Kirsty Whatley is a young freelance harpist whose varied work takes her across the UK.
She began learning the harp at the age of ten on a small instrument, hand-made by her mother.
After transferring to the
classical concert harp she won a number of awards and prizes, toured America as
principal harpist with the Hampshire Youth Orchestra and gave several solo
recitals. She graduated in 2000 with a First Class Honour’s degree from the
University of Manchester, where she studied the harp with Eira Lyn Jones and in
2001 went on to gain a Master’s Degree with
distinction, specialising in issues surrounding the harp in the Twentieth
Century. She received first prize at the Leamington Spa Harp Festival and also
gave the premiere in the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall of a new work for solo harp
(Sacred Time by Andrew Keeling) – a piece which was written especially for her.
In 2002 she travelled to Prague to give performances of Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto and to Belfast to play with the Moscow City Ballet.
Her musical experience is diverse: from the traditional, appearing at top venues such as the Manchester Bridgewater Hall and Hampton Court; to the bizarre, as a ghostly on-stage harpist in contemporary music theatre.
WEDDING MUSIC – THE CEREMONY
Music is usually incorporated into a wedding ceremony at three key moments: at the entrance and processional of the bride; during the signing of the register; and at the recessional from the room. Kirsty has created this list as a guide reflecting some of the most successful and popular pieces to be used at each of these points.
The processional usually requires a piece that makes an opening statement and has a steady walking-tempo. The signing of the register is generally a much more relaxed moment and can also offer a space for the bride and groom to choose a piece that means something special to them, while the recessional is traditionally more upbeat and joyous.
However, none of these ideas are set in stone and Kirsty is committed to each couple, shaping their ceremony in whatever way they would wish. Thus, please remember that this list is simply a guide and feel free to pick any pieces from her background repertoire list, or speak to her about special requests, where possible, she is happy to accommodate.
PROCESSIONAL
Bridal Chorus – ‘Here Comes the Bride’ from Lohengrin Wagner
Trumpet Tune – ‘The Prince of Denmark’s March’ Clarke
Chaconne Clarke
Canon in D Pachelbel
SIGNING OF THE REGISTER
Air on a G-String Bach
Romance Without Words – ‘Bois Solitaire’ Godefroid
When I Fall In Love (Nat King Cole) Heyman & Young
I Love You Truly Jacobs Bond
All I Ask Of You Lloyd-Weber
Moonriver Mancini
Meditation – from Thais Massenet
When You Say Nothing at all (Ronan Keating) Overstreet & Schlitz
O Mio Babino Caro Puccini
Gymnopedie No. 1 Satie
Evergreen (Barbara Streisand) Williams & Streisand
RECESSIONALS
Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream Mendelssohn
Cortege ‘The Queen of Sheba’ Handel
Spring ‘Allegro’ from The Four Seasons Vivaldi
If you are having a civil ceremony then please note that the registrars must be notified of your choice of music before the day. Pieces with religious associations are not permitted and very occasionally they have also been known to object to the traditional wedding marches by Wagner and Mendelssohn. It is all dependant on the individual registrar.
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SAMPLE REPERTOIRE LIST
This list is provided as a guide to Kirsty's background music repertoire. She does not usually play all the pieces listed on any one occasion but tends to adapt the repertoire to what seems most appropriate or is requested at each function. You can also expect to hear various short pieces not listed here that form part of the overall harp sound and the list is subject to change.
Classical
Air On A G-String Bach
Barcarolle Offenbach
Canon in D Pachelbel
Cavatina “Deerhunter” Myers
Chaconne Clarke
Chi Mai Morricone
Cortege “The Queen of Sheba” Handel
Dance from Alceste Gluck
Finlandia (Theme) Sibelius
Gymnopedie No. 1 Satie
Intermezzo “Cavalleria Rusticana” Mascagni
Lullaby Schubert
Mediation from Thais Massenet
Minstrels’s Adieu, The Thomas
Nocturne Glinka
O Mio Babbino Caro Puccini
O Perfect Love Barnby
Pavane Faure
Prelude in C Bach
Rhapsody on a Them by Paganini Rachmaninoff
Romance without Words “Bois Solitaire” Godefroid
Spring ‘Allegro’ from The Four Seasons Vivaldi
Swan, The Saint-Saens
Traumerei Schumann
Trumpet Tune “The Prince of Denmark’s March” Clarke
Una Furtiva Lagrima “L’Elisir D’ Amore” Donizetti
Watching The Wheat Thomas
Non Classical
All I Ask Of You Lloyd-Weber
A Man and A Woman Lai and Barouh
Angels Williams and Chambers
Crazy Nelson
Evergreen Williams and Streisand
Feelings Albert
I Love You Truly Jacobs Bond
In A Country Churchyard de Burgh
It Had To Be You Kahn & Jones
Moonriver Mercer & Mancini
My Hear Will Go On Horner & Jenning
Over The Rainbow Arlen & Harburg
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