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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Musical composition by Richard Wagner}}<br />
The "'''Bridal Chorus'''" ({{Langx|de|"Treulich geführt"|link=no|italic=no}}) from the 1850 [[opera]] ''[[Lohengrin (opera)|Lohengrin]]'' by German composer [[Richard Wagner]], who also wrote the [[libretto]], 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'''", but "[[wedding march]]" refers to any piece in march tempo accompanying the entrance or exit of the bride, notably [[Felix Mendelssohn]]'s "[[Wedding March (Mendelssohn)|Wedding March]]". Wagner’s piece was made popular when it was used as the [[Processional hymn|processional]] at the wedding of [[Victoria, Princess Royal|Victoria]] the [[Princess Royal]] to [[Frederick III, German Emperor|Prince Frederick William of Prussia]] in 1858.<ref>{{cite book|title=Celebrating the Family: Ethnicity, Consumer Culture, and Family Rituals|first=Elizabeth Hafkin|last=Pleck|publisher=Harvard University Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/celebratingfamil0000plec/page/212 212]|year=2000|url=https://archive.org/details/celebratingfamil0000plec|url-access=registration|access-date=2014-08-31}}</ref><br />
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The chorus is sung in ''Lohengrin'' by the women of the wedding party after the ceremony, as they accompany the heroine Elsa to her bridal chamber.<br />
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==Text==<br />
Although the chorus is usually played on an [[organ (music)|organ]] without singing at most weddings, in ''[[Lohengrin (opera)|Lohengrin]]'', the wedding party sings these words at the beginning of act three.<br />
{{Listen|type=music<br />
| filename = Richard Wagner - Treulich geführt, version 2.ogg<br />
| title = "Treulich geführt"<br />
| description = Historical performance}}<br />
<br />
{{verse translation|lang=de|<br />
Treulich geführt ziehet dahin,<br />
wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!<br />
Siegreicher Mut, Minnegewinn<br />
eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.<br />
Streiter der Tugend, schreite voran!<br />
Zierde der Jugend, schreite voran!<br />
Rauschen des Festes seid nun entronnen,<br />
Wonne des Herzens sei euch gewonnen!<br />
<br />
Duftender Raum, zur Liebe geschmückt,<br />
nehm' euch nun auf, dem Glanze entrückt.<br />
Treulich geführt ziehet nun ein,<br />
wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr'!<br />
Siegreicher Mut, Minne so rein<br />
eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.<br />
|<br />
Faithfully guided, draw near<br />
to where the blessing of love shall preserve you!<br />
Triumphant courage, the reward of love,<br />
joins you in faith as the happiest of couples!<br />
Champion of virtue, proceed!<br />
Jewel of youth, proceed!<br />
Flee now the splendour of the wedding feast,<br />
may the delights of the heart be yours!<br />
<br />
This sweet-smelling room, decked for love,<br />
now takes you in, away from the splendour.<br />
Faithfully guided, draw now near<br />
to where the blessing of love shall preserve you!<br />
Triumphant courage, love so pure,<br />
joins you in faith as the happiest of couples!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
Eight women then sing a blessing to a separate melody.<br />
<br />
{{verse translation|lang=de|<br />
Wie Gott euch selig weihte,<br />
zu Freude weihn euch wir;<br />
In Liebesglücks Geleite<br />
denkt lang' der Stunde hier!<br />
|<br />
As God hath blessedly consecrated you,<br />
We consecrate you to joy;<br />
Attended by love's bliss,<br />
Think long upon the present hour!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The chorus then gradually proceeds offstage, repeating a slightly modified version of the previous words.<br />
<br />
{{verse translation|lang=de|<br />
Treulich bewacht bleibet zurück,<br />
wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr!<br />
Siegreicher Mut, Minne und Glück<br />
eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar.<br />
Streiter der Tugend, bleibe daheim!<br />
Zierde der Jugend, bleibe daheim!<br />
Rauschen des Festes seid nun entronnen,<br />
Wonne des Herzens sei euch gewonnen!<br />
<br />
Duftender Raum, zur Liebe geschmückt,<br />
nehm euch nun auf, dem Glanze entrückt.<br />
Treulich bewacht bleibet zurück,<br />
wo euch der Segen der Liebe bewahr!<br />
Siegreicher Mut, Minne und Glück<br />
eint euch in Treue zum seligsten Paar!<br />
|<br />
Faithfully guarded, remain behind,<br />
where the blessing of love shall preserve you!<br />
Triumphant courage, love and happiness,<br />
joins you in faith as the most blessed of couples!<br />
Champion of virtue, stay where you are!<br />
Jewel of youth, stay where you are!<br />
Flee now the splendour of the wedding feast,<br />
may the delights of the heart be yours!<br />
<br />
This sweet-smelling room, decked for love,<br />
now takes you in, away from the splendour.<br />
Faithfully guided, remain behind,<br />
where the blessing of love shall preserve you!<br />
Triumphant courage, love and happiness,<br />
joins you in faith as the most blessed of couples!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Religious attitudes ==<br />
{{Listen|type=music|filename=Wagner Bridal Chorus.ogg|title="Here Comes the Bride"|description=On organ ([[Kevin MacLeod]])}}<br />
Some Christian churches disagree with the use of the "Bridal Chorus" at wedding ceremonies. In an [[FAQ]] on the website of the [[Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod]], it was explained that opposition to the piece dated from before the [[First World War]], when Lutherans were opposed "to any sort of theater", and Wagner's operas were seen as "depict[ing] pagan stories and themes."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=3928|title=Wedding March|access-date=November 18, 2007|publisher=The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607084921/http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=3928|archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref> A pamphlet issued in 2003 by the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego]] said that the "Bridal Chorus" was "not to be used", again because it is a theatrical piece, but also because it is not a processional to the altar in the opera, and because its frequent use in film and television associate it with sentimentality rather than worship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/OLSFiles/LITURGY%20OLD/Guidelines_English/Wedmus.pdf|title=Guidelines for Wedding Music|access-date=November 18, 2007|year=2000|publisher=Diocese of San Diego Office of Liturgy and Spirituality|format=PDF|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010933/http://www.diocese-sdiego.org/OLSFiles/LITURGY%20OLD/Guidelines_English/Wedmus.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref><br />
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Many Jewish couples prefer to choose other music due to the antisemitic views espoused by Wagner and his stated lack of respect for Jewish music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Richard Wagner Controversy |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/richard-wagner-controversy |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* {{commons category-inline|Lohengrin}}<br />
* [https://digital.wagnermuseum.de/ncrw/content/zoom/70739/ Act III, scene 1: Treulich geführt]: from Lohengrin, Wagner's autograph manuscript in the [[Richard Wagner Foundation]]<br />
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{{Richard Wagner}}<br />
{{Weddings}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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[[Category:Compositions by Richard Wagner]]<br />
[[Category:Compositions in B-flat major]]<br />
[[Category:Holiday songs]]<br />
[[Category:Christmas songs]]<br />
[[Category:March music]]<br />
[[Category:Wedding music]]<br />
[[Category:Opera excerpts]]<br />
[[Category:Wedding songs]]<br />
[[Category:Lohengrin]]</div>imported>Mattmeine2023