Bridal Chorus
The "Bridal Chorus" "Treulich geführt", from the 1850 opera Lohengrin, by German composer Richard Wagner, is a march played for the bride's entrance at many formal weddings throughout the Western world. In English-speaking countries it is generally known as "Here Comes the Bride" or "Wedding March" (though actually "wedding march" refers to any piece in march tempo accompanying the entrance or exit of the bride, notably Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March").
Its usual placement at the beginning of a wedding ceremony is not entirely in accordance with its placement in the opera. In the opera, the chorus is sung after the ceremony by the women of the wedding party, as they accompany the heroine Elsa to the bridal chamber. In addition, the marriage between Elsa and Lohengrin is an almost immediate failure.
The "Bridal Chorus" is seldom played at Jewish weddings. This is often because of cultural objections, due to Wagner's well-documented and public reputation as an antisemite.[1] It is also opposed by many pastors of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod because of pre-First World War Lutheran opposition to the theater and to the pagan elements of Wagner's operas.[2] The Roman Catholic Church generally does not use the "Bridal Chorus"; one diocese's guidelines regarding the piece states that the chorus is a secular piece of music, that it is not a processional to the altar in the opera, and especially that its frequent use in film and television associate it with sentimentality rather than worship.[3]
Text
Although at most weddings the chorus is usually played without vocal singing (usually on an organ, if there is any), in Lohengrin the wedding party sings these words at the beginning of Act Three:
- Treulich geführt ziehet dahin,
- wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!
- Siegreicher Mut, Minnegewinn
- eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.
- Streiter der Tugend, schreite voran!
- Zierde der Jugend, schreite voran!
- Rauschen des Festes seid nun entronnen,
- Wonne des Herzens sei euch gewonnen!
- Duftender Raum, zur Liebe geschmückt,
- nehm' euch nun auf, dem Glanze entrückt.
- Treulich geführt ziehet nun ein,
- wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!
- Siegreicher Mut, Minne so rein
- eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.
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- Faithfully guided, draw near
- to where the blessing of love shall preserve you!
- Triumphant courage, the reward of love,
- joins you in faith as the happiest of couples!
- Champion of virtue, proceed!
- Jewel of youth, proceed!
- Flee now the splendour of the wedding feast,
- may the delights of the heart be yours!
- This sweet-smelling room, decked for love,
- now takes you in, away from the splendour.
- Faithfully guided, draw now near
- to where the blessing of love shall preserve you!
- Triumphant courage, love so pure,
- joins you in faith as the happiest of couples!
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Eight women then sing a blessing to a separate melody.
- Wie Gott euch selig weihte, zu Freude weihn euch wir.
- In Liebesglücks Geleite denkt lang’ der Stunde hier!
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Eventually, the chorus returns with these words, gradually proceeding offstage:
- Treulich bewacht bleibet zurück,
- wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!
- Siegreicher Mut, Minne und Glück
- eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.
- Streiter der Tugend, bleibe daheim!
- Zierde der Jugend, bleibe daheim!
- Rauschen des Festes seid nun entronnen,
- Wonne des Herzens sei euch gewonnen!
- Duftender Raum, zur Liebe geschmückt,
- nahm euch nun auf, dem Glanze entrückt.
- Treulich bewacht bleibet zurück,
- wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!
- Siegreicher Mut, Minne und Glück
- eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.
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- Faithfully guarded, remain behind
- where the blessing of love shall preserve you!
- Triumphant courage, love and happiness
- join you in faith as the happiest of couples.
- Champion of vitrue, remain here!
- Jewel of youth, remain here!
- Flee now the splendows of the wedding feast,
- may the delights of the heart be yours!
- This sweet-smelling room, decked for love,
- has now taken you, away from the splendour.
- Faithfully guarded, remain behind
- where the blessing of love shall preserve you!
- Triumphant courage, love and happiness
- join you in faith as the happiest of couples.
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