Pipers at weddings

[Seawolf]

Cant say enough about Pipers at a Wedding. Both my daughter and my son had them at there weddings and in a similar fashion. Piping in the bride before the ceremony behind closed doors and the Cannon in d minor. And then piping the bride and groom out of church and through the reception line/

Nothing like the sound of GHP and the drone b flat before the blow!

Can't say enough!

Le deagh dhùrachd,

Seawolf

[OC Richard]

the Cannon in d minor

That must have really boomed! (sorry) A cannon is a weapon, a canon is a piece of music, which is like Row Row Row Your Boat, a piece where one musician starts it and at a certain point a second musician comes in at the beginning, forming a counterpoint... so a canon requires at least two pipers, something that people forget sometimes when they're requesting music.

Anyhow who is the composer of said "canon in D minor"?

[Father Bill]

The Canon in D is by Paschelbel. If I may be so bold, the way you have described a canon is actually one sung as a round (different starting points) A canon is actually merely a repeated piece of music, possibly with variations.

cannon = big noisy gun
Canon = senior priest (Or a big noisy son of a gun)
canon = repeated music . . . or a rule in the church!

That must have really boomed! (sorry) A cannon is a weapon, a canon is a piece of music, which is like Row Row Row Your Boat, a piece where one musician starts it and at a certain point a second musician comes in at the beginning, forming a counterpoint... so a canon requires at least two pipers, something that people forget sometimes when they're requesting music.

Anyhow who is the composer of said "canon in D minor"?

[piperdbh]

As a non-fan of the Pachelbel Canon in D (Major), I'd certainly be willing to hear it played in a minor key.

[OC Richard]

The Canon in D is by Paschelbel. If I may be so bold, the way you have described a canon is actually one sung as a round (different starting points) A canon is actually merely a repeated piece of music, possibly with variations.

Sorry Father Bill, but I have to set the record straight. The famous "Canon in D" (there are hundreds of canons in D by various composers) is in D Major, not D minor, and is by Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706). Which is not to say that there might not have been a composer named Paschelbel, but if so he's not listed in any book I have.

A canon is as I described, and not merely a piece where the theme is repeated with variations. If you don't believe me perhaps you'll believe The New College Encyclopedia of Music, wherein is stated:

CANON: a polyphonic composition in which one part is imitated by one or more other parts, entering subsequently in such a way that the successive statements of the melody overlap.

(BTW the word "imitate" has a more specific meaning in music than otherwise: IMITATION: a contrapuntal device whereby a motif or phrase is presented successively by different voices. If the imitation is exact or governed by a stated rule it is called CANON.)

So, as you see, Row Row Row Your Boat is indeed a canon (the word "round" not being used in music theory), in fact what is called a "strict" canon; also that a canon must have at least two voices, stating the same melody but beginning at different points. If not, it's not a canon.

So... a solo piper or flutist could play one of the parts of a canon, but the performance would not be the performance of a canon. To put it another way, a solo melody player cannot peform a duet, and a canon must be at least a duet.

[Father Bill]

I am suitably chastised & informed!

[Meggers]

Hi lads,

I booked the venue this morning and it's stunningly beautiful. The place is two levels and is decorated like an old Southern home. The date of my wedding will be December 28, 2013 and the venue will be covered in evergreen, candles, and all the wonderful winter decorations. There is a big library with a large fireplace and large windows where the ceremony will take place, a HUGE ceiling high Christmas tree that will be in the parlor where guests will walk in, and then a large room where we will eat with an enclosed balcony made of windows overlooking a gorgeous thick wooded area that will look great with the snow. The basement is all wood paneling and it will be a great area for dancing, kids playing, and bridal party getting ready before the ceremony. The upstairs, after the ceremony, will have the food, chai and cider bar, mingling, and a small orchestra playing while everyone mingles.

NOW I am ready to look for my piper. The venue has the charm of a home so Id love to have the piper playing at the door, but I cant bring myself to ask any human being to stand outside in a kilt in the dead of winter in Wisconsin and stand still. No way. I am not a cruel bride and I really dont want to put any poor soul through that torture. So, I am thinking I will have him standing inside of the door. He will look really swell next to the large Christmas tree too

The actual ceremony will be in Milton, WI. Do any of you guys know of any pipers that you could recommend, or if YOU might want to be the piper who plays?

I am on cloud 9 right now. I couldnt have found a more perfect place and I just cant stop picturing how gorgeous it's going to be. We are going to have a nikkah (contract signing) at this fabulously gorgeous mosque the day before, then go and do the rehearsal and dinner. Then, the next day, we will have the ceremony and reception No alcohol! haha. My grandfather was like "....what?....what do you mean no alcohol? They will have beer and wine, right?" poor man.

[Father Bill]

Congratulations. We're proud of you! Every prayer for a long and happy life together.

[David Thorpe]

...I cant bring myself to ask any human being to stand outside in a kilt in the dead of winter in Wisconsin and stand still. No way. I am not a cruel bride and I really dont want to put any poor soul through that torture...

Too bad. You just lost your bid to appear on Bridezillas.