nashvillesilverstrings

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On 11/6/20 a trio of Silver Strings convened at the Estate at Cherokee Dock to play for the wedding of Ann and Michael. The trio was somewhat different than our usual trio as a keyboard was substituted for a violin. Mark Schaffel who rocks on keyboard joined cellist, Gary Tussing, and me on viola. The prelude consisted of contemporary but beautiful songs appropriate for a wedding ceremony such as “Gabriel’s Oboe” and “A Thousand Years”. For the processionals we played a mashup of Over the Rainbow with Simple Gifts for the mothers and the officiant. The bridesmaids entered to a mashup of Perfect with Canon in D (never mind that the song was in the key of G). Ann very specifically wanted a beautiful cello/piano version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” she had heard on youtube, which we happily obliged. The couple had a Unity Ceremony consisting of the mothers coming forward with a mantilla to place over the couple while I played “Ave Maria” accompanied by the keyboard and cello. After the kiss and presentation of Mr. and Mrs. we played them back down the aisle to the traditional Mendelssohn “Wedding March”.

After the ceremony we moved to the reception area where we played fun stuff for cocktails outside on the veranda. Some of the tunes were “I’m Yours”, “Latch”, “At Last” and “This Will Be an Everlasting Love”. The weather was perfect. You couldn’t have asked for better on a day in November.

Silver Strings congratulates the couple on their rite of passage and wishes them a long and happy life together!

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On 10/24/20 Lisa and David were wed in the presence of friends and family at CJ’s Off the Square. For prelude Lisa and David chose a combination of traditional classics and contemporary pop and rock. For prelude a trio of Silver Strings played the Bach Brandenburg Concerto # 3, Jason Mraz’ “I’m Yours” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love right before the processionals. They kept it simple for the processionals — the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” for the family and attendants “Wedding March” aka “Here Comes the Bride” for Lisa. The ceremony was short and sweet, followed by the Mendelssohn “Wedding March” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the recessional.

The trio of Susan Mullen on violin, Linda Davis on viola and Gary Tussing on cello then pulled out a variety of styles of music as requested and started with “Here Comes the Sun” in honor of the rain holding off just long enough for them to get married in the garden. Other selections included “Crocodile Rock”, “Anything Goes”, “Come On Eileen” and “At Last”.

It’s always a pleasure for us to play at CJ’s Off the Square. CJ and her team do a wonderful job of making all the moving parts of a wedding flow smoothly and never forget to keep us in the loop (it’s all about us).

And now it’s time to say that Lisa and David were a pleasure to work with and Silver Strings wishes them all the best in their new life together!

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On the evening of 10/23/20 Kathy and Tom exchanged vows in front of guests at Sycamore Farms in Arrington, TN. A quartet of Nashville Silver Strings was in attendance to bring the music to help set the stage for the nuptials. Kathy asked for the traditional classics for her music including Bach’s “Bist Du Bei Mir” and Gabriel’s Oboe….well, mostly traditional classics. She chose the Bach “Air” from the Suite in D for the bridal party and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” for her entrance. The recessional was Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” as a sort of wink to the guests that it was about time they got married. The weather cooperated beautifully although earlier in the day it wasn’t too hopeful.

We played yet more classics for the cocktail hour including Mozart’s “Overture to the Marriage of Figaro”, Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” and the Bach Double Concerto for two violins played beautifully by violinists Jocelyn Sprouse and Toni Ferguson. We slipped in some fun things like “Downton Abbey” and “Shut Up and Dance” to liven things up a bit.

Angelina Ruiz of Velour Premier Events as the planner/coordinator for the evening. She and her team always do an amazing job of navigating the logistics of all the moving parts of a wedding rain or shine.

Nashville Silver Strings wishes the newlyweds a long and happy union!

Reminder:  The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On 10/17/20 Glenda married her sweetheart, John, in a lovely outdoor ceremony at Cedarmont Farm near Franklin.  Glenda had chosen a quartet of violin, viola, cello and harp to play contemporary classics such as “Wonderful World”, “A Thousand Years”, “Viva La Vida” for the prelude before launching into the all time favorite for weddings — “Canon in D” by Pachelbel– for the seating of the family, the bridesmaids and the kids.  The bridal processional was “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.  At the completion of the ceremony we sent them out to continue the festivities poolside to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”.

During the half hour before the ceremony we rehearsed a few things including James Brown’s “I Feel Good” to get a feel for the outdoor acoustics and to get used to playing with harp.  The father of the bride, who was nearby as we rehearsed “I Feel Good”, said, “You must the the James Brown Quartet”.  Diane, the violinist that day, quickly said, “Actually we’re the James Beige Quartet”, which gave us all a great laugh.

After the ceremony we decamped to the poolside below the house to play more fun stuff for cocktails.  Some of the tunes we played were “All You Need is Love”, “I’m Yours” and “Everlasting Love” much to the delight of many guests who let us know they were really enjoying our renditions of old favorites.

Silver Strings congratulates the newlyweds and wish them a long and happy union! 

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On October 11, 2020 at the gorgeous Front Porch Farms, Barbara and Doug tied the knot in front of friends and family in the shade of a spreading oak tree. Silver Strings was a trio that day of myself on viola, Jocelyn Sprouse on violin and Gary Tussing on cello. Barbara had chosen hymns and classical selections including “Oceans” and “Be Thou My Vision”. She chose “Surely the Presence” for the entrance of the family including 6 kids. “What a Beautiful Name” was chosen for the bridal entrance which we timed so that she would be going down the aisle just as the words would have been “What a Beautiful Name It Is” if someone were singing. After the short but sweet ceremony the newlyweds returned back down the aisle to “Allegro from Solomon”.

When the ceremony was over we musicians decamped to the pavilion to play for cocktails. Tunes she selected were from the Classic Rock repertoire were by Elvis, Elton John, Peter Gabriel and the Beatles. We did however wind up our hour with Jocelyn tearing it up on “Rocky Top” for all the UT fans. I also want to thank proprietress, Kathy Best, for her fantastic coordinating skills.

Best wishes from Silver Strings to Barbara and Doug on their new life together!

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

October is the new June. And who can blame anyone for wanting beautiful weather for their wedding day? So on October 10, 2020 Cathy and Evan tied the knot at the lovely little King’s Chapel in Arrington, TN. Cathy and Evan had a string trio provide the music for their ceremony, choosing contemporary songs from the Classic Rock era for the prelude, Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” for the entrance of the mothers and grandmothers, “Stand By Me” for the wedding party and “Stayin’ Alive” for the kids. Cathy entered to Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams”. During the ceremony the trio played “In christ Alone” for the first Communion as a couple. As a signal the festivities were about to start, the trio launched into “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” for the recessional.

Kenzie Carlson of I Do Weddings was the capable coordinator making sure Craig Duncan, who led the trio, got the proper signals as to when to begin the processionals. We musicians are at the mercy of coordinators and are always grateful when there are clear directions as to what to do and when.

Cathy and Evan were a fun couple to work with and Silver Strings wishes them much happiness in the years to come!

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On October 10, 2020 Ellen and Kevin were wed in the 1st Presbyterian Church in Columbia, TN in the presence of a few guests, many wearing face masks and social distancing. Silver Strings was a quartet this time with Susan Mullen and Toni Ferguson on violin, myself on viola and Gary Tussing on cello. We collaborated on a number of selections with organist, Dale Nickell. The prelude consisted of several hymns including “Be Thou My Vision” and “A Mighty Fortress”, the Concerto for Two Violins by Bach performed beautifully by Susan and Toni and a few other selections from the classical repertoire. We seated the mothers to “Air” from Water Music, bridesmaids entered to “Canon in D” and finally brought Ellen down the aisle to a grand rendition of “Trumpet Voluntary” that included the organ. For the recessional the organist played the grand and exciting “Toccata” from Symphony No. 5 by Widor while we sat and enjoyed the top-notch performance.

After the ceremony we eventually regrouped at the bride’s residence to play for cocktails for a much larger crowd than were at the ceremony. Unfortunately the heavens opened up about the time we got started and had to quickly go to Plan B as to where we would be seated to play without getting our instruments soaked. Once again settled we launched into an eclectic selection of tunes that included “Come Fly With Me”, “Love and Marriage”, “Makin’ Whoopee”, “Downton Abbey” and “This Will Be an Everlasting Love”.

Mother, Rhonda, was a joy to work with as was the coordinator/planner, Nicole Houser of Events by Nicole who was as cool as a cucumber seeing to all the last minute chaos brought on by the rain.

Congratulations to the joyous couple and their families from Nashville Silver Strings with many wishes for a long and happy life together!

Reminder: The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😉

On October 3, 2020 Sam married his sweetheart, Patricia, in a lovely ceremony marked by quite a few humorous remarks (much to the delight of the guests) by the officiant. A Silver Strings trio, comprised of Craig Duncan on violin and Paul Nelson on cello along with myself, played upbeat, contemporary songs for prelude switching to the Canon in D for the processional of the entire wedding party. Patricia, preceded by her niece and nephew, then met her groom at the altar to the strains of “Beyond” by Leon Bridges.

After the bride was safely in place and the officiant began his mirthful homily, the trio quietly regrouped outside on the veranda to prepare to play the guests out to the cocktail hour. There we played tunes such as “Time after Time”, “Wagon Wheel” (which the guests joined in singing) and “This Will Be an Everlasting Love”. Summer Sheldon of Social Ambitions Events did a great job of directing transitions from one part of the wedding plan to the next.

And now it’s time to congratulate the newlyweds and wish them many happy years together from Nashville Silver Strings!