Introduction
Musical arrangements for Weddings liturgies to be held in the cathedral must conform to the requirements of this Wedding Music Policy. In most cases, music can be selected from the wedding music samples and then indicated on the Wedding Music Selection form and returned to the cathedral office. This policy is to ensure that musical arrangements for liturgies in the cathedral are in keeping with the dignity of the cathedral as the seat of the diocesan bishop, who is the
“chief steward of the mysteries of God in the particular Church entrusted to his care, is the moderator, promoter, and guardian of the whole of its liturgical life…….the solemn celebration of Masses … must be an example for the entire diocese. [GIRM 2007 The cathedral church 22]
The Cathedral Music Department will help make the liturgical celebration of your marriage a beautiful, prayerful, and joyful event. If you need assistance in planning your wedding music, our Director of Music will be pleased to assist you as far as possible in planning and providing musicians who will lead the singing and play instruments at your wedding.
He will be able to guide you in the selection of suitable liturgical music, as well as assist in the provision of one of the cathedral organists, cantors, choir or other musicians. Where it is desired that musicians from outside of the cathedral music ministry team be involved in the performance and leading of the liturgical music, certain norms of musical competence, suitability of instruments and choice of music and liturgical songs will be required, in accordance with the directives and principles outlined in the Catholic Church’s liturgical documents on liturgy and music.
Wedding Music Policy
Music Selections
The selection of music must be appropriate to the sacramental nature of the liturgical celebration of marriage, and therefore must be dignified, and composed for religious, sacred or liturgical purposes. Secular pieces and songs are not appropriate and will not be permitted for use within the liturgy. In the case of vocal music and songs, texts must also conform with the Catholic faith, and should be drawn from Christian scripture, psalms or sacred poetry.
…Texts to be sung must always be in conformity with Catholic doctrine; indeed they should be drawn chiefly from Holy Scripture and from liturgical sources. [SC ChVI 121]
Commercial “pop” music and “love songs” are not in keeping with these elements and will not be permitted in the service. We recommend that music in this genre should be played at your wedding reception.
Musicians
St Patrick’s Cathedral has a highly qualified team of professional church musicians who are able to help with choices and performance of suitable music for your wedding. The Director of Music will assist you in choosing the musicians you wish to have play at your wedding service.
Organist
At St Patrick’s, the organ is regarded as the principal accompaniment for Catholic Liturgies, including Wedding Services and Nuptial Masses.
The Cathedral Organist or his delegated assistant must therefore be engaged to play for all weddings. The cathedral organists are professional musicians who are familiar with the cathedral organs and who are trained in the art of liturgical music and service playing. This ensures that the music for your wedding will be of the highest quality and will be tailored to the liturgical ceremonial to ensure a seamless and unstilted experience for your service.
Other keyboard instruments such as synthesizers, digital pianos, or accordions will not be permitted as substitutes for the cathedral organs.
To assist you in making selections for your wedding ceremony or nuptial mass, a sampler CD of suitable organ music for preludes, processions, and signing of the register is provided. Please use the accompanying liturgical music planning form to help make your selections.
Please note: If you wish to have a particular piece of music which is not in the repertoire list, the Director of Music will attempt to accommodate your request. In this case, the sheet music should be provided for the organist, or if the organist purchases the music to accommodate your request, the cost will be added to the organist fee.
Vocalists/Cantors
If you choose to have a vocalist or cantor sing at your wedding, our Director of Music can secure the services of one of the cathedral cantors or singers who can lead congregational singing as well as provide vocal solos for parts of the service such as the signing of the register. In addition to choices made for hymns and/or signing of the register, the singer should also sing important parts of the Catholic liturgy, especially the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and in the case of a Nuptial Mass, the Holy, Holy and Lamb of God.
Instrumentalists
Additional instrumentalists (trumpet & violin soloists, string quartets & ensembles etc.) are often desired as part of the wedding music. The Music Director can engage the services of professional instrumentalists who are superbly skilled and experienced in working in the Cathedral.
It is Cathedral policy that instrumentalists and ensembles, be arranged in conjunction with the Music Director. Please contact the Music Director for further details and arrangements.
Choir
The presence of a choir can be a very effective way of enhancing your wedding service with beautiful sacred music. A quartet, octet, large choir or any other combination of Cathedral singers may be contracted for your wedding. Ethnic and Community choir groups may be permitted to sing for your wedding, in consultation with, and under supervision of, the cathedral Music Director. To discuss the arrangements and fees for engaging a choir, please contact the Director of Music.
Non-Cathedral Musicians
The professional musicians in the cathedral music ministry team support the cathedral parish by providing their musical services as required for the diverse range of Sunday liturgies and feasts which are conducted at St Patrick’s. In return, the cathedral supports these musicians by way of engagement in weddings, funerals and special liturgies. Use of non-Cathedral musicians for weddings is therefore strongly discouraged. In the event, however, that you wish to employ a non-Cathedral musician at your wedding, the following information applies:
- An audio recording of the musician must be submitted to the Music Director at least 2 months prior to your wedding service. The Music Director will use the recording to determine the musician’s ability to competently fulfil their musical role in the liturgy. This is done to ensure the quality of musical and liturgical prayer at your wedding. Most qualified musicians will have a suitable tape/CD available.
- In the case of qualified non-Cathedral singers, they will be permitted to sing one or two solos by agreement with the Music Director. Please note that even in cases where a non-Cathedral singer is permitted, the minimum liturgical parts of the service should be sung.
- Rehearsal time with the non-Cathedral musician and the Music Director must be arranged. Please note that this rehearsal will require an extra fee.
Musician Fees
The fees for the payment of Cathedral musicians are payable to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and should be paid to the cathedral office once the final music selections have been determined.
Cancellations
Cancellations of contracted musicians made with less than one month’s notice of the wedding date, will incur a cancellation fee amounting to 50% of the fee payable for professional services.
Wedding Rehearsals
It is not usual for wedding musicians to attend the wedding service rehearsal. If, for particular reasons, an arrangement is made with the Director of Music for a cathedral musician to attend the wedding rehearsal, an additional fee will be payable.
Pre-Recorded Music
All music in the cathedral liturgies must be performed by live musicians. The use of any form of pre-recorded music such as CDs and/or Cassette tapes etc. is not permitted before, during or after the cathedral liturgies.
Videography and Recording of Cathedral Music
If you intend to video or audio record the wedding service in the cathedral, you must notify the Director of Music. Except in the case of the cathedral organist and cantor, some restrictions may apply to the recording of particular musical elements.
Consultations with the Director of Music
If you need to arrange a consultation with the cathedral Music Director to discuss music selections or the engagement of musicians please telephone the cathedral music office on (02) 8839 8433 or email to [email protected]
Before your meeting, please be sure to give consideration to the ideas or requests which you may wish to discuss.
Before meeting with the Music Director it is preferable that you have already considered the readings for the service, psalm and gospel acclamation texts you would like. You should bring these details to the meeting.
In following this guide, to Music in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we are confident that the musical experience of your wedding will be a joyous and memorable one for you, the bride and groom and for your wedding guests.
With every best wish for your Wedding Day,
Bernard Kirkpatrick
Director of Music
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Music Policy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta. Applicable from 1 January, 2017. © 2017 St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta, Issued with approval of the Dean.