800 W. Baker Road, Baytown, TX 77521-2311
281-837-8180
Office Hours (M-F) 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
281-837-8180
Office Hours (M-F) 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Music Guidelines
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Contact Us
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ij.ramirezstjohnbaytown.orgCoordinator of Music and Liturgy
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Music for the Wedding LiturgyThe Wedding Liturgy is the Church at PrayerCouples should schedule an appointment with IJ Ramirez at LEAST six to eight weeks prior to the ceremony. If more elaborate musical preparations are desired, an earlier appointment would be preferable. Mr. Ramirez will guide you through your selections, offer suggestions, or answer questions you may have. Please contact the parish office for more information.GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS :A wedding ceremony is first and foremost a sacred celebration, a liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. The integrity and dignity of the Catholic liturgy must be respected and maintained. The wedding liturgy should be a mirror image of any typical Sunday liturgy of our Parish. It should be very similar to the Sunday celebration of Eucharist you attend here at St. John each week.The Church makes every effort to help the engaged couple in preparing the wedding liturgy, but it is and will remain the Church's liturgy. Couples are encouraged to read, pray about and choose the scriptures that will be proclaimed at the wedding, pray over and select the appropriate prayers and responses, and also to use their experience of attending Sunday Mass to help them in selecting appropriate music for the wedding liturgy.The primary purpose of music in any liturgy is to help people pray. Music will do this in different ways at different times. Music selections should express not only faith of the couple but also the common faith of the whole Church. Many pieces of music which speak of love in purely secular terms are not appropriate for the wedding ceremony and would be more appropriate at the wedding reception. Music for the wedding liturgy must express a sacred text and what we as Roman Catholics believe about marriage. The songs found in the appendix are good examples.Please remember it is the entire assembly which worships at the wedding. As much as possible, music, particularly hymns, responses, and acclamations, should facilitate active participation by the entire congregation. A soloist should, if possible, function as a LEADER of the assembly's sung prayer. Solo songs should be used only at those points in the service when participation by the assembly is not essential.MUSICIANS :Requesting "outside" musicians can create serious problems. Often the main reason for selecting these persons is because they are relatives or friends, and not because they are professionally trained musicians. As a result the music for the celebration suffers. Because of limited professional training and experience, these people do not adjust well to new surroundings, unfamiliar sound systems and local liturgical procedures. Please keep this in mind.
Guest musicians are not allowed without the prior permission.WHAT IS AND IS NOT APPROPRIATEMusic before the CeremonyThe pianist is instructed to begin playing approximately twenty minutes before the ceremony is to begin. Couples may request special music at this point or leave it to the discretion of the pianist. One or more vocal selections may be sung at this time. Music before the Ceremony or Prelude Music should serve to unite the thoughts of the assembly toward the sacrament which is about to take place; this is not the time to remind them of the period of romance and courtship which the couple has already experienced. Although the ceremony has not yet begun, we are gathering at the altar of God, in a sacred room where we encounter the “Divine”. To use music of a secular nature would be entirely inappropriate and is not allowed at St. John.Procession/GatheringThe seating of the mothers will commence at the hour the ceremony is to begin. Appropriate music could be either vocal or instrumental. A traditional selection would be either the Bach-Gounod or Schubert "Ave Maria." The ideal processional music for the wedding is a hymn inviting the singing of the assembly. This helps the assembly to become conscious of themselves as a worshiping community, to enter into the celebration more fully, and it prepares them to hear God's word. Songs which would be appropriate include, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," "All Creatures of Our God and King," and many more. Hymns can be accompanied by Flutes, Brass, and piano to create a festive atmosphere.Some couples choose to have an instrumental procession followed by the singing of a hymn. (This is especially helpful if the wedding party is large.)
Responsorial PsalmThese are the ancient songs and hymns of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Church provides that some scriptural texts are more appropriate for some liturgies than for others. There is a list of those for whom good musical settings are available in the appendix.Gospel Acclamation / Eucharistic AcclamationsThe Gospel and Eucharistic Acclamations will be selected by the Director of Music from among those which would most likely be familiar to the majority of the people present. (Generally the "Mass of Creation" by Marty Haugen or the Proulx "Community Mass" is used for Eucharistic acclamations and Isele's Holy Cross Mass "Lamb of God".) If a couple has a particular Mass setting they would like to have used they should make such request to IJ Ramirez at the time of their consultation.The Our Father (Lord's Prayer)The Our Father is properly the prayer of the total assembly. It is preferable that it be sung by the entire community gathered in prayer. The singing of this prayer at weddings may discourage participation by those who may not know the musical setting or who may not care to sing. For this reason it is spoken rather than sung at weddings. Under no circumstances will the Lord's Prayer be sung as a solo.Communion Songs :The purpose of the Communion Song is to express the unity within the members of the body of Christ that is experienced in the reception of the Eucharist. The song should be one that fosters this sense of unity. Here, once again, a song is needed that invites and allows for the singing of the assembly. A solo, such as "Panis Angelicus" is a song for Eucharistic adoration and not communion and would be inappropriate. Many suggestions are listed in the appendix.Recessionals:The recessional music should suggest the joy of the occasion. Any of the hymns suggested for the Gathering would also be appropriate here. An instrumental recessional may be selected in place of a hymn. Many excellent selections are given in the appendix.
PERSONNEL -
Pianist
Couples wishing to be wed at St. John are obliged to use the services of our pianist (an experienced and accomplished performer.) The donation request for this service is $100.
Vocalist:St. John has available for weddings an excellent male cantor (song leader). The donation request for this service is $100.
Payment:FEES FOR ALL MUSICIAN SERVICES WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC.Checks should be made payable to the individual musicians, and may be mailed to the Church: Director of Music, St. John The Evangelist, 800 West Baker Road, Baytown, TX 77521. Fees must be paid in advance of the wedding.SOME SUGGESTED MUSICThe following selections are appropriate for use within the wedding liturgy. This list also includes the function for which the song might be appropriate. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but contains a wealth of excellent options from which to choose . . .PRELUDES, GIFTS, UNITY CANDLE, MEDITATIONSThe Prayer of St. Francis S. TempleThe Gift of Love Hal HopsonWherever You Go Gregory NorbertWherever You Go David HaasI Have Loved You Michael JoncasO Father All Creating D. BuxtehudeThe Wedding Song TraditionalThe Bridal Prayer R. CopelandI Will Greatly Rejoice R. HillertA Wedding Prayer T. BeckO God of Love E. ButlerWhen Love Is Found Trad. EnglishIn This Very Room Ron & Carol HarrisBless O Lord These Rings Joseph RoffPROCESSIONAL, RECESSIONALS,Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring J.S. BachPrelude In Classic Style Gordon YoungSheep May Safely Graze J.S. BachTrumpet Voluntary in D Henry PurcellTrumpet Tune Henry PurcellAir on the G String J.S. BachArioso J.S. BachCanon in D J. PachelbelPsalm 19 B. MarcelloRigaudon Andre CampraHymn To Joy (9th Symphony) BeethovenTrumpet Voluntary Gordon YoungSound The Trumpets G.F. HandelLa Réjouissance G.F. HandelGATHERING HYMNSLove Divine All Loves ExcellingAll Creatures of Our God and KingO God Beyond All PraisingAlleluia, Sing To JesusGather Us InPraise to the Lord The AlmightyJoyful, Joyful, We Adore TheePSALMSThe Lord Is Kind and Merciful HaugenTaste and See HaugenBlest Are those Who Love You HaugenFor Weddings C. ConleyMay the Lord Bless Us J. ChepponisWe Praise You O Lord Ducote, DaigleThe Lord Is My and Light D. HaasThis is the Day JoncasLet All The Earth M. HaugenWhat Return Can I Make to ... C. ConleyCOMMUNION SONGSWe Have Been Told D. HaasNo Greater Love M. JoncasOn Eagle's Wings M. JoncasTaste and See J. MooreNow In This Banquet M. HaugenIn The Breaking of the Bread B. HurdPan De Vida B. HurdThe Name of God D. HaasOne Bread, One Body J. Foley, S.J.Here I Am, Lord D. SchutteOur Blessing Cup M. JoncasWill You Let me Be Your Servant Gilliard