The Music
Set the mood for the ceremony with organ music
By Glenda Sanders Contributing Writer
When a bride-to-be envisions her wedding , one of the things she imagines is beautiful music playing as she walks down the aisle . For church weddings , that music usually comes from an organ .
From the seating of guests to the processional to the exit of the wedding party , a seasoned organist helps to set the mood for the ceremony .
Greer Goldman , an organist for 43 years , says the musical selections are chosen by the wedding couple .
“ Some people like classical songs for their wedding . Some people like secular songs for
Goldman their wedding . Some people like spiritual and religious songs for their wedding ,” Goldman said .
“ Sometimes they only want that one style of music and sometimes they want a mix of different styles .”
Goldman played his first wedding at age 15 shortly after becoming the organist at Fifth Street United Methodist Church .
“ I always loved the piano and the organ when I was young ,” he recalled . “ I took my first church when I was 15 years old , and I had a wedding at the church . I had never played a wedding before and did not know what to do . But I did it .”
Although intimidating for a teenager , Goldman pulled it off and has played more than a hundred weddings in the Meridian area over the past four decades . He also plays the piano and keyboard , the latter of which is popular for outdoor weddings .
For church weddings , organ music can create a dramatic air for the big day .
The most popular songs depend on the style of music selected by the couple .
“ If they want sacred music , then they want hymns that are love songs and related to the Bible . ‘ Joyful , Joyful We Adore Thee ,’ there is an arrangement of ‘ Jesus Loves Me ’ that a lot of brides like . ‘ O Perfect Love ’ is an older hymn , but a lot of people like it ,” said Goldman , who has served as the organist of Highland Baptist Church for years .
For brides wanting more secular music , then the requests are love songs that are popular at the time , whether country music or rock , he added .
Garth Brooks ’ “ Can I Have This Dance ” has always been popular .
“ At one time , the theme from the movie Ice Castles was very popular for weddings ,” Goldman said , referring to the hit song , “ Through the Eyes of Love .”
For more traditional weddings , “ Canon in D ” by German composer Johann Pachelbel is a beautiful , timeless classic used during the processional of mothers and bridesmaids . Goldman said another favorite is Johann Sebastian Bach ’ s “ Jesu , Joy of Man ’ s Desiring .”
The entrance song for the bride to walk down the aisle is one of the most important songs in the ceremony .
The most traditional and well known of these is “ Bridal Chorus ” from the 1850 opera Lohengrin by the German composer Richard Wagner . It is more commonly known as “ Here Comes the Bride .”
“ The Prince of Denmark March ,” more commonly known as “ Trumpet Voluntary ,” by English composer Jeremiah Clarke , as well as his “ Trumpet Tune ” are also pretty choices that are popular for the bride ’ s arrival .
For the recessional at the end of the ceremony , German Composer Felix Mendelssohn ’ s “ Wedding March ” has long been a favorite and has been used at British royal weddings dating back to 1858 .
“ People think the ‘ Wedding March ’ is generally used when the bride comes in , but it is not . It is usually played when the bride leaves ,” Goldman said .
Occasionally , he does get an odd request he is happy to accommodate if he can get the sheet music .
“ I have played the “ Star Trek ” theme before at a wedding ,” he laughed .
Besides being an organist , Goldman currently works at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home and Aldersgate Retirement Community . He previously spent nearly 35 years working for the city of Meridian ’ s Public Works Department and the Lauderdale County Road Department before retiring .
Goldman said he enjoys playing wedding ceremonies because no two events are alike .
“ They are all different . Most of the time , the music is pretty much the same , but the wedding itself , they are all different ,” he said . “ I have played weddings as small as two bridesmaids to as many as 15 .” www . meridianstar . com
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