Solo Violin Musicians for Weddings, Parties, Anything!

We are unique musicians offering a variety of music entertainment for your special event including Jazz, Classical, Acoustic, Swing, Irish/Celtic, Fiddle, Bluegrass, Gypsy, Strolling Music, Italian, Jewish, Blues, Klezmer and Dance Music.

In 2006, we performed at 126 weddings and parties, and 87 in 2005. We are self contained, can perform acoustic or electric, show up on time, are not too loud and our rates are lower than most. Be sure to listen to some of our music samples on our site and have all of your frequently asked questions answered.

Your wedding or special event deserves to be spectacular!

We are available to perform
in the following combinations:

The Sparrow Lane Ensemble provides beautiful, timeless music for your wedding ceremony, including prelude, processional, candle lighting, readings and recessional.

We seamlessly and smoothly create a transition from your ceremony into your reception, performing swing, jazz, tango, Latin, and Celtic music. And don’t forget your pop classics or your favorite movie themes!

We perform all kinds of classical, baroque, romantic, modern, pop and chamber music arranged for strings, including violins, violas, cellos, guitars, harps and mandolins. We Love Weddings! We understand — this is a big event! You’ve been dreaming about your wedding all of your life, you want it to be perfect, and you want it to be stress free. We understand the excitement, the pressure and the difficulty in creating the wedding of your dreams. Organizing a wedding is probably something you have not done before — there is a lot involved, and we have been there! This is what we do for a living. We care, and we love weddings! Our musicians are experienced, passionate, professional. We arrive on time, play our hearts out and are happy to accommodate all of your needs and special requests.

The Sparrow Lane Ensemble performs the famous and classic works of Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Handel, Vivaldi, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Debussy, Brahms, including the traditional wedding favorites.

In addition, we perform showtunes, pop music, children’s music, contemporary classical, The Beatles, Tango music, Jewish music, Italian music, Latin music, French music, Armenian music, Irish music and movie themes from Titanic, Lord Of The Rings, The Godfather trilogy, Fiddler On The Roof, and other favorites.

There is nothing more enchanting or romantic
than the beautiful, angelic sound of the mandolin.

Our experienced musicians play a wide variety of musical styles that you love, including Italian, Jazz, Swing, Classical, Latin, Klezmer, Jewish, Bluegrass, Old-time, Irish / Celtic, Greek, and Russian mandolin music, not to mention your favorite movie themes and pop music!

Mandolin Magic performs acoustic mandolin, electric mandolin, solo mandolin with backing tracks, strolling mandolin, duo mandolins, mandolin ensembles, or mandolin with a full band.

We are passionate, punctual, and professional musicians who love our jobs! Most importantly, we have a great time making sure you and your guests have an unforgettable time. Along with our expert planner, you are sure to experience the utmost in quality mandolin music and enjoy the day of your dreams!

Mandolin Music for Weddings

Your special day is here and Mandolin Magic
can make it enchanting — and stress free!

We love weddings, and we love playing mandolin music for weddings! Mandolin Magic offers mandolin music for the prelude, processional, candle lighting, recessional, cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, and any other special requests you might have.

Over the years, Mandolin Magic has performed at hundreds of weddings. There is no musical, social, emotional or technical situation we can’t handle. From performing at obscure locations on the beach, leading a processional of guests through a city street, or hiking to a remote mountain location, to rushing tables, chairs, and sound equipment to a new location during a last-minute thunderstorm, we can — and have had to — handle it all.

We are completely self-contained, travel with all our own equipment, dress appropriately, and are happy to do whatever needs to be done to make the day go smoothly and as perfectly as you envision.

The Mandolin is a beautiful choice for weddings because of its historical and romantic sound. It crosses the boundaries of age, ethnicities, styles and tastes like no other instrument can. Who doesn’t love the mandolin? It is also very portable, making for an easy transition from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to dinner and dancing. Mandolin Magic is fun, classy, and a special treat for everyone!

We also understand how important your wedding day is, and how stressful it can be. We are a group of experienced, passionate, and professional musicians who perform at weddings for a living and, along with our personalized wedding planner, we are here to melt that stress away.

There is no wedding situation we have not encountered, from playing on the beach to playing in the rain, from hiking into remote mountain locations to performing on a wagon train — we have, literally, done it all!

We are completely self contained, we can perform acoustically or with amplification, we are always prompt, we never play too loud, and we are happy to accommodate whatever needs or special requests you might have. Working with the Silver Mountain String Band will be the easiest part of your wedding, leaving you free to enjoy your magical day!

The band features cream of the crop of the Los Angeles music community and is comprised of passionate and professional musicians who love to play. We are dedicated to making your event a very special occasion that everyone will enjoy.

Our full orchestra is a 14-piece band with 3 singers, 3 horns, 2 violins, upright bass, drums, guitar, vibraphone, piano, and accordion. We also offer a 10-piece and 6-piece version of the band, and one of our jazz combos or classical string ensembles for your prelude, ceremony, and pre-reception music.

First, and most importantly, whether you are booking a string quartet for the once-in-a-lifetime event of your wedding or are a beginner and are planning your first corporate event, hiring a string quartet is much simpler than it seems.

The first step to hiring a string quartet is to plan ahead and start early. It is important to contact several prospective groups of musicians, audition them, and make your decision early in the wedding or event planning process. This is important because popular groups, like the Sparrow Lane String Quartet, can become booked early during holidays and wedding season. Therefore, if you are planning to have your wedding or event during the months of April to October, the peak of wedding season, or December, make sure you book your band well ahead of time.

The second step to hiring a string quartet for your wedding or corporate event is to have an idea of what you are looking for. By this, we do not mean you must have a concrete idea (although, if you do, that is fine). However, we do mean that you should have an idea of the type of music you would like to hear. The best way to determine this is to decide what mood you would like your music to set. Think about whether you would like a relaxed mood, a sophisticated mood, or music that will create a backdrop for conversing. Also decide if your event is formal or informal.

This step may seem superfluous at the planning stage, but if you want your wedding or corporate event to be truly memorable, then its important to have ideas to give to the string quartet you are hiring. They can then take the mood you want to establish and translate it into music. Always remember that the musicians are there to help.

When you are considering hiring potential string quartets for your event, there are several things you will want to discuss with them during the audition process. These important items include:

• First, unless the band comes from a personal recommendation, look for testimonials on their website. We publish testimonials from our satisfied clients throughout our website to assure potential clients we can deliver exactly what they desire. Remember, you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best band for your event.
• Second, ask about the band’s availability. This will obviously be a large determinant in the group you hire.
• Third, discuss the band’s fees and rates, as well as any additional charges for travel.
• Finally, ensure that, for whatever string quartet you hire, you make sure you get everything in writing. Although verbal contracts are often satisfactory, its important to get something that says, “We’ll be playing your wedding at 4:00 pm on June 5th, 2009,” even if its just an e-mail.

If you follow these simple rules, hiring a string quartet for your wedding, corporate event or party will be simple and enjoyable. If you would like to find out more about the Sparrow Lane String Quartet’s policies, read our Frequently Asked Questions page. Or, if you’re ready to hire us for your special event, contact us today!

The fiddle is an important instrument in both traditional and modern Irish music. The fiddle is the same instrument as the violin but is played in a different style. For each region in Ireland, there is a different style of fiddling. The most well-known fiddle traditions are from Donegal, Sligo, Sliabh Luachra and Clare.

Most people are familiar with the Sligo tradition of fiddle music, due to it being played by famous fiddlers such as Lad O’Beirne, Michael Coleman, John McGrath, James Morrison and Paddy Killoran, who popularized Irish music in the United States in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Contemporary fiddle players include Brendan Mulvihill, Paddy Cronin, Peter Horan, James Kelly, Martin Hayes, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Cathal Hayden, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Matt Cranitch, Frankie Gavin, Paddy Glackin, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Maire Breatnach and Gerry O’Connor. Notable American fiddlers include Winifred Horan, Liz Carroll and Eileen Ivers.

Not much is known about the composers of traditional Irish folk music, as much of it has been passed down from generation to generation without credit to the original writers. Irish traditional music for dancing was intended to be played at weddings, on saints’ days and for other special occasions.

Traditional Irish fiddle tunes are typically divided into two eight-bar strains, played as many times as the performer desires. Irish dancing is isometric; sixteen measures are known as a “step”, with eight for the right foot of the step and eight for the left. Traditional Irish dances and tunes include reels, hornpipes and jigs.

Music inspired by traditional Irish folk tunes has become very popular in recent decades. Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers and Sinéad O’Connor have all made music featuring aspects of Irish folk music. The singer Enya has achieved monumental success with her fusion of New Age and Irish music. The Pogues were one of the first punk rock bands to blend Irish folk music into their songs. Their sound inspired American bands such as the Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Other noteworthy Irish bands include U2, who have also incorporated aspects of Irish fok music into their repetoire, as well as The Radiators From Space, The Boomtown Rats, My Bloody Valentine and the Cranberries.

Whether you are a fan of traditional Irish folk music or modern music with a folk twist, you are sure to enjoy the lively sound of an Irish fiddle. If you are interested in having Irish fiddle music for your wedding or other special event, contact us today.

The varied backdrops of Los Angeles can provide the most spectacular settings for your wedding day. It is one of the most inspiring and romantic cities in the world. After all, it is called “the city of angels” for a reason – and even inspired a romantic film of the same name! Also, don’t forget that Los Angeles is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world: the assorted cross-sections of world cultures of the city of Los Angeles create a cultural mosaic which is completely unique. Los Angeles is home to people from across the globe, each of whom brings a piece of their unique culture to the city.

When planning your Los Angeles wedding, why not take into consideration the city’s unique flavors when selecting the music for your event?

“Old Hollywood” is a popular choice for Los Angeles weddings. This theme evokes feelings of glamour, nostalgia and class. If you’re planning an Old Hollywood-themed soiree, you’re first choice for wedding music is the Whole of the Moon Swing Orchestra. This band features classic tunes from the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s — it’s the perfect music to accompany your classically inspired wedding! The Sparrow Lane String Quartet would work well with an Old Hollywood themed wedding, as well.

Without a doubt, Latin culture is a large part of life in Los Angeles. However, you don’t have to know how to tango to plan a Latin wedding! From samba, flamenco, salsa and meringue, to tango and bossa nova, the Wine and Roses Band can provide your Latin flavored wedding with the perfect musical accompaniment to make your Los Angeles wedding go from lukewarm to muy caliente!

Why not take inspiration from the sophistication of city life? If you want to plan a sophisticated Los Angeles wedding, consider the classy sounds of a string quartet. The Sparrow Lane String Quartet would be a wonderful choice for a decidedly sophisticated event.

These are only a few examples of weddings inspired by the city of Los Angeles. With just a little imagination it is possible to come up with hundreds of ideas to inspire a memorable and unique Los Angeles wedding!

Do you have any unique wedding theme ideas? Let us know!

Ketubah Signing

The Ketubah is signed in a private ceremony with the Bride, Groom, family and the wedding party. This can actually happen at the rehearsal the evening before.

As long as the bride (Kallah) and groom (Chatan) are standing under the Chuppah (canopy), the marriage ceremony can take place almost anywhere — in a synagogue, the bride or groom’s home, in a public venue such as a hotel or even on a beach.

You can marry at any time of the day, though it is most usual to marry in the afternoon or evening. Most people choose to marry on a Sunday or a Tuesday — a particularly significant day, as this was when God blessed His creation doubly.

It is generally forbidden to get married in the 49 days between the moveable feasts of Passover and Pentecost, and during three weeks between July and August. It is also forbidden to marry on the Sabbath or on festival days. If you want to get married on a Saturday, the ceremony is not allowed to begin until after sundown.

Bedekkin – Veiling

The pre-ceremony ritual is the veiling of the Kallah (Bride). The Chatan (Groom) lowers the veil over the Kallah’s face. This custom recalls Rebecca and Issac’s first meeting when Rebecca modestly concealed her face in a veil. It also recalls the biblical story of Rachel and Jacob. Rachels father Laben substituted his elder daughter Leah, for Rachel. The Chatan lowers the veil over the Kallah to be sure not to make the same mistake Jacob did and by “dressing” his Kallah with a veil, the Chatan is assured that she is the one he has chosen, and thereby sets her apart from all others.

Suggested Prelude Wedding Music

Erev Shel Shoshanim
Adonai Sfatai Traditional
Ma’oz Tzur (Traditional Hanukkah Song) If wedding is in December.
Jerusalem of Gold
Y’did Nefesh Ani Le Dodi
Sunrise Sunset

Seating of the Grandmothers
Brides side is on the right.

The Wedding Ceremony

KIDDUSHIN – THE WEDDING CEREMONY

The Jewish wedding is called kiddushin, meaning sanctification related to the word kadosh (holy). The kiddushin is composed of two distinct ceremonies: the erusin and nisuin or nuptials.

Erusin – The Betrothal

The Betrothal ceremony has been combined in modern times with the second service nisuin. It is during the erusin ceremony that the kallah (bride) and chatan (groom) are formally and publicly betrothed to one another. A blessing over a cup of wine is said, followed by a second blessing that reminds us of the holiness of unity as well as the integrity of the bonds of marriage. Both the kallah and chatan drink from the same cup of wine, accepting life’s joys, as well as responsibilities.

Blowing of the Shofar

Baruchim Haba’im Bashem Adonai
Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

Processional of the Groom, the Chatan

Groom is escorted by both his father and mother

Music:
Baruch Ha Ba Traditional
Hodu L’Adonai Ki Tov, Ki Le Olam Chas Do
Give thanks to the Lord for He is Good,
His loving kindness endures forever!

Processional of the Maid of Honor

Processional of the Bride

Jewish weddings do not use the Christian Traditional piece “Here Comes The Bride” or “The Wedding March” because it was composed by Richard Wagner.

Bride is escorted by her father and mother

*Please remain seated. It is not customary within a Jewish wedding to stand when the bride enters.

Suggested Music: Dodi Li

Enter Bride and Parents (Optional)

Suggested Music: Sunrise Sunset

Encircling of the Groom

The Bride circles her beloved seven times, taken from Jeremiah 31:22b, “a woman shall compass (revolve around, surround) a man.” Seven times is significant because of its scriptural reference of perfection and completion; the reference in Hosea 2:19-21 of God’s seven-fold betrothal to His people, Israel; the reference in Revelation 4:5 to the seven Spirits of God; and as a reflection of the Bride’s desire to be as the seven prophetesses of Israel: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Hilda, and Esther.

The position of the bride on the right side of the groom is based on an interpretation of Psalm 45:10 “the queen stands on your right hand in fine gold of ophir”. In Jewish tradition the bride is a queen, and the groom a king.

Bride and Groom Enter the Chuppah – The Wedding Canopy

The bridal canopy is a multifaceted symbol: it is a home, and a reminder of the tent of our Patriarchs.

It is open on all sides to recall the tent of Abraham and Sara, who had doors on all sides of his dwelling to welcome guests.

Entrance under the Chuppah (Wedding Canopy)

This is symbolic of the marriage coming under the Holy covering of God.

The covering represents protection, mercy, and grace.

Blessing of the Bride and Groom – Mi Adir

Groom lifts the veil to take a peek. This is to verify that she is his wife and not another, avoiding the mistake that Jacob made with Leah.

If the wedding is on Saturday Night you can incorporate Havdallah into the ceremony.

The Drashah -

The sermon or charge should be a personal message to the bride and groom by the Rabbi with challenges and commitments to the Holy One.

Exchanging of the Vows
Ring Ceremony

Music: Gadlu La Shem

Kiddush- The Blessing of the cup
Reading of the Ketubah (Marriage Contract)
The Ketubah – Certificate of Marriage

Nisuin – The Nuptials

The second part of the ceremony after the erusin is the nisuin.

This ceremony forms the second half of the wedding service. Even though the chatan and kallah are legally bound to each other as husband and wife at the completion of the eursin, the wedding ceremony is not yet complete. During this part of the ceremony, God’s presence is acknowledged in the new relationship. This acknowledgement is made by chanting seven blessings called the sheva b’rachot. Like the erusin ceremony, the sheva b’rachot are chanted over a cup of wine. After the blessing for wine, the remaining six blessings acknowledge God as the creator of the world, the creator of love and as the One who brings redemption to the world.

The Seven Wedding Blessings

If the wedding is on a Saturday Evening Havdalah can be incorporated into the wedding instead of this cup.

Kiddush- The Blessing of the cup a second time

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melech HaOlam

Borey Pree Hagafen.

Groom Drinks then the Bride Drinks wine from the cup.

Confirmation of Covenant. After a man proposed marriage to a woman, in ancient Jewish culture, he poured a cup of wine and drank from it. If she took it and drank also that signified her acceptance and she became his betrothed.

The Pronouncement
Tallit Covering and Blessing

The Breaking of the Glass

A Traditional end to a Jewish wedding serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, even during the most joyous of celebrations. Life is fragile. We break this glass as a symbol of our past. In the theater that say go break a leg. In a Jewish wedding we break a glass. Forgiveness is an end to a shattered past. As the Groom smashes the glass everyone will shout Mazel Tov! Which means Good Fortune, may your lives here on out not be shattered, but full of fortune and joy.

Everyone responds with “Mazel Tov!”

Recessional

Music: Simon Tov, Mazel Tov or
The Wedding March Recessional by Mendleson (a Jewish Believer)

Bride and Groom
Best Man and Maid of Honor
Groomsmen and Bridesmaids
Groomsmen escorts the Bride’s Mother (Father follows behind)
Groomsmen escorts the Groom’s Mother (Father follows behind)
Groomsmen escorts the Grandmothers

Cheder Yichud – Private Room

A brief period of seclusion for the bride and groom to absorb the events of the ceremony where they spend their first moments alone together as husband and wife. Yichud has been described as a period of bonding, a time of privacy and peace before the public celebration begins. It is nice to have the room and food prepared for them as a special surprise to their private moment.

They will also break their fast before returning to the community to celebrate. The bride and groom will need about 20-30 minutes to enjoy the moment.

Grand Entrance

Welcome the Bride and Groom with a great entrance. Perhaps music leading up to the opening of the door. Bubbles blown as they have a “reverse” reception line. Everyone is lined up on each side of the path as they enter. They can greet everyone as they make their way to the dance floor for their first dance.

Seudat Mitzvah – The Festive Meal

Perhaps one of the most distinctive and enjoyable aspects of the traditional Jewish wedding is the dancing and mitzvah (commandment) to make the kallah and chatan happy. No Jewish wedding would be complete with out dancing the Hora or Lifting the bride and groom up in the chair. (This should be planned ahead of time, eight strong men should be selected to lift the chairs. They should even practice so they know how long and what to do.)

The meal begins with reciting the blessing over the wedding challah, the traditional braided bread.

Modern Catholic weddings, which are often held in churches, begin with 20 to 30 minutes of prelude music. Traditionally, this music was played by an organist or a pianist. However, modern brides often choose a string quartet, a harpist, a classical guitarist or even a woodwind quintet. Their choice of musical accompaniment is not limited by tradition and is instead reflective of their personal taste.

During the prelude, pieces such as Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desire” are usually played. Following the prelude, special music is played for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers. “Canon in D”, by Pachebel, is a perennial favorite. Following the seating of the mothers and grandmothers, the bridal party proceeds down the aisle. They are followed by the bride, who is traditionally escorted by her father. During the bride’s processional, she is accompanied by a processional song. The two groups stop their procession at the church’s altar.

For well over 100 years, Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” from Lohengrin has been a hugely popular choice. It is often called, “Here Comes the Bride.” Since Lady Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles, Jeremiah Clarke’s “Prince of Denmark March” has become extremely popular for use as processional music. This piece is sometimes attributed to Henry Purcell as “Trumpet Voluntary”.

During the wedding ceremony, there may be several hymns. This is especially true for liturgical settings. Solos and a short piece for the lighting of the Unity Candle may also take place.

At the end of the service, the new couple march down the aisle together to a lively recessional song. Most popular for this is Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Widor’s “Toccata” from Symphony No. 5 is also another favorite.

The wedding ceremony then concludes with an instrumental postlude as the wedding guests depart.

If you’re a Catholic bride or groom, why not share some of your wedding traditions with us?

Want us to feature another style of wedding in our blog? Let us know!