A Royal Procession
Ever wonder what music to play for your wedding ceremony? Ever wonder what was played at THE wedding ceremony (you know, the one with the prince and princess)?
Catherine Middleton (as she was known prior to the wedding) walked into Westminster Abbey to the tune of “I Was Glad” as it was arranged by Sir Hubert Parry in 1902.
What? No “here comes the bride”? Not even a good rendition of Pachebel’s Canon in D? Those two songs are commonly used and have a lot of history.
“Here Comes the Bride” or the “Wedding March” is from the 1850 opera Lohengrin written by Wagner, a german composer. In the opera, the song comes after the ceremony as the bride and groom leave the reception, as it were. Many religions oppose this particular song. Wagner was known as an anti-Semite so you’ll rarely hear this piece at a jewish wedding. Likewise, since Wagner’s operas often included pagan worship, the Lutheran church typically opposes it.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D was most likely written in 1694 for a wedding that Pachelbel actually attended where one of his music pupils, who was also the older brother of Johann Sebastian Bach, was married. I don’t typically recommend writing your own wedding music, but if you’re Pachelbel, go for it.
So where does “I Was Glad” fit into the musical history of weddings? The text of the song comes from the Book of Common Prayer in 1662, and contains verses from Psalm 122. Parry’s rendition from 1902 was used at the coronation of King Edward VII, and later used for other coronation ceremonies. For the prince and princess, this is essentially music from their family history, that history being the kings and queens of England.
What were they glad about? “I Was Glad” refers to the response you have when entering the House of the Lord. It’s an absolutely beautiful sentiment for any wedding, even if it’s not a royal wedding. Here is the text:
- I was glad when they said unto me : We will go into the house of the Lord.
- Our feet shall stand in thy gates : O Jerusalem.
- Jerusalem is built as a city : that is at unity in itself.
- For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord : to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the Lord.
- For there is the seat of judgement : even the seat of the house of David.
- O pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee.
- Peace be within thy walls : and plenteousness within thy palaces.
- For my brethren and companions’ sakes : I will wish thee prosperity.
- Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God : I will seek to do thee good.
