--- title: Piano Music for Wedding Ceremonies description: Piano Music for Wedding Ceremonies --- [![AF-prelude-logo](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Augsburg%20Fortress/AF_Prelude_Blog/AF-prelude-logo.png?width=181&height=52&name=AF-prelude-logo.png "AF-prelude-logo")](http://www.preludemusicplanner.org/) - [LEARN MORE](https://preludemusicplanner.org/) - [BLOG](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org) - [SIGN IN](https://members.preludemusicplanner.org/) # [Prelude Music Blog](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org) # Piano Music for Wedding Ceremonies by [Tim Shaw](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/author/tim-shaw) How many weddings have you provided music for over the course of your career? I stopped counting at fifty, but I would estimate I have played for over 200 weddings. Over the years, I have compiled a list of my “go to” repertoire, as, I’m sure, every church musician has done. In this post, I list tried and true piano pieces that I play often for wedding ceremonies. Some are easy, while others are more difficult. Consider adding some of these pieces to your own wedding repertoire, if you do not already include them. All of the sacred pieces are available for download through [Prelude Music Planner](https://preludemusicplannerapp.azurewebsites.net/). Most of the classical pieces are in the public domain and are available for free through the International Music Score Library Project ([www.imslp.org](http://www.imslp.org)). Hyperlinks are included to IMSLP webpages where you can print PDF files of the music.*\** #### **Sacred Prelude and Postlude Selections** I always like to include some sacred music in a wedding prelude or at other times during the ceremony (candle lighting, Communion, etc.), and hymn tunes from folk sources are especially nice. Playing directly from the hymnal or playing an arrangement are equally effective. A number of fine settings for each tune listed are available through [Prelude Music Planner](https://preludemusicplannerapp.azurewebsites.net/). Search by tune name and filter your results by instrument (piano) to find available downloads: - Beach Spring (ELW 712) - Nettleton (ELW 807) - Nyland, or Kuortane (ELW 313) - O Waly Waly (ELW 644) - Schönster Herr Jesu (ELW 838) - Sicilian Mariners (ELW 545) - Slane (ELW 793) #### **Sacred Processional and Recessional Selections** Sometimes a couple chooses “traditional” processional and recessional music (e.g., Pachelbel, Wagner, Mendelssohn, or Handel), but often couples prefer something different or unique. When a couple would like to process or recess to a hymn, here are some tunes I recommend: - Ellacombe (ELW 521) - In dir ist Freude (ELW 867) - Lasst uns erfreuen (ELW 835) - Lobe den Herren (ELW 858) - Nun danket alle Gott (ELW 839, 840) - Wie schön lechtet (ELW 308) #### **Classical Prelude and Postlude Selections ** **Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms.** These three great German composers wrote so much beautiful piano music, but here are three selections that I find particularly useful as prelude selections: - [Bach, French Suite no. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 815, mvt. 1, Allemande](http://imslp.org/wiki/6_French_Suites,_BWV_812-817_(Bach,_Johann_Sebastian)) - [Beethoven, Piano Sonata no. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, mvt. 2, Adagio cantabile](http://imslp.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata_No.8,_Op.13_(Beethoven,_Ludwig_van)) - [Brahms, Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, no. 2, Andante teneramente](http://imslp.org/wiki/6_Klavierst%C3%BCcke,_Op.118_(Brahms,_Johannes)) **Debussy, Satie, and Ravel.** I love French piano music from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. When I play these pieces in a prelude, I feel as though I am adorning the wedding venue with beauty just as the florist does with flowers. The second movement of Ravel’s Sonatine may be a stretch harmonically (and technically), but this Minuet works so well as a joyful postlude selection. - [Debussy, Arabesque no. 1, Andantino con moto](http://imslp.org/wiki/2_Arabesques_(Debussy,_Claude)) - [Satie, Gymnopédie no. 1](http://imslp.org/wiki/3_Gymnop%C3%A9dies_(Satie,_Erik)) - [Ravel, Sonatine, mvt. 2, Mouvement de menuet](http://imslp.org/wiki/Sonatine_(Ravel,_Maurice)) **Liszt, MacDowell, and Granados.** From German and French composers to a Hungarian, an American, and a Spanish composer, here are three additional prelude pieces. Granados’s charming “Melodioso” is a lovely choice for the seating of the parents or grandparents. - [Liszt, Consolations, S. 172, no. 3, Lento placido](http://imslp.org/wiki/Consolations,_S.172_(Liszt,_Franz)) - [MacDowell, *10 Woodland Sketches*, Op. 51, no. 1, “To a Wild Rose”](http://imslp.org/wiki/10_Woodland_Sketches,_Op.51_(MacDowell,_Edward)) - [Granados, *Eight Poetic Waltzes*, no. 1, Melodioso](http://imslp.org/wiki/8_Valses_poeticos_(Granados,_Enrique)) #### **Classical Processional and Recessional Selections** As mentioned above, sometimes a couple prefers an unconventional processional or recessional. In these cases, here are a few classical pieces I like to recommend: - [Mussorgsky, *Pictures at an Exhibition*, “Promenade”](http://imslp.org/wiki/Pictures_at_an_Exhibition_(Mussorgsky,_Modest)) - Holst/arr. Shaw, “Thaxted” (Jupiter theme), from *The Planets* (included in [*My Redeemer Lives: Hymns of Comfort and Praise*](http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/18128)) - [Poulenc, Novelette in C major (from *Three Novelettes*)](http://imslp.org/wiki/3_Novelettes,_FP_47/173_(Poulenc,_Francis)) Do you have a favorite piano piece you include often in wedding ceremonies? Share your repertoire suggestions in the comment section below! *\*Please obey the copyright laws of your country. IMSLP does not assume any sort of legal responsibility or liability for the consequences of downloading files that are not in the public domain in your country.* Posted on Jun 13, 2017 2:59:45 PM Filed Under: [Music Ministry](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/music-ministry), Filed Under: [Planning](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/planning), Filed Under: [Potpourri](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/potpourri), - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Tim Shaw](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Augsburg_Fortress/AF_Prelude_Blog/Authors/tshaw_1.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=tshaw_1.jpg) #### Written by [Tim Shaw](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/author/tim-shaw) Timothy Shaw was born and raised in idyllic Keene, New Hampshire. He studied theology and music (theory, history, composition, piano) in college and graduate school, and he has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as professor, composer, church musician, and author. As a clinician and scholar, he has presented workshops, academic papers, hymn festivals, music reading sessions, and master classes at numerous universities, conferences, music societies, and churches throughout the United States. As a composer, he is the recipient of the 2019 ALCM Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition. He has written extensively for the church and is published by Augsburg Fortress, Beckenhorst, Choristers Guild, Concordia, Fred Bock, Hope, MorningStar Music, Neil A. Kjos, and Shawnee Press. He also composes on commission, and he has written for David Kim (Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster), Anne Martindale-Williams (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra principal cellist), and Abington Presbyterian Church (Abington, Pennsylvania), among others. ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [review-prelude (87)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/review-prelude) - [Choral Techniques and Repertoire (56)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/choral-techniques-and-repertoire) - [Music Ministry (55)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/music-ministry) - [Planning (55)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/planning) - [Assembly Song (37)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/assembly-song) - [Potpourri (32)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/potpourri) - [Instruments and Ensembles (19)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/instruments-and-ensembles) - [Hymnody (14)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/hymnody) - [music (13)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/music) - [Uncategorized (10)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/uncategorized) - [COVID-19 (5)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/covid-19) - [Composing and arranging (5)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/composing-and-arranging) - [Coronavirus (5)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/coronavirus) - [News (5)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/news) - [Christmas (3)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/christmas) - [Easter (3)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/easter) - [Instruments (3)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/instruments) - [Social distancing (3)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/social-distancing) - [worship (3)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/worship) - [Advent (2)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/advent) - [All Creation Sings (2)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/all-creation-sings) - [Children Ministry (2)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/children-ministry) - [Lent (2)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/lent) - [Summer (2)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/summer) - [gratitude (2)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/gratitude) - [Creative Arts Camp (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/creative-arts-camp) - [Cultural (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/cultural) - [ELW (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/elw) - [Evangelical Lutheran Worship (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/evangelical-lutheran-worship) - [Holidays (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/holidays) - [Hope (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/hope) - [Hospitality (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/hospitality) - [Pentecost (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/pentecost) - [Psalms (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/psalms) - [Youth Ministry (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/youth-ministry) - [children (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/children) - [culture (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/culture) - [devotions (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/devotions) - [john the baptist (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/john-the-baptist) - [joy (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/joy) - [leadership (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/leadership) - [marriage (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/marriage) - [race (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/race) - [relationship (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/relationship) - [self-care (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/self-care) - [spiritual (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/spiritual) - [time (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/time) - [trust (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/trust) - [wedding (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/wedding) - [weddings (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/weddings) - [writing (1)](https://blog.preludemusicplanner.org/tag/writing) see all ### About Prelude Music Planner [Prelude Music Planner](http://www.preludemusicplanner.org) is the web-based tool that provides a wealth of music, thoughtful commentary, and time-saving tools for the church musician. - **Explore a wealth of music**. 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