5 on Friday - Set 22

On Sunday, my husband and I will be celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary.

I know - crazy!

For today's set, here are five pieces of music that played during our wedding and reception.

For more amazing tunes, visit Travis at Trav's Thoughts.

1 - Gymnopedie No. 1 - Erik Satie

At the time of our wedding, I didn't know the name of this piece, but I'd heard it before and had always loved it. Brad had always loved it, too.

The pianist for our ceremony had a selection of music which she played while guests arrived and were seated. As I was in the side room getting my bouquet and veil arranged, I heard this music and was filled with joy. From his spot at the front of the church, Brad heard it too, and had the exact same reaction.



2 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack

I walked down the aisle to this song.

"I felt your heart
So close to mine
And I knew our joy
Would fill the earth
And last
Till the end of time
My love

The first time
Ever I saw
Your face"

- Ewan MacColl



3 - Canon in D major - Johann Pachelbel

Our recessional music began at the 2:46 mark, where the triumphant, joyous section begins.

Although our wedding was in July, I have to say the slide show that goes along with this clip just takes my breath away. Fall is my favorite, favorite season - perhaps one of the reasons my wedding color was red.



4 - Pretty World - Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66

This is the song we danced to for our first dance. We even took ballroom dancing beforehand so we could samba.

"We'll hang a little sign that just says
'Paradise: Population 2'
I know together
We can make a pretty world
For me and for you"

- Adolfo / Alan & Marilyn Bergman / Gaspar



5 - A Bushel and a Peck - Dee Dee Lennon and Larry Dean

My mom and Aunt Sheila sang this song at the reception in order to get Brad and I to kiss. Since Brad had a habit of singing this to me, I just loved that they'd picked this one in particular.

"I love you
A bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck
And a hug around the neck

Hug around the neck
And a barrel and a heap
Barrel and a heap
And I'm talkin' in my sleep

About you"

- Frank Loesser



Nikita Banerjee says Samba...wow! I am making a list of songs we like as well! We are going to have a sangeet ceremony so some dancing is going to be involved!

Charles Gramlich says Happy 18th. My wife and I are only on #3.

Anne MacFarlane says Happy Anniversary Julia and Mr. Julia!!

Thursday Thirteen - 112 - 13 of My Favorite Classical Pieces

1 - Bach's Air on a G String



2 - Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1



3 - Chopin's Prelude in D Flat Major, Op. 28, No. 15 - The Raindrop



4 - Tchaikovsky's Grand Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker


5 - Prokofiev's The Arrival at the Ball from Cinderella

CLICK HERE for the clip











6 - Tchaikovsky's Finale from Swan Lake



7 - Prokofiev's Tomb Scene from Romeo and Juliet



9 - Puccini's E lucevan le stelle from Tosca



10 - Mozart's Rex Tremendae Majestatis from his Requiem



11 - Orff's O Fortuna from Carmina Burana



12 - Holst's Mars, the Bringer of War from The Planets



13 - Wagner's Siegfried funeral march from Götterdämmerung



Janet says My nana would've LOVED this post!

Leah Braemel says I own every single one of them.

Anthony North says It certainly brings out the emotions.

Thursday Thirteen - 14 - 13 Favorite Pieces of Classical Music

1 - Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker
Pas de Deux: Adagio and Coda (romantic dance between the Sugar Plum Fairy and either the Prince or Peter)

2 - Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake
No. 28 and 29 Scene finale (the battle between Siegfried and Rothbart at the end, the tragic parting of the Swan and Siegfried)


















3 - Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet
No. 19-21 The Balcony scene/ Romeo's variation/ Love Dance



















4 - Puccini's Tosca
"E Lucevan le stelle" ("And the stars were shining") / the prison lament of painter Mario Cavaradossi

"How the stars seemed to shimmer,
the sweet scents of the garden,
how the creaking gate whispered,
and a footstep skimmed over the sand,
how she then entered, so fragrant,
and then fell into my two arms!
Ah sweetest of kiss, languorous caresses,
while I stood trembling, searching her features
concealed by her mantle. My dreams of pure love,
forgotten forever! All of it's gone now!
I die hopeless, despairing, and never before
have I loved life like this!"

















5 - Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries
Beginning of Act III of "Die Walkure" / about eight minutes in length, the Ride consists of four Valkyrie sisters who prepare to transport the fallen heroes to Valhalla. As the four other sisters join them, the Valkyries greet one another with their battle cries as the orchestra provides the thunderous, hair-on-the-back-of-my-neck-raising motif.
















6 - Puccini's Turandot
"Nessun dorma" ("None shall sleep") / the hope for victory by Calaf that he will be the one to finally win the heart of Princess Turandot

"The Prince - Nobody shall sleep!... Nobody shall sleep! Even you, o Princess, in your cold room, watch the stars, that tremble with love and with hope.
But my secret is hidden within me, my name no one shall know... No!...No!... On your mouth I will tell it when the light shines.
And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!...

The Chorus of women - No one will know his name and we must, alas, die.

The Prince - Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At dawn, I will win! I will win! I will win!"

7 - Mozart's Requiem
Rex tremendae majestatis / this pretty much sums up my feelings about the Creator. I was lucky enough to sing this with my old choir in Toronto.

"Rex tremendae majestatis, King of awful majesty,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Who freely savest the redeemed,
Salve me, fons pietatis. Save me, O fount of goodness."


















8 - Carl Orf's Carmina Burana
I got to sing this amazing piece as well. What a heart-stopper!








9 - Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker
Snow Queen Pas de Trois (from the National Ballet of Canada version) or Tableau II, a pine forest in winter / the part of the winter scene that comes before the Waltz of the Snowflakes

10 - Puccini's Madama Butterfly
The "Humming Chorus"

While Butterfly awaits the return of her American lover when his ship returns to port in Japan, her lovechild and her servant Suzuki fall asleep when he does not arrive. But Butterfly never stops waiting. / this part usually has the men in the audience in tears

11 - Vivaldi's Gloria

Another choral piece I was lucky enough to sing. This goes through my head often.















12 - Satie's Trois Gymnopedies
The 1st Gymnopedie / one of my favorite pieces of music, and when my bridesmaids and I were arranging our bouquets, etc. before my wedding, I heard the pianist start to play this. I got chills and knew it was a good sign.









13 - Handel's Messiah
The Hallelujah Chorus / of course, which choir hasn't sung this one? But when we get to the part where we're singing "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" I have never been able to get through it without crying. It gives me shivers just thinking about it.