them on the day so that we can understand your needs and work closely to achieve exactly what you are looking for.

Are you happy to play outside?
As we all have valuable  instruments so we are understandably not keen to get them wet, or exposed to hot sunshine.  In California Wine Country nealy all of our weddings are outside. We just ask that you arrange a shaded level area for the musicians to perform in. On the day of the event, we normally arrive at least half an hour early to find the best place to position ourselves acoustically and in terms of shelter.

My brother is actually writing and performing the processional music for my wedding! I am really excited about it!

Fellow outdoor brides - is anyone NOT having a musician for their ceremony? I don't know if I can afford one, and need some help with other options!

This is a good article because I have been struggling with this lately.