Traditional Music for Weddings
 
Fiddler Ethan Hazzard-Watkins and clarinetist Anna Patton perform traditional music for wedding ceremonies, receptions, dances and other events. Their music ranges from sweet and contemplative airs to elegant marches, from charming listening music to toe-tapping dance tunes. Many couples have found that traditional melodies from Ireland, England, Scandinavia, New England and elsewhere beautifully complement their ceremony, and create a unique and enjoyable celebratory atmosphere during the reception. If you are planning a wedding, allow Ethan and Anna to provide beautiful music to brighten the occasion.
 
Planning Music for the Ceremony
 
Drawing on repertoire from diverse traditions and styles, Ethan and Anna work with the couple to design a unique and elegant musical program that complements each stage of the ceremony. Whether your ceremony will be indoors or outside, secular or religious, a traditional format or a ritual of your own creation, Ethan and Anna can arrange appropriate musical acompaniment.
 
Music for the Reception
Traditional music helps to create a delightful celebratory atmosphere during the reception. From lively jigs and reels to lovely waltzes, Ethan and Anna’s music provides an excellent backdrop for a receiving line, while serving hors d’oeuvres, or during a meal. However you plan to celebrate your marriage, joyful live music will add a special touch that you and your guests will enjoy.
 
 
Dancing at the Reception
 
Ethan and Anna are experienced dance musicians who can provide music for many kinds of dancing, such as waltzing, couples' dancing, and swing dancing. Ethan and Anna can also arrange for a caller (dance leader) to facilitate contra dancing, a traditional New England style of social dance that is easy, fun and inclusive.
 
Sample Recordings
 
The following recordings give an idea of the styles of music that Ethan and Anna often perform for ceremonies and receptions. These selections were recorded by Bob Mills in Guilford, VT, and are provided here in MP3 format. If you are unable to listen to them, please contact us for a CD demo.
 
1. Five Roads / The Indian Princess
Ethan and Anna frequently play one or both of these lovely tunes to accompany the bride, groom or wedding party processional. Canadian piper Chris Langan composed The Five Roads, while The Indian Princess comes from the English Country Dance repertoire and was written by Colin Hume.
 
2. The Fly Fishing Reel / McKillop's
Irish reels such as these set a joyful, celebratory tone as the couple recesses at the end of the ceremony. Accordionist Jackie Daly composed the first tune, and fiddler Jim McKillop authored the second.
 
3. Seanamhac Tube Station / Willie Coleman's / Tom Billy's
This exciting set of jigs gives a taste of the style of music played for contra dancing. Tunes like these also make great toe-tapping background music during a reception. The first tune was written by Irish fiddler John Carty, and the second and third tunes are traditional Irish session jigs. In this recording Ethan and Anna are joined by Roger Kahle on guitar and Chuck Corman on acoustic bass.
 
4. Valse de Pastouriaux
Waltzes make lovely background music at any point in the ceremony or reception, and are also excellent for dancing. French musician Jacky Molard wrote this waltz. In this recording Ethan and Anna are joined by Bob Mills on guitar.
 
 
References
 
Here's what a few recent clients say about having Ethan and Anna play for their weddings:
 
Jennie Reichman & Steve Lewis, Married July 9, 2005 in Walpole, NH

Ethan and Anna are both highly acomplished musicians who not only play with precision and skill, but infuse thier performances with love of the music and an intimate understanding of the history of these tunes. They wove a spell of magic and delight for the guests at our wedding, filling the air with beautiful music as people mingled before the ceremony, and then gently heralding us down the aisle. They were an integral part of the joy and beauty of our wedding; they created an atmosphere of sacredness and festivity that was exactly what we had envisioned.
 
Jeremy Waterman & Heidi Lyons, Married August 20, 2005 in Kennebunk, ME

We created our own ceremony and vows, and wanted our music to also reflect the love put into our unique wedding ritual. We could not imagine our wedding with the same old cookie-cutter music that we’ve heard at just about every wedding we’ve attended. We and our guests found Ethan and Anna's music to be moving and heartfelt, and a perfect complement to our outdoor, secular, summer wedding. The music instilled joy and celebration.

Ethan and Anna were consummate professionals from start to finish. It was clear from working with them that they were experienced wedding players, as they provided helpful suggestions and guidance about timing, pacing and order of events. They also showed sensitivity and adaptibility during the ceremony – adjusting the music to seamlessly follow the small ‘mistakes’ made by the wedding party. Their professionalism, confidence and calm added greatly to a smooth and joyous ceremony. We would recommend Ethan and Anna without reservation!
 

Anna White & Lilian Pintea, Married Oct. 29, 2005 in Newark, DE

Anna and Ethan’s music wove our wedding ceremony and reception together beautifully. They are versatile musicians, skilled at a wide variety of musical styles and comfortable playing in different settings. Their music set a simple and beautiful tone for our ceremony, then later got the party hopping with impossible-not-to-dance-to contra dance tunes. We also appreciated their openness to incorporating music from our different cultural heritages.
 
Contact Information
 
To speak with Ethan and Anna about music for any event, email them or call (802) 257-9234.
   
 

  You can also check out Ethan's web site here.
 
 
         
   
Site design by Ethan Hazzard-Watkins. Updated 1/29/06.