The Cathedral music department is delighted to work with you to make your wedding liturgy prayerful, beautiful, and joyful. According to the Church’s tradition, the spouses as ministers of Christ’s grace mutually confer upon each other the Sacrament of Matrimony by expressing their consent before the Church. Therefore, while the celebration of marriage concerns the spouses and their families, it is not only a private matter. Since your consent is given in the presence of – and blessed by – the Church, the celebration of marriage is governed by liturgical norms.
The wedding liturgy’s music must, therefore, be directed to God and in keeping with the Church’s vision for sacred song. To this end, the music department offers the following selection of sacred music that is liturgically, musically, and pastorally appropriate.
In a particular way, the Cathedral is called to be a model of excellence and a guardian of the Church’s liturgical traditions. To ensure liturgical synergy and excellence in musical execution, musical leadership for weddings is provided solely by the Cathedral’s professional music team. A guest musician may apply to participate in the prelude or at the presentation of flowers to the Blessed Virgin Mary in a process outlined in the wedding selection form.
The cathedral music department works with the finest vocalists, string musicians, and brass musicians in metro Detroit to provide additional enhancement to your wedding. Certain recordings below feature these optional musical enhancements. Fees for these additional musicians are listed on the Wedding Music Selection Form.
We are happy to answer any questions you might have during this process. Please contact Joe Balistreri by email or call 313-237-5782.
To plan your liturgical music, there are two steps:
- Listen to the linked music selections below, recorded by our cathedral musicians. Please note that several of the samples below have “bonus tracks” which allow you to hear the same song with the additional enhancements available to you. These bonus tracks are labeled in orange. There are also some songs that are only available as “enhanced” options. They are labeled in blue.
- Submit your music selections to the music staff by visiting this link. (The link will open a separate tab, so you can reference the recordings as you make your selections. You may want to keep both tabs open and toggle back and forth.)
Prelude:
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During the seating of your guests and of the parents, the cathedral musicians will perform appropriate and festive music.
Procession of the Bridal Party (select if not having an entrance hymn):
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Air from Water Music – G.F. Handel
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Air (BWV 1068, #3) – J.S. Bach
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Air (BWV 1068, #3) – J.S. Bach [including string quartet enhancement]
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Canon in D – J. Pachelbel
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Canon in D – J. Pachelbel [including string quartet enhancement]
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Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J.S. Bach
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Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J.S. Bach [including string quartet enhancement]
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Prelude to the Te Deum – M.A. Charpentier
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Wachet Auf – J.S. Bach [including string quartet enhancement – also available without enhancement]
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Arioso – J.S. Bach [requires string quartet enhancement]
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Aria – F. Peters [requires solo trumpet enhancement]
Procession of the Bride (select if not having an entrance hymn):
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Rondeau – J.J. Moreau
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Rondeau – J.J. Moreau [including solo trumpet enhancement]
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Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary) – J. Clarke
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Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary) – J. Clarke [including solo trumpet enhancement]
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Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony – J. Clarke (can be known as Purcell’s)
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Trumpet Tune and Bell Symphony – J. Clarke (can be known as Purcell’s) [including string quartet AND solo trumpet enhancement]
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Canon in D – J. Pachelbel
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Largo from Serse – G.F. Handel
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Trumpet Tune – J. Stanley
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Rigadoun – A. Campra
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Piece d’orgue (BWV 572) – J.S. Bach
Entrance Hymn (select if not having instrumental processional music):
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O God Beyond All Praising
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All Creatures of our God and King
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Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
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Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Responsorial Psalm:
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Ps 33: The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord
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Ps. 34: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord
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Ps. 103: The Lord is kind and merciful (Gospel style)
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Ps. 103: The Lord is kind and merciful (chant style)
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Ps. 112: The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
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Ps. 128: Blessed are those who fear the Lord
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Ps. 145: The Lord is compassionate toward all his works
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Ps. 148: Let all praise the name of the Lord
Unity Candle Lighting (optional):
If a unity candle is lit, the brief music needed will be selected by the musicians.
Offertory (for Nuptial Mass only):
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Come Down, O Love Divine – R.V. Williams
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Come My Way, My Truth, My Life – R.V. Williams
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Set Me as a Seal – M. Maher
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Ubi Caritas – Gregorian chant
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Ubi Caritas – B. Hurd
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Laudate Dominum – W.A. Mozart [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
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Set Me as a Seal – R. Clausen [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
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Rise Up My Love – H. Willan [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
Communion (for Nuptial Mass only):
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Beati mundo corde – Proper antiphon for Wedding Mass
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Panis Angelicus – C. Franck
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I am the Bread of Life – S. Toolan
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Amen. El Cuerpo de Cristo – J. Schiavone
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God is Love – C. Rivers
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Taste and See – J. Moore
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Ave Verum – W.A. Mozart [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
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Ave Verum – S. Martin [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
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Ave Verum – W. Byrd [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
Presentation of Flowers to the Blessed Virgin (optional):
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Ave Maria – Gregorian chant
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Ave Maria – F. Schubert
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Ave Maria – C. Gounod
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Immaculate Mary
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Hail Queen of Heaven, the Ocean Star
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Ave Maria – T. Victoria [requires vocal quartet enhancement]
Recessional:
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The Rejoicing from Fireworks – G.F. Handel
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The Rejoicing from Fireworks – G.F. Handel [includes string quartet AND solo trumpet enhancements]
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Trumpet Tune – J. Stanley
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Hymn to Joy – L.V. Beethoven
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Hymn to Joy – L.V. Beethoven [includes string quartet AND solo trumpet enhancements]
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Allegro Maestoso from Water Music – G.F Handel
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Allegro Maestoso from Water Music – G.F Handel [includes string quartet enhancement]
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Toccata from Symphonie 5 – C.M. Widor
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Fugue in E Flat – J.S. Bach
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Holy God We Praise Thy Name