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Solo viola for your wedding ceremony

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A wedding ceremony soloist is an economical choice for a recessionista bride

As a wedding musician I would always prefer to play with at least one other person - a guitarist, a pianist, for an ethnic wedding maybe an accordion - but in these uncertain economic times sometimes the budget will only allow for one musician. However, musicians are probably less expensive than you think - we can be had for $150-300 per person, sometimes less. And we'll stay and play for your cocktail hour or reception if you like!

I thought I'd make two lenses for you, solo viola and solo violin, so you could see what kind of music suits a single string player at a wedding.These tracks are just me, sitting in my living room recording on my laptop.

If you are having a wedding in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia - or know somebody who is - please check out my band website: Wedding Music in North Carolina. Thanks!

First, listen to the viola playing in two different keys

Some brides prefer the lower sound and some prefer the higher!

This tune is from the Playford Country Dances and is called "The Jovial Beggar"

The Jovial Beggar (upper range of viola)



The Jovial Beggar (lower range of viola)

Much of the music I like to play as a solo fiddler or solo violist is from the English Country Dancing tradition - John Playford printed a number of country dance tune books starting with "The English Dancing Master" in 1651. He didn't write the tunes mostly, he stole them. And classical composers stole from the same source. Listen to Handel's gigue, don't you see it started as a country dance?

My solo violin for wedding ceremony lens

If you're getting married in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, RTP, Hillsborough, the Greensboro/Triad area contact me...

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A classical composer's gigue is usually stolen from the country dance tradition

Wikipedia: The gigue is a lively baroque dance originating from the British jig. It was imported into France in the mid-17th century. ... A gigue is usually in 3/8 or in one of its compound metre derivatives ... it often has accents on the third beats in the bar, making the gigue a lively folk dance. Composers known to have used the gigue include Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.



Here's me playing a gigue by Handel (he probably stole it though) on the violin.

Handel's gigue

This English country dance makes a wonderful processional

I slowed it to march tempo. See below for the way it is danced.

Prince William (solo viola)

Here's the wedding processional "Prince William" as it is danced

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"The Duke of Kent" - a wonderful minuet or waltz

The Duke of Kent for viola

"The Duke of Kent" as it is danced

Here, the soloist is a violist

There are other versions of this tune being danced on YouTube, but I chose this one so you could hear the violist (or maybe it's a cellist.)
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This tune is called "Love's Triumph" and was published in 1713

We've played this a bit slower for a processional and at about this speed for recessionals.

Love's Triumph (viola)

Have you considered solo accordion?

Here is the Duke of Kent danced to the music of an accordionist.

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A beautiful Scottish waltz: Mrs. Jamieson's Favorite

I like this better with a second musician, but it's pretty nice for one when necessary!

Mrs. Jamison's Favourite (viola)

A processional: "Sun Assembly"

This tune was dear to the heart of Carl Wittman, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Master and English Country Dance Master at whose feet Bob and I (The Pratie Heads) learned the romantic, gorgeous tunes of 17th and 18th century England.

Sun Assembly (viola)

Here's Sun Assembly as it is danced

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Here, I'm playing a country dance with a guitar and piano

The bride requested a tune famous from Masterpiece Theater

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I have more tunes for solo strings on my "solo fiddle for wedding ceremonies" lens...

To see the difference in timbre between the viola and the violin, click below:

A solo fiddler for your wedding (free music samples).



Even though I can play solo violin for wedding ceremonies, I think you get more bang for your buck hiring at least two musicians. There can be more variety of music and texture, and it's not very expensive - if you were looking for wedding music in North Carolina it would only cost you $300 (approximately) to have both of us Pratie Heads come play for you!

Sheet music for these English Country Dances

The Barnes Book of English Country Dance Tunes

the book This book is not available from Amazon. You can buy it directly from the author at the Peter Barnes Country Dance website. He writes:

This is a collection of 426 of the most commonly used English traditional dance tunes, for all instruments. Chords are included for piano or guitar accompaniment, and there is an extensive appendix on accompaniment tips for all the various types of dances. This collection has sold thousands of copies all over the United States and is considered to be the standard source for both the Playford and 'barn dance' styles of English traditional dance music. Metal spiral binding to lie flat for easy sight-reading. This book, originally published in 1986, has been completely revised and expanded with new typesetting, 120 new tunes, accompaniment tips, indices and cross-references.

Everybody who plays this music has this book.

Please don't ask your solo string player to play "Pachelbel's Canon." A canon is a round. One person can't play a round alone.

Some beloved, best Jewish melodies for wedding ceremonies on solo viola or fiddle

Hear some favorite Jewish wedding music for string soloists...

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Some of my other wedding music lenses

Various combinations of the people in my wedding bands and wedding ensembles play many kinds of music (also including swing and American popular music for dancing, but I haven't done a lens of that).
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And a few more wedding music lenses!

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Contact me if you'd like this music at your wedding in NC, VA, or SC

Email info@mappamundi.com
Or call 919-383-8952. Thanks!

Please say hi! If you have a question, I'll try to answer it!

I love playing at weddings and I've played a lot of them. Ask away!

  • Michey Feb 16, 2011 @ 9:53 am | delete
    Gorgeous, love your lens and music.
    Thanks
  • Wysiwigs Nov 21, 2010 @ 4:12 am | delete
    Nice lens; your "Country Dance" was most enjoyable!!
  • Joan4 Nov 9, 2010 @ 5:39 am | delete
    You are so talented and knowledgeable. This is a fun page to read and enjoy and packed with good information for weddings!
  • SereneSea Oct 25, 2010 @ 1:54 am | delete
    I love music and a solo viola wedding ceremony is a perfect thing to do for the contemporary weddings. The idea is narrated very effectively on the lens.
  • SelfAndSource Oct 22, 2010 @ 8:37 pm | delete
    A wonderful lens...thank you for sharing your work.
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ChapelHillFiddler

Musician in Chapel Hill with two bands: Mappamundi, a world music - klezmer - swing band, and the Pratie Heads, a Celtic - British Isles - early music... more »

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