CD 1: BEFORE THE CEREMONY

J. S. BACH arr. Rawsthorne
1. Air in the G string
   Noel Rawsthorne organ



J.S. BACH arr. Marriner
2. Sheep May Safely Graze (Cantata 208)
   Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner



ALBINONI realised Giazotto
3. Adagio in G minor extract
   Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner



J. S. BACH
4. Sinfonia: Adagio (Cantata BWV156)
   David Reichenberg oboe
   Taverner Players / Andrew Parrott



J.S. BACH arr. Alain
5. Wachet auf! Ruft uns die Stimme BWV645           
   Ole Edvard Antonsen trumpet · Wayne Marshall organ



J.S. BACH
6. Aria in F (by Couperin) BWV587          
   Peter Hurford organ



HANDEL arr. Byfield
7. Largo (Serse)
   Reginald Kilbey and his Strings with Organ



DEBUSSY trans. Renié
8. Arabesque No.1
   Markus Klinko harp



MOZART
9. Clarinet Quintet K491 – II. Larghetto           
   Sabine Meyer clarinet · Members of the Vienna String Sextet
   


KREBS
10. Jesu, meine Freude          
    Maurice André trumpet · Hedwig Bilgram organ



SAINT-SAËNS
11. The Swan (Carnival of the Animals)                      
    Nash Ensemble
    (Christopher van Kempen cello · Ian Brown & Susan Tomes pianos)
    


THALBEN-BALL arr. Thomas
12. Elegy                     
    Alison Balsom trumpet · Quentin Thomas organ



SHOSTAKOVICH
13. Romance (The Gadfly)                      
    Tasmin Little violin · Piers Lane piano



RACHMANINOV
14. Vocalise
    Truls Mørk cello · Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
    



RACHMANINOV
15. Vocalise
    Truls Mørk cello · Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
    



VAUGHAN WILLIAMS arr. Greaves
16. Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ (Sir John in Love)
    Sinfonia of London / Sir John Barbirolli
    
    

CD 2: ARRIVAL VOLUNTARIES

CLARKE
1. Trumpet Voluntary (Prince of Denmark’s March)
   Maurice André trumpet · Jane Parker-Smith organ



WAGNER arr. Bayco
2. Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin)
   Fredric Bayco organ



MARTINI arr. Alain
3. Toccata
   Ole Edvard Antonsen trumpet · Wayne Marshall organ



TRAD. NORWEGIAN arr. Antonsen, Marshall
4. Wedding March from Nordmøre
   Ole Edvard Antonsen trumpet · Wayne Marshall organ



PURCELL arr. Ley
5. Two Trumpet Tunes & Air          
   Ian Tracey organ



GRIEG
6. Wedding Day at Troldhaugen                     
   Leif Ove Andsnes piano



HANDEL arr. Tracey
7. Water Music Suite No.2 in D – Alla hornpipe
   Ian Tracey organ



STANLEY
8. Trumpet Tune
   Maurice André trumpet · Jane Parker-Smith organ



VIVALDI
9. Gloria – Gloria in excelsis Deo        
   Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
   Academy of Ancient Music / Stephen Cleobury



CHARPENTIER
10. Te Deum – Prelude          
    Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir David Willcocks



HANDEL
11. The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (Solomon)                      
    Bournemouth Sinfonietta / Kenneth Montgomery



TELEMANN ed. Grebe
12. Trumpet Concerto in D – IV. Allegro                                 
    Maurice André trumpet
    Berliner Philharmoniker / Herbert von Karajan



PURCELL
13. Come Ye Sons of Art – Symphony: Largo – Allegro                      
    Early Music Consort of London / David Munrow



PACHELBEL
14. Canon in D
    Taverner Players / Andrew Parrott



VERDI arr. Rawsthorne
15. Grand March (Aida)           
    Noel Rawsthorne organ



HANDEL
16. Music for the Royal Fireworks – Réjouissance
    Menuhin Festival Orchestra / Yehudi Menuhin



ANDREA GABRIELLI ed. Stevens
17. Ricercare à 4
    Brass Ensemble / Denis Stevens



VIVALDI
18. The Four Seasons: ‘Spring’ – I. Allegro
    Yehudi Menuhin violin · Paul Cocker continuo
    Camerata Lysy Gstaad / Alberto Lysy



HANDEL
19. Suite for trumpet and strings in D – March
    Maurice André trumpet
    Württemburg Chamber Orchestra / Jörg Faerber



HANDEL arr. Rawsthorne
20. Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)           
    Noel Rawsthorne organ
    

CD 3: VOWS AND PRAYERS

HANDEL
1. Let the bright seraphim – Let their celestial concerts (Samson)
   Pamela Coburn soprano · John Dickinson trumpet
   Hallé Choir & Orchestra / Owain Arwel Hughes



TRAD. GAELIC arr. Rutter
2. Morning has broken (‘Bunessan’)
   Choir of King’s College, Cambridge · Sioned Williams harp
   Stephen Cleobury



SCHUBERT
3. Ave Maria
   Barbara Hendricks soprano
   Erik Lundkvist organ · Stockholm Chamber Orchestra
   Eric Ericson



RUTTER
4. A Gaelic Blessing
   Alfie Boe tenor
   Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
   John Owen Edwards



PARRY arr. Thalben-Ball
5. Jerusalem         
   Dame Janet Baker mezzo-soprano
   Sir Philip Ledger organ



MOZART
6. Alleluia (Exsultate jubilate)                              
   Lucia Popp soprano
   English Chamber Orchestra / Georg Fischer



MALOTTE
7. The Lord’s Prayer
   Charles Craig tenor
   Chorus & Orchestra / Michael Collins
   


BACH-GOUNOD
8. Ave Maria
   Dame Janet Baker mezzo-soprano · Sir Philip Ledger organ



HUGHES
9. Guide me, O thou great redeemer (Cwm Rhonnda)                   
   Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
   Liverpool Cathedral Choir & Brass Ensemble
   Massed Choirs from Merseyside · Ian Wells organ / Ian Tracey



MENDELSSOHN
10. O for the wings of a dove!         
    Elizabeth Atherton soprano · Thomas Trotter organ
    City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus / Simon Halsey



VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
11. The Call (Five Mystical Songs)                      
    John Shirley-Quirk baritone
    English Chamber Orchestra / Sir David Willcocks



D’HARDELOT
12. Because                                  
    Charles Craig tenor
    Michael Collins and his Orchestra



McCOLL
13. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face                      
    Natasha Marsh soprano
    London Symphony Orchestra / François-Xavier Roth



LLOYD WEBBER arr. Lenehan
14. Unexpected Song
    Michael Ball vocal · Julian Lloyd Webber cello · John Lenehan piano



DELIBES
15. Flower Duet (Dôme épais) (Lakmé)          
    Natalie Dessay soprano · Delphine Haidan mezzo-soprano
    Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse / Michel Plasson
    


TRAD arr. Ingman
16. Amazing Grace
    Alfie Boe tenor · Crouch End Festival Chorus
    Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra / John Owen Edwards



VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
17. Antiphon: Let all the world in every corner sing (Five Mystical Songs)
    Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
    English Chamber Orchestra / Sir David Willcocks
    
    

CD 4: SIGNING THE REGISTER

J.S. BACH arr. Thalben-Ball
1. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
   Leon Goossens oboe
   Temple Church Choir / Dr George Thalben-Ball organ



TRAD.
2. The Lord’s My Shepherd (‘Brother James’Air’)
   Thomas Bullard baritone
   Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sioned Williams harp
   Stephen Cleobury



J.S. BACH
3. Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier BWV731
   Peter Hurford organ



BOËLLMANN
4. Prière à Notre-Dame (Suite gothique Op.25)
   Fredric Bayco organ



TALLIS
5. If ye love me
   Choir of King’s College, Cambridge / Sir Philip Ledger



J.S. BACH
6. In dulci jubilo BWV729
   Philip Ledger organ



FAURÉ
7. Cantique de Jean Racine
   Winchester Cathedral Choir / Stephen Farr organ
   David Hill



LISZT
8. Liebestraum No.3
   Kung Woo Paik piano



WALFORD DAVIES arr. R. E. C. Davies
9. Solemn Melody
   Barry Rose organ
   Central Band of the RAF / Wing Cdr R. E. C. Davies LRAM, ARCM



ELGAR
10. Nimrod (‘Enigma’ Variations)         
    London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Adrian Boult



TAVENER
11. The Lamb
    Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
    Stephen Cleobury



ELGAR
12. Salut d’amour
    Northern Sinfonia of England / Richard Hickox



BURGON
13. Nunc dimittis
    Paul Miles-Kingston treble
    Crispian Steele-Perkins trumpet / Martin Neary organ



MASSENET
14. Méditation (Thaïs)
    Kyung Wha Chung violin / Itamar Golan piano



SCHUBERT
15. Psalm 23 ‘Gott ist mein Hirt’ D706
    Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
    Sir Philip Ledger piano



HANDEL
16. Thine be the Glory (Maccabaeus)
    Liverpool Cathedral Choir & Brass Ensemble
    Massed Choirs from Merseyside
    Ian Wells organ / Ian Tracey

CD 5: COMMUNION

FRANCK orch. Challan
1. Panis angelicus
   Barbara Hendricks soprano
   Stockholm Chamber Orchestra / Eric Ericson



MOZART
2. Ave verum corpus K618
   Swedish Radio Chorus / Stockholm Chamber Choir
   Berliner Philharmoniker / Riccardo Muti



SAINT-SAËNS
3. Bénédictiction nuptiale Op.9
   Wayne Marshall organ



GOUNOD arr. McCarthy
4. O Divine Redeemer
   June Bronhill soprano / Brian Stanborough organ



WILLIAM BYRD
5. Ave verum corpus
   Monks & Choirboys of Downside Abbey
   David Lawson director of boys’ choir &
   Dom Dunstan O’Keefe director of monks’ choir



MOZART
6. Laudate Dominum (Solemn Vespers K339)
   Lynne Dawson soprano
   Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
   Stephen Layton organ / Cambridge Classical Players
   Stephen Cleobury



VERDI
7. Laudi alla Vergine Maria (Quattro pezzi sacri)
   Philharmonia Chorus chorus master Wilhelm Pitz
   Carlo Maria Giulini



SCHUBERT
8. Heilig, heilig, heilig (Deutsche Messe D872)
   Chor & Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
   Wolfgang Sawallisch



ELGAR
9. Ave verum corpus Op.2 No.1
   Choir of Worcester Cathedral / Harry Bramma organ
   Christopher Robinson



GOUNOD
10. Sanctus (St Cecilia Mass)
    Laurence Dale tenor / Chœurs de Radio-France
    Nouvelle Orchestre Philharmonique / Georges Prêtre



JENKINS
11. Ave verum corpus
    Alfie Boe tenor
    Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
    John Owen Edwards



LLOYD WEBBER
12. Pie Jesu (Requiem)
    Jane Gilchrist soprano / Fergus Thirlwell boy soprano
    Simon Gibson organ
    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra / Kirk Trevor



MESSIAEN
13. O sacrum convivium
    London Voices / Terry Edwards



BRAHMS
14. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (Ein deutsches Requiem Op.45)
    BBC Symphony Chorus
    London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra / Klaus Tennstedt



MASCAGNI
15. Salve, O Maria
    Barbara Hendricks soprano
    Stockholm Chamber Orchestra / Eric Ericson



JENKINS
16. Benedictus (The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace)
    National Youth Choir of Great Britain (musical director: Mike Brewer)
    Guy Johnston cello
    London Philharmonic Orchestra / Karl Jenkins

CD 6: DEPARTURE VOLUNTARIES

MENDESSSOHN
1. Wedding March (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
   Noel Rawsthorne organ



WIDOR
2. Toccata (Symphony No.5 Op.42)
   Wayne Marshall organ



KARG-ELERT
3. Now thank we all our God
   Philip Ledger organ



J.S. BACH
4. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F BWV1047 – III. Allegro assai
   Maurice André trumpet / Kenneth Smith flute
   Gordon Hunt oboe / Christopher Warren-Green violin
   Philharmonia Orchestra / Riccardo Muti



MULET
5. Carillon-sortie in D
   Wayne Marshall organ



HANDEL
6. Suite for trumpet and strings in D – Overture
   Maurice André trumpet
   Württemburg Chamber Orchestra / Jörg Faerber



CHARPENTIER
7. Marche de triomphe
   Consortium Musicum / Fritz Lehan



ELGAR
8. Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 Op.39
   Noel Rawsthorne organ



BONNET
9. Étude de Concert
   Nicholas Kynaston organ



J. S. BACH
10. Mein gläubiges Herz (Cantata No.68)
    Maurice André trumpet / Jane Parker-Smith organ



VIVALDI
11. Double Trumpet Concerto in C – I. Allegro
    Maurice André, Bernard Soustrot trumpets
    Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Sir Neville Marriner



WIDOR
12. Marche pontificale
    Nicholas Kynaston organ



J.S. BACH
13. Gavotte en rondeau (Violin Partita in E)
    Maurice André trumpet / Jane Parker-Smith organ



J.S. BACH
14. Bourrée (Cello Suite No.4)
    Maurice André trumpet / Jane Parker-Smith organ



GIGOUT
15. Grand Chœur dialogué
    Wayne Marshall organ

100 Best Wedding Classics is another release in EMI’s highly successful 100 BEST series. This 6 CD set contains a collection of 100 popular classics that may be played at weddings, performed by some of the world’s finest artists.

The six CDs are themed as follows:

CD 1:Before the Ceremony
Gentle music to put the guests into a happy mood before the ceremony begins

CD 2: Arrival Voluntaries
Music to accompany the wedding party as they enter the venue, including the famous Wedding March from Wagner’s Lohengrin

CD 3: Vows and Prayers
Uplifting music to signify both the solemnity and the happiness of a wedding

CD 4: Signing the Register
Reflective music to help the guests concentrate on the importance of the occasion

CD 5: Communion
Mainly liturgical music suitable for the most serious part of the ceremony 

CD 6: Departure of the Bride and Groom
Joyous music to be played as the happy couple leave, including the Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn and Widor’s Toccata

The music included in this set is suitable for every kind of wedding, from the grandest royal ceremonial occasion in a great cathedral with a full orchestra, choir and soloists, to the most intimate service with only an organ or harp, or perhaps just a CD player on which some of the tracks from this album can be played.

The programme covers favourite pieces of liturgical music suitable for all types of religious wedding services, as well as secular works for non-religious occasions, including civil ceremonies. The works are suitable for all the various stages of a wedding, with a section devoted to liturgical music for services that include communion or the lighting of candles, although these pieces could also be used during other parts of the ceremony.

A number of the works are heard here in special arrangements using an organ instead of an orchestra, sometimes alone and sometimes with a singer or trumpet soloist, in the way music is traditionally performed at most church weddings.

The artists in the set include the organists Wayne Marshall, Sir Philip Ledger, Ian Tracey, Jane Parker-Smith, Peter Hurford and Noel Rawsthorne; the trumpeters Maurice André, Ole Edvard Antonsen and Alison Balsom; the singers Dame Janet Baker, Barbara Hendricks, and Alfie Boe; the choirs of King’s College, Cambridge, Liverpool Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral and the Hallé Choir, as well as many other distinguished performers.