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  Your Event

It's that special day...imagine yourself floating down the aisle to the strains of the Bridal March, or even a unique original, played lovingly on an equally unique and beautiful Celtic Harp!

Or perhaps you have a corporate function that requires an air of elegance. What better way to show your taste and creativity than to have the delicate and unobtrusive music of the harp wafting through the air?

Large or intimate, Donna Adams-Profeta can provide that quality of grace to compliment your special event -- at a reasonable price.
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Wedding Ceremonies: This includes the half-hour prior to and including the processional (you can pick a separate prelude for the bridesmaids too), one or two pieces during the ceremony (i.e. for Unity Candle lighting; after or even during prayers) and the half-hour following the ceremony, including the recessional.  Note: If the ceremony starts late, requiring additional playing time up front, an equal amount will be subtracted off the other end, unless other arrangements are made.  If it starts more than a 1/2 hour late, the additional play time will be billed in 1/2 hour increments. A penalty fee will be assessed if the client leaves without resolving the issue.

Regarding Catholic and Episcopal Ceremonies: PLEASE check with your church to see if there will be a Mass right before your ceremony, so special set up arrangements can be made.  Arrival is normally scheduled an hour in advance of the play time (1-1/2 hours before the ceremony) and this isn't always possible.  Also, some churches will not accept non-religious music.  It rarely happens, but it's best to find out sooner, rather than later.

Wedding Cocktail Hours: A one-hour booking includes two 25 minute sets with a 10 minute break. Additional time will be in increments of 20-25 minutes with additional 10 minute breaks in between.

NOTE: Be aware that there may be some logistics involved with booking both the ceremony and the cocktail hour, depending on how much time there is between and if any moving is involved.

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Attention Banquet Halls and Restaurants: In addition to playing for weddings, corporate events and various other functions, Donna is available for the listening pleasure of your regular dining patrons.  Regular weekly bookings offer savings over one-time engagements.  Please call 383-3524 or email for rates and availability.

House Concerts: What about having a concert right in your own home? Now there's something different! Give Donna a call at 383-3524 or email and discuss whatever ideas you might have.
 

*All outdoor events require shelter for the harp (minimum 8 ft. square)
 to protect it against precipitation or direct sun.
 Please check with your location to see if they have a gazebo or other portable shelter.  

 

For Bio and CD information, check out Donna's Celtic Harp Home

For a list of upcoming Bridal Shows and other Live Events, see Donna's Events Calendar

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  Repertoire & Samples

In addition to a couple of standard wedding tunes (The Bridal March and Pachelbel's Canon in D), the repertoire is primarily composed of Celtic- and medieval-inspired arrangements and originals that are 'courtly' in nature.  Ranging from lovely and intimate to stately or lively, these pieces are appropriate for most styles of weddings and other elegant events.  In order to provide services to those on a budget, the ceremony selections are confined to those listed below.  Besides music that's specifically suitable for processionals and recessionals, a few incidental pieces are listed.  With the exception of Minstrel Boy (see Special Note below), any of them are suitable for ceremonial use.  As new pieces become available, they will be posted, so it's a good idea to check back periodically.

You can listen to solo harp recordings from Donna's Heavenly Harp Sampler in the chart below, for examples from her repertoire.  Selections most appropriate for wedding ceremonies are indicated below the chart.  Originals are prefaced with an asterisk(*) and most can be heard with backing instrumentals, vocals and poetic readings (where applicable) on her CD, Brynna's Aire *Plus Bonus Cuts* (click here for additional information). 2 minute samples can be heard and the album can be purchased on-line at cdbaby.com, along with a bonus 2-song CD single.
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Sampler Selections: require an mp3 player.
~ Please be aware that these files are not CD quality ~

  Ceremonial Music Tips

Choosing your music selections takes a bit of thought beyond how much you like a particular song.  Each piece serves a specific function and should be considered in relation to that function, as well as any music that comes immediately before or after it.

Processionals
As the title indicates, this is music that the bride and/or attendants process to and is usually something of a slow, rhythmic nature that announces the bride.  Depending on the number of bridesmaids and how long the aisle is, you might want to consider a separate piece for them.  If you only have 1 or 2 and the aisle is short, one piece would probably work best.  Otherwise there may only be time for a few measures before having to switch gears, which can sound rather stilted.  If you do decide on a separate processional for the bridesmaids, keep in mind that anything you pick should be somewhat mellower than what you'll be processing to. The music should build up, not down.  

For the mothers, you have 3 options: a) they can be seated during whatever I happen to be playing at the time; b) they can come down the aisle to the same piece as (and just prior to) the attendants; and c) you can choose a separate piece altogether (see Preludes below).  Again, if you opt for 2 processionals and a prelude, they should build up as you go, not vice versa.  For instance, Thistle Down, Ploughman's Son and Hole-in-the-Wall do not work well prior to Pachelbel's Canon in D, as it is a slow, languid piece and would be anticlimatic following any of the preceeding.  As stated under the Wedding Notes (above), Pachelbel's Canon is best utilized as the bridesmaid's processional, leading up to either the Bridal March or one of the other suggested pieces.  Brynna's Aire also works well for the bridesmaids, but like Pachelbel's Canon, is not dramatic enough to serve as the bride's processional.

Note: If you're going to have lots of people (the mothers, grandmothers, bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids, flower girls and/or ring bearers) coming down the aisle to the same piece, DO NOT pick Pachelbel's Canon in D.  It is repetitive by nature (a canon is composed of a repetitive musical phrase) and it doesn't take long for it to become monotonous.  If you must have the parents come down to a specific piece, select one in addition to the Canon in D or something else entirely.  Check with me if you're not sure.

Interludes
Music used behind or between readings, prayers or during the Unity Candle lighting, etc., should be peaceful and languid, so as to not distract from the reading or whatever visual portion of the ceremony it's meant to support.  Arran Boat Song is a good example.

Recessionals
In general, something more upbeat and celebratory best fills the bill.  Of the 4 pieces best suited for recessionals: Thistle Down is the most march-like, Hole-in-the-Wall is more stately, Ploughman's Son is more upbeat and The Wedding Reel is the most lively. Brynna's Aire is also usable, if you'd like something light and airy, although it doesn't make a pronouncement like the other 4 selections.

There can certainly be exceptions, but again it's good to give some thought to the specific function that the music is supporting.  Listen to the above sampler selections and imagine yourself at each point during the ceremony...  Does this piece announce my arrival?  Does this one declare we're a married couple?  I like the way this one ebbs and flows for the Unity Candle lighting.  I can imagine the bridesmaids walking down the aisle to this one!

Incidentally, any piece not specifically selected for a particular function (with the exception of the Bridal March), will probably turn up somewhere else either before or after the ceremony.

           

Preludes
Occasionally there is a request for a specific piece from the repertoire to be played just before the processional(s).  This is called a prelude.  Be aware that due to the fact that the prelude comes immediately prior to the processional(s), that I must be notified as to when to start and the bridal party must be prepared to go immediately upon it's completion. Whomever is organizing the bridal party will need to make sure that they don't begin processing until their processional starts.  Also, if the pieces picked are all in different keys, there will be a brief (5-10 seconds tops) pause between selections, while I adjust my harp's levers to each key.  I generally plan the music prior to the processional(s) to be in the same key, to avoid having to stop and switch.  In most cases, the mothers are seated and have the groomsmen set up during whatever I happen to be playing at the time and someone then notifies me when the processional(s) is to begin.  There is often a substantial amount of time after the groomsmen are set up and the rest of the bridal party is in position, so I just keep playing until I'm notified.  If a specific piece (or more) is chosen as a prelude, this leaves no leeway for error.

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  Contact Information

Please include the following information when requesting rates:

1. DATE

2. START TIME and LENGTH OF TIME.  For weddings, if interested in both the ceremony and cocktail hour, please specify separately.

3. LOCATION, including name of venue and street address.  For weddings, if looking to book both the ceremony and cocktail hour, please Indicate if they're in separate venues or in different areas within the same venue (including inside or outside).

4. INDOORS or *OUTSIDE

5.  How you found this site.  Thank you!

*All outdoor events require shelter for the harp (minimum 8 ft. square)
to protect it and the amplifier against precipitation or direct sun.
Please check with your location to see if they have a gazebo or other portable shelter.

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Donna is in the Upstate NY Capital District area and is available for weddings and events in Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy, Lake George and environs.  She can be contacted at:

Donna Adams-Profeta
Ballston Lake, NY
(518) 383-3524
email: heavenlyharp1@aol.com
 or donnaharp1@yahoo.com

NOTE: Unless you are a Yahoo! user, please use the AOL address.  If you have a Yahoo! address,
your email bounces back or you don't hear back in a timely manner, please use the Yahoo! address.
Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Main Menu

For bio and CD information, go to: Harp Home

Donna is also a Certified Music Practitioner, trained to play therapeutic music at the bedside.
For more information go to:
Harp for Healing

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Copyright 2002-2009, Donna L. Profeta
Created: 1/4/02
Last updated: 11/4/09