Welcome to Saint Agatha’s Wedding Music site! I look forward to speaking to you in person very soon, and planning the music for your special celebration! I hope the following information will answer any of the questions you may have in regard to your wedding music.

Once you have booked your wedding date and time with your priest or deacon, you should contact me at the above number to set a mutually convenient time to meet at the church to listen to and select your music. This meeting generally takes one hour, and is one of the most enjoyable experiences in your planning! You will be able to hear exactly what your music will sound like in our beautiful Gothic church on our world-class instruments, as well as have the opportunity to address any questions you may have about your liturgy. You will leave with a completed worksheet detailing the titles and composers of the pieces you have chosen.

Please take a moment to review the items listed below, which include many commonly asked questions about wedding music in Catholic parishes. You are also always welcome to stop by and say hello at the organ console after any weekend liturgy. The console is to the right of the choir seating in the church.

IS THE PARISH ORGANIST / MUSIC DIRECTOR PRESENT FOR ALL WEDDINGS?
Yes. The parish Organist/Director of Music is under contract with the parish to play for all liturgies at St. Agatha’s Church.

WILL WE NEED A CANTOR/SOLOIST? HOW DO WE SELECT ONE?
If you are having a full Wedding Mass, we strongly recommend a cantor/soloist due to the number of sung responses and other places within the liturgy for sung music. If your wedding consists of a ceremony only (no Mass), you may still have a soloist, however, the ceremony is designed to be much shorter. Whereas your soloist will have fewer places in which to sing, the presence of a soloist is more optional for a ceremony.

Please be aware that in the past there have been a number of guest soloists that have been unqualified to sing at Catholic wedding liturgies. In order to avoid this, and to maintain the high caliber of sacred music and liturgy for which Saint Agatha’s is well known, we have a group of approved soloists who are strongly recommended. Friends, family members, and other singers who you may be considering as soloists should have a thorough understanding of Roman Catholic liturgy and music. During your meeting with the Music Director, several soloists will be recommended based upon the style of music you have chosen for your ceremony. If you wish, opportunities will be arranged to listen to these soloists either via recordings, or by visiting other parish events. Please know that we do not seek to restrict your options, but rather, are committed to providing the very best for you on such a special occasion!

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON MUSIC THAT CAN BE USED?
YES. The Roman Catholic Church, in it’s two thousand year history, has gathered the richest repository of music in the world! All of this music is available for your use! Saint Agatha’s adheres to the liturgical guidelines taught throughout the church on an international and archdiocesan level. The basic rule is that music must be sacred in nature. Show tunes, Broadway songs, and secular “hits” are not permitted. As an example, “All I Ask Of You” from Phantom of the Opera, “Danny Boy”, “Wind Beneath My Wings”, and “Grow Old Along With Me” are not considered appropriate for Catholic liturgy.

WHAT INSTRUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT SAINT AGATHA’S?
Saint Agatha’s is fortunate to possess some of the finest musical instruments in the Archdiocese of Boston! At the center of this collection is the massive pipe organ in the upper church. It was built by the M.P. Moller Company of Hagerstown, Maryland in 1988 and consists of three manuals and pedal and nearly 4,000 pipes located in both the chancel (altar area) as well as the rear gallery. The upper church also features a new Clavinova piano/keyboard with a multitude of sound features.

A very special musical gift for weddings is the carillon located high in the tower over the church entrance. The 14 bronze bells were cast by the Petit & Fritsen Company of The Netherlands in 1967, with the largest bell weighing an enormous 5,860 pounds! It will serenade you and your guests (as well as the rest of Milton!) as you exit the church following your liturgy! For more detailed information and photos of our instruments, please visit our main music web page.

WHAT ARE THE FEES AND WHEN ARE THEY DUE?
The fee for the Music Director/Organist is set by the parish at $175.00. This includes the consultation to select your music, as well as the actual wedding liturgy.

Fees for other musicians, soloists, instrumentalists, etc., should be arranged with those musicians. They are considered subcontracted by you, and their fee IS NOT covered within the organist’s fee or church offering.

REHEARSALS
The Director of Music/Organist does not attend the wedding rehearsal. Kathy Pritchard, the Wedding Coordinator, will be at the rehearsal to help you and your wedding party through all the procedures. If you are having an outside soloist (one not recommended by the parish), and they require any rehearsals in addition to a short warm-up prior to the start of the wedding itself, there is an additional fee of $75.00.

OTHER INSTRUMENTS
You are welcome to have additional instruments (i.e.: flute, trumpet, strings) play along with the organist at your wedding. The music director will be happy to recommend talented area musicians to you, but it is your responsibility to make those arrangements personally.

IN CONCLUSION
We hope this information has been helpful. If anything is unclear, please contact the Director of Music. Your music staff is here at your service, is committed to artistic excellence, and will work diligently to make your celebration a memorable experience!

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St. Agatha Parish
432 Adams Street / Milton, MA 02186
Telephone: 617-698-2439 / Fax: 617-698-1517
E-mail: [email protected]