Wedding Organist,Musicians & Repertoire Guidance for your WeddingReturn to St. Francis of Assisi Choir Home Page
Wedding Organist,Musicians & Repertoire Guidance for your Wedding
We are pleased to welcome you to St. Francis of Assisi for your wedding!
Organising your wedding will require attention to many details in the lead up to the big day. If you wish to have music at your wedding, care must be taken to ensure that the right choices are made, and that the music is performed well. The following information relates to available music resources for your wedding at St. Francis of Assisi.
To View, Listen & Download Digital Wedding Sheet Music direct to your printer - Click here
The acoustic of St. Francis is one of the finest in Sydney for church music. It has a very generous ambience with a reverberation of 2-3 seconds, ideal for the performance of live music and especially suited to organ, choral and instrumental music.
* St. Francis' has a highly qualified team of professional church musicians who are able to help with choices and performance of suitable music for your wedding.
* We encourage you to utilise our music resources and to engage live, liturgical musicians. The use of recorded music is not encouraged, for the following reasons:
* Liturgical musicians are experienced in catholic ceremonial and are able to tailor the music to accompany the various liturgical actions in your wedding service. e.g. movement to and from positions in the sanctuary etc.
* Liturgical musicians will improvise to cover long gaps or awkward silences;
* Such skills give the impression of a "seamless" and smooth service.
CDs and untrained musicians will not do this.
* Copyright. The use of some recorded music may require the permission of the publisher and/or record company. Performances of copyright recordings, captured on video, may also be illegal unless the appropriate licenses are obtained.
* Our organists have a wide repertoire of music available for you to choose from.
* A CD of wedding music for organ (recorded in St. Francis) is available to assist you with your choices. It contains both well known and favourite wedding music as well as other pieces suitable for bridal processions and signing the register.
CANTOR or SOLO SINGER
* If you wish to engage a singer, we can offer trained cantors (men or women) who can sing solo songs as well as lead the musical parts of a sung liturgy. E.g. consider having the psalm and alleluia sung by the cantor.
* Solo singers are welcome to sing during the service. It is appropriate that sacred music is selected and choices of music should be discussed with the Director of Music. If you have a particular piece of non-sacred music e.g. a "pop" song, please consider having this at your reception.
INSTRUMENTALISTS
* If you wish to engage an instrumentalist, we are happy to make recommendations from the network of professional musicians associated with our parish. E.g. Trumpeters, flautists, oboists just to name a few.
* Arrangements can also be made for strings quartets or small orchestras. Fees are available on request.
THE CHOIR OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
* The presence of a choir can be a very effective way of enhancing your wedding service with beautiful sacred music.
* The Choir of St. Francis of Assisi is a robed liturgical choir of men and women with a wide repertoire from Gregorian chant and classical polyphony to more contemporary sacred music.
* A selection of choral music may be made to suit a simple service or a full nuptial Mass. Our Director of Music will assist you with planning a choral liturgy.
* Fees available on request.
Music suggestions from The Wedding Music Consultant include Organ music, music for instrumental ensembles, vocal and choral works.
Click on the links for the following repertoire suggestions, MP3s and Scores:
Music for Preludes, Reflections and Signing of the Register (Organ)
Music for Recessional of Bridal Party
Visit the Wedding Music Consultant for the following suggestions:
Music for Preludes, Reflections and Signing of the Register (ensembles,vocal & choral)
Hymns and general Choral motets for use in a Wedding Service
Hymns and Choral Music for Holy Communion
Hymns and Choral music honouring Mary
A Nuptial Mass Music Setting -A musical setting of the parts of the Wedding Mass for cantor and congregation. Melody line version for congregational part is available on request.
Popular free sheetmusic downloads available from the Wedding Music Consultant subscription service include:
Schubert "Ave Maria" (High key)
Schubert "Ave Maria" (Low key)
Prince of Denmark's March - J.Clarke (Piano/keyboard arr.)
A Wedding Blessing Song - set to "Danny Boy" for congregational singing
A Wedding Blessing Song - contemporary style
Director of Music
Noel James Debien began his musical studies at an early age under the Brigidine sisters, and by 11 was a boy treble in the Choir of St. Augustine's College, Brookvale in Sydney under the direction of friar and musician Patrick Fahey O.S.A, Peter Bohrsmann and Ann Sutcliffe..
He studied music in the Music department of the University of Sydney under Professor Platt, Winsome Evans, Peter Sculthorpe, Nicholas Routley, Allan Marret and Graham Hardie where he sang in Pro Musica Choir, the Sydney University Chamber Choir and the Choir of St James, King st. Sydney 1979-80 (directed by Walter Sutcliffe). He joined the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral choir in 1981-82 (directed by David Russell), touring Europe with them in January of 1982, and began his theological studies in 1982 at St Columban’s seminary and then St Patrick’s Manly 1983-87. He became the Praefectus Musicae for the Seminary Choir (ATTBB) 1985-87. During this time he founded and directed the Ars Gratia Christi Chamber choir (SATB). On the completion of the S.T.B. (the Roman degree) and the Bachelor of Theology (the Sydney College of Divinity degree) he began teaching at Mercy College Chatswood (1988), where he directed the SSA choir, and then at St Vincent’s College Potts Point (1989-1994) where he directed the SSAA choir. He was also appointed Director of Music at Mary Immaculate church Waverley (1988-94) for the Vigil Masses, and also directed the John Paul Choir. During this period he also sang on Sundays with the Choir of Christchurch St. Laurence and was a member of the concert tour choirs to both New Zealand and Europe. In 1995 he taught theology and literature at the Masaryk University in Brno, the Czech Republic, where he was a professional member of the Brno Madrigal Quintet, directed by Roman Valek, and toured in Europe. He was also a member of the Choir of the Brno Konservatoř (Conservatorium), also under the direction of Roman Valek – competing in the international choral competition at Cantonigros in Spain. During 1995, he also toured Austria with the choir of St George’s Cathedral Limburg (Lahn) under the direction of Hans Bernhardt. On returning to Australia in 1996, he sang with the Choir at St Francis Paddington, as well as subbing with the new professional choir at St James’ King St and the Australian Chamber Orchestra Voices on Australian tour. He was appointed director of Music at St Francis Paddington after the Easter Season of 2006.
St. Francis of Assisi Choir
The Choir of St. Francis of Assisi is an S.A.T.B. liturgical choir with a membership of 40 active choristers. The choir sings at the 10.00am Mass and major feasts, enhancing the parish liturgies with sacred music from an extensive repertoire ranging from Gregorian chant, classical polyphony through to contemporary works. Since 1998 the choir has presented an annual orchestral Mass on the Feast of Christ the King.
St. Francis' Choir has been in demand for engagements outside the parish, singing for many special liturgies including Masses at St. Mary's Cathedral, The Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, Sydney College of Divinity, and has participated in the special BBC Songs of Praise recorded at the Sydney Opera House.
The Choir is available for weddings and has a wide repertoire suitable to enhance such an occasion. Fees are negotiable. More information is available from the Director of Music.
Contact Information
* St. Francis Parish office Tel. (02) 9331 4043 Email Parish Office
* Choir Secretary, Sharon Johnson: Tel. (02) 9816 0875 (bh); Mob: 0431 457 441 Email Choir Secretary
* Director of Music, Noel Debien Email Director of Music
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