Music for Ceremonies and Receptions

Full-range Consulting, Planning, Contracting and
Performance Services for Weddings in Middle Tennessee

James A. Weinberg, MME

Seen here at the console of the Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ of
Belmont Heights Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee

My partner for Celtic weddings is Gregory Martin Cutcliff of the Nashville Pipes and Drums. Mr. Cutcliff's ancestors trimmed the cliffs of Dover. My only connection is I had an uncle from Edinburgh, and I love Celtic music! We play a rousing Highland Cathedral together. It's perhaps the most popular and stirring Scottish-style processional march in use today. Listen to an MP3 recorded in Scarritt's Wightman Chapel.

Organist, Holy Cross Anglican Church, Franklin
and Piano Instructor Serving Brentwood & Franklin

The following describes the services I offer when you contract with me to play for your wedding.

Consultation Session
If you choose a package that includes consultation, we can meet at the organ or piano to audition pieces from my repertoire. If this is not convenient, you may elect to listen to recordings and let me know your favorite pieces by phone or email. Some people even say, "I'll just leave it up to you."

Pre-service music for the 15-20 minutes prior to the service may be chosen, including music for seating the mothers. For traditional weddings, there is nothing more popular than the celebrated Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel. The bridesmaids' processional most often used is the by Jeremiah Clarke (Princess Diana's processional). Congregational hymns, solos, or special pieces may also be selected. The traditional wedding march is Wagner's from Lohengrin, commonly known as "Here Comes the Bride." The traditional recessional is Felix Mendelssohn's Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, also known as the theme from "The Newlywed Game." Both these pieces are secular and come from works based on mythological themes. Alternative pieces, just as suitable for the occasion, can be auditioned during the consultation. For specifically Celtic repertoire, please use the appropriate links in the Index.

The couple can greatly assist the process by listening to classical and sacred recordings prior to the consultation to identify the style of music which most appeals to their tastes. Specific composers (e.g. "Bach/Gounod") and periods (e.g. "Romantic") and names of works (e.g. "Ave Maria") will greatly aid the organist and make the consultation period more productive.

You may bring sheet music of favorite songs, tapes, or programs from other weddings at this time. Sheet music to specially requested songs must be purchased and supplied to the organist at least two weeks prior to the ceremony, and will remain the property of the bride and groom. Discretion should be used when requesting love songs and other secular music, keeping in mind the sacramental nature of the ceremony. Your minister can offer guidance on this subject as well. Rules defining restrictions vary from church to church, so ultimately these decisions should be made in conjunction with the officiating minister.

Rehearsal
Please plan the walk-through of the bridesmaids' processional, bridal march, and recessional at the beginning of the rehearsal. The organist is generally not needed for the remainder of activities that take place. A 50% deposit is required in advance and remainder of fees is expected at the rehearsal.

Fee Schedule for Weddings

Weddings more than 30 miles from Nashville will incur a travel fee, to be negotiated. Extra rehearsals to accomodate soloists are $75 per half-hour session. If an instrument is not available at your site, a setup fee is charged for transporting my own keyboard, amp and speaker system. I am also available to play piano at the rehearsal dinner and reception--popular music, country, love songs, movie themes, etc.--at the rate of $100 dollars per hour. I can also subcontract vocalists and instrumentalists for a variety of chamber ensembles.

Complete Rate Schedule at

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