Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”
Almost everyone knows Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March"—even if many people don't know where it comes from when they hear it. How is it that it is one of the most frequently performed works of classical music today?
In 1842, when he was just 33 years old, Mendelssohn composed incidental music for Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The "Wedding March" is heard towards the end, during the wedding ceremony of Theseus and Hippolyta. With its lively and triumphant melody, Mendelssohn's music captures the joyful and celebratory atmosphere of this scene—a relief after the trials and tribulations seen in the first half of the play.
The popularity of the "Wedding March" grew considerably over time, and it became a "wedding classic" for several reasons: During his lifetime and also in the second half of the 19th century, Mendelssohn was a highly respected composer. He was known for his melodious and expressive music, and his works were well received by audiences and critics. He enjoyed success not only in his homeland, but especially in England – he traveled there a total of ten times, performed his new compositions, and cultivated artistic connections. It was therefore not surprising that Mendelssohn's music was played at the wedding of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, to Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia in 1858.
The use of the "Wedding March" at such a significant event brought it to the attention of a wide audience, and it naturally spurred a copycat effect. The uplifting and festive character of the piece, combined with its association with love and marriage, makes it highly appropriate for wedding ceremonies: The opening fanfare, played by the brass instruments, announces the bride's entrance and prepares the grand procession. This is followed by a joyful and solemn march, with the strings and woodwinds carrying the melodic lines.
The work's popularity grew even further in the 20th century: with the invention of recorded music, its use became easier—you no longer need a large live orchestra on site to play the music at weddings! Film and television also contributed to the work's continued popularity: The "Wedding March" is prominently featured in the highly successful 1935 film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream, in Father of the Bride from 1950, and in well-known 21st-century films such as The Wedding Planner from 2001 and Love Actually from 2003.