What music can I have?
For receptions, wedding breakfasts, banquets and parties I offer a standard set list that we can personalise for you. For more information please see here: music for receptions and banquets
For ceremonies it’s helpful to know where music is used and what that moment feels like so I’ve included my guide to planning music for your ceremony below. For more information please see here: music for your ceremony
I have a repertoire of classical, film and pop favourites, including jazz and blues numbers. As a lever / folk harp specialist, I also have a wealth of Irish and English traditional music to offer. You can find these at the bottom of the page or by clicking this link: Steph’s repertoire
...I sat there in my room just before our wedding ceremony. I was feeling a bit stressed but suddenly I could hear your calming music float through the window. I relaxed and thought “I knew there was a reason I booked Steph”.
Receptions and banquets
I have a standard set list which is a mix of pieces that are well known (classical, pop, jazz, film) and pieces that showcase the harp really well. I find that guests respond well to both of these musical choices, for them it’s something they recognise or something that’s new and exciting. Having a standard set list means I know these pieces really well and can bring them to life for you and your guests.
When it comes to personalising a set list for a client I find it's most effective to aim for a feel, e.g. "wistful woodland" or "clear and bright”. Sometimes clients give me a genre they want me to highlight, e.g. classical, or “no Disney”. I don’t normally take a request for a specific piece of music when accompanying a reception or banquet because it can get lost. Parties have an energy all of their own and while live harp music makes that space more magical, an individual piece might not be heard or remembered in the same way.
If you are really keen to have a specific music request then it helps to have a specific moment to tie it to, perhaps accompanying you as you take your seats.
Click here for my set list for a 90 minute reception: Drinks Reception Set List
Ceremonies
I love playing for wedding ceremonies: they are a very special part of the day. This is the best place to personalise your music with specific songs as there is space and time and your guests are listening closely.
I normally play for the following parts of a wedding ceremony:
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As your guests arrive (around 20 / 30 minutes before the ceremony)
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For the entrance of your wedding party (up to 2 minutes)
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During the signing of the register and photos (two pieces - around 5 / 6 minutes)
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For your exit as a newly wed couple (up to 5 minutes whilst your guests exit afterwards)
This shape fits is what is expected in a UK civil ceremony. For a religious or humanist ceremony we can add or remove pieces as suits you. I am happy to include extra pieces or leave out pieces for other musicians to play e.g. an organist playing for the entrance of the wedding party.
I take one request per couple at my standard rate, and take on more requests on a commission basis. I offer one hour's music consultation to discuss your music choices: this can be in person at my home in Oxford, via Skype / zoom or as a phone call.
The only restriction for music choices comes for Civil Ceremonies: as part of the laws of the UK, you cannot have any piece of music with a religious purpose, e.g. Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach. There are some pieces which are less clear: any pieces we are unsure about we can check with your registrar. I have asterisked (*) any pieces that we definitely can't use for a civil ceremony.
If you are having a civil ceremony but there is a religious piece you would love to include, then another option is to use your favourite religious piece later in the proceedings. This could be as part of a blessing, or during your speeches, or to walk in to the wedding breakfast.
Have a read of the wedding ceremony suggestions below. My aim with this guide is to give you some ideas about how you might shape your ceremony.
Wedding Ceremony Suggestions
Entrance of the Wedding Party - dignified, stately, romantic
I look for a piece that feels gorgeous to move to and that I can finish within a few moments of the wedding party arriving at the top of the aisle.
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A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
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Pachelbel’s Canon - Johan Pachelbel
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Celtic Wedding March - Traditional
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Welsh waltzes: Cader Idris (Arthur's Seat) or the Ashgrove
Signing of the Register - reflective, beautiful, peaceful
This normally takes five to six minutes so we pick two pieces. This is a great place to put a piece of music that is special to you and you really want to hear.
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Perfect by Ed Sheehan then Your Song by Elton John
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The Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes then Pachelbel’s Canon by Johan Pachelbel
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Edelweiss from the Sound of Music, then Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
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Port na bPucai (Irish harp slow air) then The Gold Ring (Irish jig)
Exit of the Newly Married Couple - celebratory, bright, joyous
Here we have five minutes of music as the newly wed couple and guests exit the room. This can be a great place for an unusual request. Expect the first ten seconds to be drowned out by cheers and clapping!
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Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel
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Cantina Band – John Williams
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Won’t you come home with me? - Irish trad jig
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New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
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Everlong - FooFighters
Steph's Repertoire
Please read below for a selection of my repertoire. Even if your piece is not listed I may already have it: please ask. I have some pieces that are only available on request because I don’t regularly play them or they need more time to prepare.
Classical Music - Pop Music - Film, Game, Show Music & Disney
Jazz, Blues & Big Band - Well known folk songs
Classical Music
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – Handel
Clair de Lune (main theme) – Debussy
Bacarolle – Grandjany
Bolero – Ravel
Canon in D – Johann Pachelbel
Caro Mio Ben – Tommaso Giordani
Flower Duet from Lakme – Léo Delibes
In Trutina – Carl Orff
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring – JS Bach *
Jupiter (The Planets) – Holst
Largo, New World Symphony – Dvořák
March Heroique (Ab theme) – Brewer
Nella Fantasia based on Gabriel’s Oboe (as sung by Il Divo) – Ennio Morricone
Passaggio – Einaudi
Prelude No 1 in C – JS Bach
Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 in G – JS Bach
The Prince of Denmark’s March / Trumpet Voluntary – Jeremiah Clarke
Sarabande – Handel
Spring, first movt (Four Seasons) – Vivaldi
Theme de la Sonate No 11 – Mozart
To a Wild Rose – Edward MacDowell
Where e'er you walk – Handel
Classical pieces available on request:
Bridal March from Lohengrin – Wagner
Wedding March (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) – Mendelssohn
Pop & Rock music
All of Me – John Legend
All You Need Is Love – The Beatles
Africa – Toto
Annie’s Song – John Denver
A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
Basket Case – Green Day
Better Together – Jack Johnson
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Candy – Robbie Williams
Can't Get You Out Of My Head – Kylie Minogue
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Clocks – Coldplay
Everlong – Foo Fighters
Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac
Faith – George Michael
Fever – Peggy Lee
Fields of Gold – Sting
Fireflies – Owl City
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
How Deep is Your Love? – Beegees
How Long Will I Love You? – The Waterboys / Ellie Goulding
I Will – Paul McCartney
Kiss Me – Six Pence none the Richer
Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Mystery of Love – Sufjan Stevens
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
Simply The Best - Tina Turner
Skinny Love – Birdy
Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
Songbird – Fleetwood Mac / Eva Cassidy
Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver
Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
Your Song – Elton John
You Are The Reason – Calum Scott
You Can Count On Me – Bruno Mars
Pop music pieces available on request:
Fluff – Black Sabbath
Last Boat to America – David Gray
Now & Forever – Richard Marx
One Day Like This – Elbow
Film, Game, Show music & Disney
All I ask of you (The Phantom of the Opera) - Andrew Lloyd Webber
A Thousand Years (Twilight) – Christina Perri
A Whole New World (Aladdin) – Alan Menken / Tim Rice
Be Our Guest (Beauty and the Beast) – Alan Menken / Howard Ashman
Cantina Band (Star Wars) – John Williams
Concerning Hobbits (Lord of the Rings) – Howard Shore
Edelweiss (The Sound of Music) – Richard Rogers / Oscar Hammerstein
Evenstar (Lord of the Rings) – Howard Shore
Games of Thrones Main Title Theme (Game of Thrones) – Ramin Djawadi
Into The West (Lord of the Rings) – Annie Lennox / Fran Walsh / Howard Shore
Journey to the West (Princess Mononoke) – Joe Hisaishi
Jurassic Park Theme – John Williams
Love Theme (Cinema Paradiso) – Andrea & Ennio Morricone
Moon River (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) – Henry Mancini / Johnny Mercer
My Heart will go on (Titanic) – James Horner
My Neighbour Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro) – Hayao Miyazaki
Mystery of Love (Call Me By Your Name) – Sufjan Stevens
Over the Rainbow (Wizard of Oz) – Harold Arlen / E.Y. Harburg
Skyward Sword Theme (Zelda)
Star Wars Main Theme – (Star Wars) - John Williams
Tale as Old as Time – (Beauty and the Beast) – Alan Menken / Howard Ashman
When You Wish Upon a Star (Pinocchio) – Leigh Harline / Ned Washington
Where’s Hiccup (How To Train Your Dragon) – John Powell
Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid) - Alan Menken / Howard Ashman
Film, Game, Show music & Disney pieces available on request:
Eternity: Memory of Lightwaves (Final Fantasy) – Noriko Matsueda / Takahito Eguchi
The Merry-Go Round of Life (Howl's Moving Castle) - Joe Hisaishi
Jazz, Blues & Big Band
All of Me – Gerald Marks and Seymour Simon
Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer
Blackberry Winter – Alec Wilder / Loonis McGlohon
Dream a Little Dream of me – Fabian Andre / Wilbur Schwandt / Gus Kahn
Did I remember – Billie Holiday
I’m in the mood for love – Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
In the mood – Glenn Miller
I’ve Got Rhythm – George Gershwin
Fly Me to the Moon – Bart Howard
Lovely, Never Ever Change – Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
New York New York – Frank Sinatra
Stormy Weather – Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
Summertime – George Gershwin
Twelve bar blues – trad
Two Sleepy People – Hoagy Carmichael / Frank Loesser
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams – Harry Barris / Ted Koehler / Billy Moll
Well known folk songs
Ag Críost an síol - Irish traditional blessing *
All Through the Night
Amazing Grace
Brian Boru's March
Cader Idris (Arthur's Seat)
Carrick Fergus
Carolan's Concerto - Carolan
Calum's Road - Donald Shaw
Greensleeves
Llywn Onn (The Ash Grove)
Loch Lomond
Londonderry Air (Oh Danny Boy)
Lovely Joan (from Vaughan William’s “The Lark Ascending”)
My Lagan Love
Sally Gardens
Scarborough Fair
She moves through the fair
Skye Boat Song
Swan LK243 - Catriona McKay
Sumer Is Icumen In
Women of Ireland