The "Bridal Chorus" () from the 1850

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

'' Lohengrin'' by German composer

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

, who also wrote the

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

, is a march played for the bride's entrance at many formal weddings throughout the Western world. In English-speaking countries, it is generally known as "Here Comes the Bride" or "Wedding March", but " wedding march" refers to any piece in march tempo accompanying the entrance or exit of the bride, notably

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions inc ...

's " Wedding March". Wagner’s piece was made popular when it was used as the processional at the wedding of Victoria the

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to Prince Frederick William of Prussia in 1858. The chorus is sung in ''Lohengrin'' by the women of the wedding party after the ceremony, as they accompany the heroine Elsa to her bridal chamber. __TOC__

Text

Although the chorus is usually played on an organ without singing at most weddings, in '' Lohengrin'', the wedding party sings these words at the beginning of act three. Eight women then sing a blessing to a separate melody. The chorus then gradually proceeds offstage, repeating a slightly modified version of the previous words.

Religious attitudes

Some Christian churches disagree with the use of the "Bridal Chorus" at wedding ceremonies. In an FAQ on the website of the

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

, it was explained that opposition to the piece dated from before the

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, when Lutherans were opposed "to any sort of theater", and Wagner's operas were seen as "depict ngpagan stories and themes." A pamphlet issued in 2003 by the

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said that the "Bridal Chorus" was "not to be used", again because it is a theatrical piece, but also because it is not a processional to the altar in the opera, and because its frequent use in film and television associate it with sentimentality rather than worship. Many Jewish couples prefer to choose other music due to the antisemitic views espoused by Wagner and his stated lack of respect for Jewish music.

References

External links

Act III, scene 1: Treulich geführt
from Lohengrin, Wagner's autograph manuscript in the

Richard Wagner Foundation The Richard Wagner Foundation (in German Richard-Wagner-Stiftung) was formed in 1973, when, faced with overwhelming criticism and infighting amongst the descendants of Richard Wagner, the Bayreuth Festival and its assets were transferred to the newl ...

{{Authority control Compositions by Richard Wagner Compositions in B-flat major March music Opera excerpts Wedding songs Lohengrin