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What makes your wedding uniquely African-American?
It's easy to adopt Western traditions. Even in Africa, brides are choosing to go with Western-style weddings.
You can preserve your heritage in your wedding with African-American wedding music. What does this mean exactly?
Most couples have their own taste in music and that usually means the popular music of the day. But let's explore the roots of African-American music for your African-American wedding music...
Spirituals
Blues
Rags
Jazz
Swing
Perhaps these styles don't seem like they will fit into YOUR wedding, but look deeper.
If you are having a Christian ceremony, the spiritual fits well into the wedding. The spiritual is one of the most significant genres of American music. Yes, many of them are mournful, speaking of hope beyond present day circumstances, but many are stirring and uplifting, professing their faith. Try A little more faith in Jesus...
All I want, All I want, All I want is a little more faith in Jesus
Whenever we meet you here we say, A little more faith in Jesus
What's the order of the day? A little more faith in Jesus.
I tell you now as I told you before,
A little more faith in Jesus,
To the promise land I'm bound to go,
A little more faith in Jesus.
What an exciting way to start a joyous occasion!
The blues are another uniquely African-American musical form. Now you might think the blues are just way too depressing for a happy wedding day. Blues music reflected the newly-acquired freedom of slaves in America. There are many songs that have a sad origin, but in the context of a happy wedding, work well. Consider, for example, Can't help lovin' that man of mine from the movie "Show Boat." Yes, she lost her man in the movie, but he's all yours on your wedding day and the words convey a beautiful sentiment...
Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly,
I gotta love one man 'til I die,
So I can't help lovin' that man of mine.
Rags or rag-time - another great African-American tradition. Ever heard of Scott Joplin? This pianist extraordinaire practically invented the idiom. If you saw the movie "The Sting," you heard a lot of rags. This style predated jazz and reached its popularity in the first two decades of the 20th century. Most rags are upbeat and could work as prelude music, and would be fantastic during the cocktail hour or during dinner. You could hire a pianist to play a selection of rags.
Jazz is the epitome of African-American art and is fabulous African-American wedding music. All you need to do is hire a great jazz band and your reception will be awesome. And don't forget that swing!
Jazz can work well in the ceremony as well. Embraceable You and The Nearness of You are great jazz vocal solos as the mothers are seated or when the bridal party is entering.
Drums - If you want something really exciting and truly African, why not process down the aisle to a traditional African drum beat with musicians dressed in traditional garb? Contact your local university music department, music union, or music store, and ask if they know of any African drum ensembles. Or do an on-line search for an African drum ensemble.
Make your wedding a true cultural heritage experience with African-American wedding music.
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