marlon was happy to leave music-related decisions to me (except for our first dance song, which we are being indecisive about as a tandem) by virtue of my eight years of singing in a choir. twelve if you count my church choir days -- egad that's effectively half my life! anyway, that factor seems to have become a liability rather than an asset. eight years' worth of songs to choose from! and that's just for the ceremony!
i am definitely sure i want songs encompassing my choral "career" from beginning to end -- from high school in the st. andrews' church choir, to my trainee days in the glee club, to competing in europe, then to moving on to acs. i am also sure i want acs to learn new songs -- none of the generic/recycled repertoire that's default choral fare for weddings and that we can sing in our sleep (i am happy to report they agree with me 100%!). and i am also sure i want nothing that screams bongga, just songs that have beautiful lyrics and moving melodies.
so far, i've chosen two songs that are definite yeses for the ceremony. they both have beautiful words, so i thought i'd post their lyrics here.
the song: open thou mine eyes by john rutter
to be sung during: communion
the story: i first heard this song in 2000, when the glee club won an international competition in marktoberdorf, germany. we were doing a joint concert with a finnish choir called audite helsinki. (one of their guest singers at the time is still a good friend to this day.) they sang this with so much heart that i instantly fell in love.
i've always wanted to learn it, and while i can't on my wedding day, at least i can compel my friends to! i really love how it's simple and moving, like an old-fashioned hymn.
the words:
Open thou mine eyes and I shall see
Incline my heart and I shall desire
Order my steps and I shall walk
In the ways of thy commandments.
O Lord God, be thou to me a God
And beside thee let there be none else
None other, nought else with thee.
Vouchsafe to me to worship thee and serve thee
According to thy commandments
In truth of spirit, in reverence of body
In blessing of lips, in private and public.
Open thou mine eyes and I shall see
Incline my heart and I shall desire
Order my steps and I shall walk
In the ways of thy commandments.
the song: this marriage by eric whitacre
to be sung during: hmmm. i don't know yet. basta it MUST be sung!
the story: i also discovered whitacre during that competition in marktoberdorf in 2001. one of our competitors (ah, i mean, isa sa mga tinalo namin haha), the portland state university choir, sang whitacre's water night, a poem by octavio paz set to music. it was gorgeous. utterly gorgeous. i remember listening to it over and over again months later, and i still listen to it sometimes, six years later.
water night did not work so well with acs, so we took up other lovely whitacre pieces such as i thank you god for most this amazing day (words by e.e. cummings) -- which i would have liked acs to sing at my wedding. i thank you god is just too long, though, so i started googling whitacre songs that might be appropriate for a wedding. i hit on this song, and when i saw that the lyrics were by the sufi poet rumi, whose works i love... bingo!
the words:
May these vows and this marriage be blessed.
May it be sweet milk, like wine and halvah (a sweet dessert).
May this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm.
May this marriage be full of laughter,
Our every day a day in paradise.
May this marriage be a sign of compassion,
A seal of happiness, here and hereafter.
May this marriage have a fair face and a good name,
An omen as welcomes the moon in a clear blue sky.
I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage.
