Wedding March vs. Canon in D

March 22, 2007 at 3:54 AM

So I was asked to play violin for a uni mate’s wedding. I was reluctant in the beginning because I thought the playing has to be “perfect” for a wedding. After all, it is going to be an ever lasting memory for my friend. So I randomly picked a popular Chinese melody out of my head, recorded my playing and sent her the demo. She was quite happy with it, so I guess I passed her test.

Now comes the second dilemma: Wagner’s Wedding March or Pachabel’s Canon in D. In my opinion, neither will sound appropriate for violin solo. It should be at least a duet if not a quartet to make the music sound decent for a wedding. I’m happy to play Canon in D on the piano, but my friend insisted it has to be violin, and she preferred the Wedding March. So I sent her another demo of Canon in D on the piano to see if she likes it. I have yet to get her response.

The wedding is in Hong Kong, which means finding a music friend to play with me impossible. Hiring a professional musician is not what my friend had in mind. She wanted her friend to play, not strangers. My sister, who will be attending the wedding, who hasn’t touched the piano for 20 years is my best shot.

Does anyone has:

A violin solo arrangement of Wagner’s Wedding March that is beautiful and yet easy enough for me to play it decently?

A violin & piano arrangement of Wagner’s Wedding March with a very simple piano accompaniment that my sister could play?

A better suggestion?

If I could have a wish now, I’d wish for Buri to fly from Japan to Hong Kong in December and play in the wedding with me! Any chance you'll be flying to Hong Kong for holidays in December?

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 4:01 AM

Greetings,
gosh I@d love to, but in the winter I usually hibernate.
Cheers,
Buri

From Ben Clapton
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 4:13 AM

Why don't you try my arrangement of Canon in D for Solo Violin? Find it here: Pachelbel Canon in D, arranged for Solo Violin
Feel free to use it anywhere you like, just let me know where. I don't charge for performance rights, I just like knowing where it's being performed.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 4:55 AM

I was about to write and say that I have turned down requests to play Pachelbel's Canon as a solo for weddings. Ben, thanks for your arrangement of it for solo violin. I'm eager to try it.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 4:58 AM

I found a very playable version of Wagner's Wedding March for violin and piano accompaniment on www.virtualsheetmusic.com.

From William Yap
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 5:44 AM

Thanks Ben for your version of Canon in D. I’ll probably cut down the double 3rds a bit (my intonation of them is not so secure yet), and also cut out the repeated bits. Otherwise the bride will be walking for an hour to get to the groom! If I play it, it will be in Hong Kong in December. Perhaps I can write an easy piano accompaniment for it. Just to check, the harmonic progression is just a repeat of the following, right?

I, V, VI, III, IV, I, IV, V

D major, A major, B minor, F# minor, G major, D major, G major, A major.

I’m currently using Cakewalk Pro (for PC) to write MIDI but it’s a pain when it comes to printing the sheet music in a readable format. I’ve heard about Sebelius. Have you used it and if so, would you recommend it?

Thank Pauline, I will take a look at the Wedding March in the website. Maybe I can rearrange the piano to make it a bit easier for my sister.

Buri, Christmas in Hong Kong is wonderful and probably not as cold as in Japan. Can I persuade you to reconsider? It’s a shopping paradise! Although, the wedding will be held much earlier in December.

From Karen Allendoerfer
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 11:19 AM

This falls into the realm of "another suggestion", but I really like the theme from the 4th mvt. of Brahms' 1st symphony, played on violin, as a walk down the aisle piece.

That's what I walked down the aisle to at my own wedding, although it was played by a string quartet, not just a single violin.

From Ben Clapton
Posted on March 22, 2007 at 12:16 PM

It should take between 3-5 mins to get through my arrangement. That is ample time for a bridal enterance

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