7Planning Your Wedding:
We recommend that you meet with your officiant or designated person at your place of worship at least once before beginning to discuss music. Some places of worship will not allow an outside ensemble and will require you to use their organist or someone within the church. Some will allow you to hire an outside ensemble, but will not allow secular (non-religious) music. Once you have the information about any limitations, we can move forward with planning the music for your wedding!
We recommend selecting music for each of the following:
1. Prelude (while your guests are being seated.) You will need approximately 20 minutes worth, depending on the size of your wedding and your venue. If you are unsure of what to select, the quartet can find appropriate music for you.
2. A selection for seating of mothers/grandmothers.
3. A selection for bridesmaids, etc. to process.
4. A selection for bridal processional.
5. (Optional) A selection for special reason to occur during ceremony (lighting of a unity candle, interlude, reflection, etc.)
6. A recessional selection (or two for larger weddings, to be played as guests leave.)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is a string quartet? Do I have to hire the entire ensemble, or can I hire a smaller ensemble or individual players?
A: We are a standard string quartet consisting of two violins, a viola, and a cello. We typically do not perform in trios (3) or as a duet (2) because we do not have the repertoire for these ensembles. If you are looking to hire a solo player, we can do that!
Q: How much does it cost to hire The Dolce Quartet? When do I have to pay?
A: The first hour is $750.00 and each subsequent hour is $500.00 per hour. There is a one hour minimum, and after the first hour we will bill in 15 minute increments. Our contract time begins at the start of our playing and ends when we finish. For example, if there is down time or travel in between ceremony and cocktail hour, that would be considered billable time. This rate includes travel for the members within an hour or so from the DC area, but does not include parking if that will be costly. For an exact price quote, please fill out the form located on our Contact page. A 50% deposit is due at the time of signing a contract, with the the remaining balance due within the week prior to the event.
Q: Can a string quartet perform outside?
A: Extreme temperatures and weather can easily cause irreversible damage to stringed instruments. For this reason, we have to be very specific about the circumstances under which we can or can not perform outside. Mainly this includes being in a comfortable temperature, in the shade, and/or under some type of cover. If you are looking to hold your event outdoors, please fill out our Contact form and include all of the details so that we can determine whether or not we would be able to perform at your event.
Q: What music does The Dolce Quartet perform? What if I want a selection performed that they do not already have in their repertoire?
A: We have all standard wedding music and numerous classical quartet compositions in our repertoire. If there is a selection you would like performed (for example a pop tune or piece not composed for string quartet) we can make our best attempt to get the sheet music and arrange it to make it appropriate for string quartet. We charge a $50 arranging fee per selection, plus the cost of the sheet music.
Traditional String Quartet Music:
We have numerous traditional string quartet pieces in our repertoire, including Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, etc. For cocktail hours, receptions, galas, parties, or other events where we are the "background music" we will select appropriate selections from this category. If there is a particular piece you would like included in your event, please let us know!
Wedding Music:
Air from Suite #3 in D Major (“Air on a G String”), J.S. Bach
Air from “Water Music Suite”, Handel
Andante from String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 29, Schubert
Arioso from Kantate Nr. 156, J.S. Bach
Ave Maria, J.S. Bach/Gounod
Ave Maria, op. 52 No. 6, Schubert
Ave Verum, Mozart
Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”) from “Lohengrin”, Wagner
Canon in D, Pachelbel
Dona Nobis Pacem, Traditional
Hornpipe from “Water Music Suite”, Handel
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. Bach
La Rejouissance from “Royal Fireworks Music”, Handel
Largo from “Winter” (from “Four Seasons”), Vivaldi
Largo from “Xerxes”, Handel
Ode to Joy, Beethoven
Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, Mozart
Theme from Symphony No. 1, Brahms
Trumpet Tune, Purcell
Trumpet Voluntary, Clarke
Wedding March from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Mendelssohn
Non-Traditional Music:
All My Love as performed by Led Zepplin
Ashokan Farewell, by Jay Ungar
Eleanor Rigby, as performed by The Beatles, by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Gymnopedie No. 1, Erik Satie
Here Comes the Sun, as performed by The Beatles, by George Harrison
The Lover’s Waltz, by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Someone To Watch Over Me, by Gershwin
Viva la Vida as performed by ColdPlay
We recommend that you meet with your officiant or designated person at your place of worship at least once before beginning to discuss music. Some places of worship will not allow an outside ensemble and will require you to use their organist or someone within the church. Some will allow you to hire an outside ensemble, but will not allow secular (non-religious) music. Once you have the information about any limitations, we can move forward with planning the music for your wedding!
We recommend selecting music for each of the following:
1. Prelude (while your guests are being seated.) You will need approximately 20 minutes worth, depending on the size of your wedding and your venue. If you are unsure of what to select, the quartet can find appropriate music for you.
2. A selection for seating of mothers/grandmothers.
3. A selection for bridesmaids, etc. to process.
4. A selection for bridal processional.
5. (Optional) A selection for special reason to occur during ceremony (lighting of a unity candle, interlude, reflection, etc.)
6. A recessional selection (or two for larger weddings, to be played as guests leave.)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is a string quartet? Do I have to hire the entire ensemble, or can I hire a smaller ensemble or individual players?
A: We are a standard string quartet consisting of two violins, a viola, and a cello. We typically do not perform in trios (3) or as a duet (2) because we do not have the repertoire for these ensembles. If you are looking to hire a solo player, we can do that!
Q: How much does it cost to hire The Dolce Quartet? When do I have to pay?
A: The first hour is $750.00 and each subsequent hour is $500.00 per hour. There is a one hour minimum, and after the first hour we will bill in 15 minute increments. Our contract time begins at the start of our playing and ends when we finish. For example, if there is down time or travel in between ceremony and cocktail hour, that would be considered billable time. This rate includes travel for the members within an hour or so from the DC area, but does not include parking if that will be costly. For an exact price quote, please fill out the form located on our Contact page. A 50% deposit is due at the time of signing a contract, with the the remaining balance due within the week prior to the event.
Q: Can a string quartet perform outside?
A: Extreme temperatures and weather can easily cause irreversible damage to stringed instruments. For this reason, we have to be very specific about the circumstances under which we can or can not perform outside. Mainly this includes being in a comfortable temperature, in the shade, and/or under some type of cover. If you are looking to hold your event outdoors, please fill out our Contact form and include all of the details so that we can determine whether or not we would be able to perform at your event.
Q: What music does The Dolce Quartet perform? What if I want a selection performed that they do not already have in their repertoire?
A: We have all standard wedding music and numerous classical quartet compositions in our repertoire. If there is a selection you would like performed (for example a pop tune or piece not composed for string quartet) we can make our best attempt to get the sheet music and arrange it to make it appropriate for string quartet. We charge a $50 arranging fee per selection, plus the cost of the sheet music.
Traditional String Quartet Music:
We have numerous traditional string quartet pieces in our repertoire, including Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, etc. For cocktail hours, receptions, galas, parties, or other events where we are the "background music" we will select appropriate selections from this category. If there is a particular piece you would like included in your event, please let us know!
Wedding Music:
Air from Suite #3 in D Major (“Air on a G String”), J.S. Bach
Air from “Water Music Suite”, Handel
Andante from String Quartet in A Minor, Op. 29, Schubert
Arioso from Kantate Nr. 156, J.S. Bach
Ave Maria, J.S. Bach/Gounod
Ave Maria, op. 52 No. 6, Schubert
Ave Verum, Mozart
Bridal Chorus (“Here Comes the Bride”) from “Lohengrin”, Wagner
Canon in D, Pachelbel
Dona Nobis Pacem, Traditional
Hornpipe from “Water Music Suite”, Handel
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, J.S. Bach
La Rejouissance from “Royal Fireworks Music”, Handel
Largo from “Winter” (from “Four Seasons”), Vivaldi
Largo from “Xerxes”, Handel
Ode to Joy, Beethoven
Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, Mozart
Theme from Symphony No. 1, Brahms
Trumpet Tune, Purcell
Trumpet Voluntary, Clarke
Wedding March from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Mendelssohn
Non-Traditional Music:
All My Love as performed by Led Zepplin
Ashokan Farewell, by Jay Ungar
Eleanor Rigby, as performed by The Beatles, by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Gymnopedie No. 1, Erik Satie
Here Comes the Sun, as performed by The Beatles, by George Harrison
The Lover’s Waltz, by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
Someone To Watch Over Me, by Gershwin
Viva la Vida as performed by ColdPlay