Jewish Wedding Music

Music is almost a part of our lives. It has been used for centuries on all occasions such as weddings, birthdays, worship, dramas, etc. It is surely a very important part of wedding ceremonies around the world. Wedding music is to be chosen very carefully as it should go in sync with the rituals in the ceremony, especially if the ceremony is more traditional such as a Jewish wedding.

Music plays a central role in a Jewish wedding. You have the option of choosing traditional Jewish wedding ceremony music or some secular wedding songs as well. However, make sure that only traditional music is played during rituals. Other contemporary songs can be played when all rituals are over. The Jewish wedding processional music is played in two sections.

This first being the entry of the rabbi, elders of the family, the groom and his parents, and bridesmaids; while the second section of the ceremony is the most important one, the arrival of the bride. At this point in the ceremony, Baruch Chaba (Blessed is He) is usually played.

But you do have a choice of going for Eshet Chayil (A Woman of Valor), an instrumental composition. Remember, in a Jewish wedding, it is inappropriate to play Wagner's Bridal Chorus, as its composer is linked with having some negative beliefs.

Music is not played when the actual rituals are being carried. However, soft traditional tunes can be played in the background during the prelude, postlude, or when the couple is signing the register. You can ask the rabbi in advance if it would be fine to play music during certain parts of the ceremony.

After the ceremony is over, there is a traditional custom known as 'Hora', which is kind of a wedding reception. This includes the couple being seated at a height and the invitees dancing around them. Good Jewish wedding dance music for this is Hava Nagila (Come Let Us be Glad) and Siman Tov U Mazletov (May Good Luck Come to Us).

When it comes to choosing between traditional bands and a disc jockey, it is suggested that you choose bands for this purpose, as the members would themselves be Jewish and will be well acquainted with the wedding practices. Following are some good songs and tunes that can be considered in Jewish wedding music.

Erev Ba (Evening Comes)
Od Y'shama (The Voice of Gladness Shall be Heard Again)
V'ha'er E'ne''nu (Enlighten Our Eyes to Your Torah)
Y'did Nefesh (Beloved of my Soul)
Mezinka Dance
Tum Balalaika (Play Balalaika)
El Kabir (Almighty God)
Erev Shel Shoshanim (Evening of Roses)
Siman Tov U'Mazel Tov
Waves of the Danube

Erev Ba (Evening Comes)
Ki Le Olam Chas Do (His Love is Everlasting)
Jerusalem of Gold
Dodi Li (My Beloved is Mine, and I am His)
Hana'ava Babanot (The Fairest of Maidens)
Ani Le Dodi (I Am My Beloved's)
Hava Nagila (Let's Rejoice)
S'u Sh'orim (Look up to the Gates)
Pachelbel's Canon in D
Od Yishama Be'Arei Yehuda
Hodu L'Adonai Ki Tov (Give Thanks to the Lord)

There are many other tunes that can be included in the music for Jewish wedding ceremonies. If you visit audio stores, you will easily find compilations of contemporary and traditional Jewish wedding music.