Wedding Mass Music Suggestions

In this post, we offer some suggestions for the music for wedding masses. See this post for an outline of the parts of wedding mass where music is required.

As you can see, the list below is quite limited at present; we are in the process of expanding it, and providing links to notations and audios.

Approved hymnbooks
There are three hymnbooks approved for liturgical use in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman: 'Gaionacho Jhelo'  in Konkani, 'With Joyful Lips' and 'Praise the Lord' in English and all hymns from these books are approved for liturgical use. 

Gaionancho Jhelo

The series of hymns beginning with the alphabet 'O' from the Gaionacho Jhelo are specially meant for weddings. Audio for many of the hymns are available in the Gaionacho Jhelo app available for Android and iOS.

• O-1   Kana ganvant    (audio available in GJ app)
• O-2   Logna disa    YouTube
• O-3   Novo dis udetanam   YouTube
• O-4   Sontosacho Dis Udelo    YouTube
• O-5   Gaitanv stuti vakhann'nni
• O-6   Môg jie puro itlench itlem    YouTube
• O-7   Dhinvastanv, Bapa    YouTube
• O-8   Mog, mogan jie    YouTube
• O-9   Mog sorvespora    YouTube
• The Karnataka version of O-9 Mog sorvespora is a little different from the G.J.    YouTube
• O-10   Aple Potinnicho
• O-11   Besanv ghal, Dhonia
• O-12   Sukhi kor novo ghorabo    YouTube

Mass settings for parts of the mass
Mass settings are collections of musical compositions for parts of the mass, like the Gloria, the Alleluia and the Eucharistic Acclamations (Holy, Memorial Acclamation and Amen). The compositions of each setting are intended to be used together, but could also be used individually. Here are some mass settings in accordance with the new (2011) English translation of the mass:

• Mass of Christ the Saviour by Dan Schutte    YouTube
• Mass of Joy by Kathleen Demny     YouTube
• Mass of Peace by Eddie Cavazos    YouTube
• Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen    YouTube
• Mass of God's Mercy by Richard Cootes    YouTube

Vocal solos

Vocal solos may be used in the prelude, or for the presentation of the gifts, or during a time of community meditation.

• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach    YouTube
• Wherever you go - Haas    YouTube
• Ave Maria - Schubert    YouTube

Prelude / Processional / Recessional

• Triumphant
• Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince of Denmark’s March) - Jeremiah Clarke    YouTube
• Trumpet Tune - David Johnson    YouTube
• Trumpet Voluntary  - John Stanley    YouTube
• Trumpet Tune - Henry Purcell    YouTube
• Hornpipe - Handel    YouTube
• Rondeau - J. J. Mouret    YouTube
• The Rejoicing from the Royal Fireworks suite - Handel    YouTube
• Overture from the Royal Fireworks suite - Handel    YouTube
• Prelude to Te Deum - Marc Antoine Charpentier    YouTube
• Rigaudon - Andre Campra    YouTube
• Ode to Joy (Joyful, joyful we adore You) - Beethoven    Instrumental    Vocal
• St. Anthony Chorale - Franz Josef Haydn    YouTube
• Quieter
• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach    YouTube
• Canon in D - Pachelbel    YouTube
• La Grace - Telemann    YouTube
• Arioso - Bach    YouTube
• Air from Water music - Handel    YouTube

Entrance hymn

• Sing to the mountains    YouTube
• God, in the planning - Slane    YouTube
• Love Divine, all loves excelling    YouTube
• When love is found    YouTube

Responsorial psalm
There are a few psalms for recommended for nuptial masses (see the list on the post about readings). One may choose a psalm from the recommended list or another psalm to be sung, for example:

• Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd
• Psalm 33:
• Blessed are we (Haas)    Listen
• The Earth Is Full Of Beauty (Cotter)    Listen
• Psalm 34: Taste and see (Hurd)    YouTube
• Psalm 103:
• The Lord Is Kind And Merciful (Haas / Cotter)    Listen  notes
• The Lord Is Kind And Merciful (Haugen)    YouTube
• Psalm 112: God’s Command (Haas)    Listen
• Psalm 128: Blest are those who love you (Haugen)    YouTube  notes 1  notes 2
• Psalm 145: Our God is Compassion    Listen  notes
• Psalm 148: Let All Praise The Name Of The Lord (Haas)    Listen

Konkani:

• Mog sorvespora (this is the Karnataka version, a little different from O-9 in G.J.)    YouTube

Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia)

• Here are two examples of the the verse 1 John 4:16 with a very common and standard melody, known as Alleluia Mode VI:
• Version 1: Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him    ( Listen notes_org notes_voc notes_combined ) 
• Version 2: He who lives in love, lives in God, and God in him.    ( Listen )
• Another well-known tune for the gospel acclamation is the Celtic Alleluia. Here is an example with 1 John 4:16 :    YouTube  notes
• Alleluia - Mass of True Devotion   YouTube 
• Alleluia - Mass of the Sacred Heart    YouTube
• Alleluia - Fifth Gospel Choir by Marcelo    YouTube   alto voice   notes
  
• Here is the Alleluia based on the hymn 'Seek Ye First" YouTube
  
• The gospel acclamation may also be taken from the mass settings above.

Konkani:

• G.J. B-8 v 11 & 12

Hymn after the nuptial rite

• Môg jie puro itlench itlem (G.J. O-6)    YouTube
• God, in the planning    YouTube
• I accept you from the hands of my God    YouTube

Offertory

• Blest are you Lord    YouTube
• Take our bread    YouTube

 

Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus)

• Holy, Holy, Holy - Mass of God's Mercy    YouTube
  
• Holy, Holy, Holy - Mass of the Sacred Heart    YouTube   (This is similar to the Holy, Holy from the Mass of Creation    YouTube)
  
• Hosanna in the Highest    YouTube   (The words of this hymn do not exactly match the words of the mass, but it is used sometimes)
  

Mystery of faith

Following are some popular versions of the proclamation of the mystery of faith:

• We proclaim your death
• Mass of Christ the Saviour    YouTube
• Mass of Mary Magdalene    YouTube
• When we eat this bread 
• Mass of Christ the Saviour   YouTube
• Mass of Mary Magdalene    YouTube
  
• Bukas Palad    YouTube
  
• Save us, Saviour of the world
• Version 1    YouTube
• Version 2    YouTube
  

 

Sign of peace (optional)

• May the peace of the Lord be with you    YouTube
• My peace I give unto you    YouTube
• Make me a channel of your peace
• Let there be peace shared among us
• Peace, perfect peace    YouTube
• Shalom, my friend    YouTube
  

 

Lamb of God

• Lamb of God - Bukas Palad     YouTube
• Lamb of God - Glendalough Mass    YouTube
• Lamb of God - Mass of St. Ann    YouTube 
  

Communion

• English
• One bread, one body    YouTube
• Lord you have touched my heart
• Love it was that made us
• Let there be love shared among us
• Spanish-English bilingual
• Pan de Vida - Hurd    YouTube
• Konkani
• Zoi pritimog vosta (G.J. D-47)    YouTube

Thanksgiving (optional)

• Dekhun argham (Somia kallzan mhojea aila)    YouTube
• Dhinvastanv, Bapa (G.J. O-7)   YouTube

Devotion to Mother Mary

• Ave Maria - Schubert    YouTube
• Ave Maria, Gratia Plena    YouTube
• Hail Mary, Gentle Woman    YouTube
• Hail Holy Queen Enthroned Above    YouTube
• Hymns in Gaionacho Jhelo beginning with 'T' are in honour of Mother Mary

Recessional

• Hymn to Mother Mary, see 'Devotion to Mother Mary' above
• Sukhi kor novo ghorabo  (G.J. O-12)   YouTube
• Processional pieces, see 'Prelude / Processional / Recessional' above

Signing of the register (optional)

• Set me like a seal on your heart    YouTube
• Mog mogan jie (G.J. O-8)    YouTube
• Irish wedding song    YouTube

Year of the family hymns

In the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman the theme for the pastoral year 2015-16 was the family, and for this year, the Family Service Center of the archdiocese came out with a set of hymns on the theme of the family, which are approved for liturgical use:    Listen Words Notation

I particularly like the communion hymn 'Tum Jezu, Kuttumb Tum Ghoddtai!'    ( Listen 1 Listen 2 )


Useful links

• Responsorial Psalms on Lynette Basta wedding music blog

Updated 29 December 2022

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Wedding Mass Music

Music.. you've probably experienced the magic it can work, transforming your mood and evoking emotions and memories. Selecting the music for your wedding mass is one of the most interesting things that form part of wedding preparation. The Catholic church offers a variety of musical choice for masses, while it also has certain rules governing liturgical music. In this post, we will try to offer you some insight into the possibilities for selecting music for wedding masses.

It is important to note that there can be significant differences in the norms regarding liturgical music from diocese to diocese and parish to parish, regarding what must and must not be sung, and in what manner. In this post, we have tried to present the principles and guidelines that apply to the Roman Catholic church in general, but you must respect the rules in place in your church.

For suggestions for hymns for different parts of the wedding mass, please see this post.

In the below list of places in the mass where music may be used, the places where music is optional, are marked with '(optional)'.

Secular music
Secular music is not permitted for a Catholic wedding mass.

In my opinion, there could have been a case for using secular music in a wedding mass, if good approved religious music wasn't available. However, this isn't the case, and there's a whole world of beautiful religious music for weddings, just waiting for you to discover it.

Mass settings for parts of the mass
Mass settings are collections of musical compositions for parts of the mass, like the Gloria, the Alleluia and the Eucharistic Acclamations (Holy, Memorial Acclamation and Amen). The compositions of each setting are intended to be used together, but could also be used individually. One should consider whether the choices for the parts of the mass would impede the congregation from singing them if they are not well known; if this is the case, it could be preferable to recite them instead. It is also a good idea to use familiar musical settings known by the community for the acclamations.

Prelude (optional)
Prelude music should create an atmosphere of prayerfulness and reverence while members of the assembly are gathering and being seated.

Processional and Entrance
It is a common practice is to have an instrumental piece for the entrance of the wedding party and then an entrance hymn. However, the liturgy doesn't prescribe a separate processional piece, and it is possible to have just an entrance hymn and the wedding party enter during the entrance hymn. (Read more about the entrance possibilities in the post on wedding mass liturgy.)

The entrance hymn can be a hymn of praise or a hymn of prayer for the couple. The processional and entrance music should bring the congregation into a spirit of prayer, reverence and worship.

Kyrie (Lord have Mercy) (omitted)
The Kyrie is omitted in wedding masses.^[1]

Gloria
As per the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal, the Gloria is to be sung (or at least recited) in masses for marriage, even when they occur during Advent or Lent. The Gloria may not be replaced by a hymn with different words.

Responsorial psalm
The Responsorial Psalm is not just an interlude or a piece of music, but is, in fact a reading in the mass, just like the first reading or gospel. Hence, the responsorial psalm should ideally be a psalm from the book of Psalms in the Bible, and shouldn't normally be replaced by a hymn. It is recommended to sing the psalm. This can either take the form of a chant, or a psalm set to music sung together by the choir and the congregation in it's entirety, or with the congregation singing the verse and the cantor singing the verses.

There are a few psalms for recommended for nuptial masses (see the list on the post about readings). One may choose a psalm from the recommended list or another psalm to be sung.

Gospel Acclamation (Alleluia)
The gospel acclamation must always be sung. There are four options given for the Gospel acclamation. Although it is common for a hymn or some different verse to be taken, for a wedding mass, it would be good to take one of the four verses recommended for weddings.

• 1 John 4:8, 11  God is love; let us love one another as God has loved us.
• 1 John 4:12  If we love one another, God will live in us in perfect love.
• 1 John 4:7b  Everyone who loves is born of God and knows him.
• 1 John 4:16  Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

The Alleluia is never sung during lent. Instead, an alternate acclamation of praise for lent may be chosen.

Nuptial rite
It is possible to have a short acclamation of praise after the vows and other parts of the nuptial rite, or a hymn after the entire rite for people to prayerfully reflect on the sacrament that has just taken place. However, it is important to remember that too many breaks for music will interrupt the flow of the mass.

Prayers of the faithful (optional)

Offertory
One must keep in mind that the preparation of the gifts does not take a lot of time, and therefore, one must select a short hymn that can be ended quickly, if needed, or an instrumental piece.

Sanctus (Holy, Holy)

Memorial Acclamation

Amen (optional)
It is common these days for the Amen at the end of the Eucharistic prayer (sometimes called the 'Great' Amen) to be sung in a grand manner for solemn masses, singing the Amen is by no means compulsory, and it can be recited or simply chanted. Documents issued by certain bishops' conferences have, however, called for this Amen to be said / sung in an emphatic manner.

Lord's prayer (optional)
The Lord's Prayer may be recited, or sung, but since it is the prayer of all God's people, a solo version is inappropriate.

Sign of peace (optional)
If there is music during the sign of peace, it should not be too long, so that the progression of the liturgy to the breaking of the bread is not halted in waiting for the music to finish.

Lamb of God (optional)
This must be sung or recited by the entire congregation.

Communion
A song that all the people can take part in singing is appropriate, because it signifies the unity of the church with Christ. Ideally, the communion hymn should speak of a wider community love, than other wedding hymns.

Thanksgiving (optional)
A song of praise and thanksgiving may be sung after communion.

Recessional
A strong hymn of rejoicing is appropriate for the recessional.

Signing of the register (optional)
Commonly, the couple, with the priests and the witnesses sign the marriage register at the end of the wedding mass. A song which represents the community's wishes, prayers and blessings for the newly-wed couple could be a good choice for this time.

Practicing hymns before the mass
It is a custom in some places for instrumental music (the prelude) to be played before the wedding ceremony begins. A better option, I would say, is to have the choir practice the mass hymns before the mass. Since the congregation is ideally supposed to sing the hymns with the choir, it helps your guests get a hang of the mass hymns.

Considerations for selecting wedding music
Follow are some aspects to be considered while selecting wedding mass music:

• Musical quality: The musical pieces should be of good artistic quality. This means that the music and lyrics should be beautiful, irrespective of the musical style.
• Doctrinal soundness: The lyrics of the music should be theologically sound, and they should be drawn mainly from Holy Scripture, and from liturgical sources.
• Liturgical complementarity: The selection should be appropriate for the particular part of the celebration, e.g. some parts of the liturgy are suitable for community singing, while others may be suitable for the cantor to lead, and at still other times, instrumental music may be appropriate. Further, the music should contribute to the rhythm of the liturgy, and not impede or drag the liturgy.
• Accessibility: The music chosen should be within the range of the musical capabilities of the choir, musicians and cantor. In addition, it should be accessible to the assembly, it should help them to participate actively rather than be mere spectators. It is pointless if you select the best liturgical music in the world, but it is not what your guests are familiar with, and they are reduced to a mere audience of the performance by the choir. It is important to take into consideration the background and culture of the family, relatives, friends and other people attending the wedding mass.

Notes

1. ^The Roman Missal does not state whether the Kyrie is to be sung in a nuptial mass, and hence, it is a matter of debate. The most authoritative writing we have on this topic as of 2015 is an article by the United States Bishops' Conference in which it is suggested that the Kyrie be omitted. As a result, the general practice is not to have the Kyrie in wedding masses.

Credits
Special thanks to Austine Crasta for his inputs for this post.

Useful links

• Order of a Catholic Wedding Mass - catholicweddinghelp.com
• Choosing Wedding Music - catholicweddinghelp.com

Further reading

• Music in Catholic Worship, USCC bishops' committee on the liturgy, 1972
• Directives for the Celebration of the Liturgy, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), 2016
• Handbook of Church Music for Weddings, Mary Beth Kunde Anderson, David Anderson, 2007

Updated 21 May '17

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