Music for My Agikũyũ Wedding Mass

I have attended many weddings in my lifetime. There was always one thing in common in all of them. Music was played before, during and after the ceremony.

Are you planning a large event? Or will it be an informal gathering of close friends and family? Whatever style of event you are planning, music will certainly liven up the celebrations.

The first step to take before choosing the music you wish to be played or sung at your wedding is to choose the Bible readings that you, your spouse and your guests will be listening to on your wedding day.

Based on the Bible readings, your Parish Priest/Deacon who will be officiating at your wedding, will be able to prepare an appropriate homily. This homily will guide you and your spouse throughout your marriage and into eternity.

Typical readings for a Catholic Wedding Ceremony will be taken as follows:

1. The Old Testament:

Genesis 1: 26 – 28; 31;

Genesis 2: 18 – 24;

Genesis 3: 24: 48 – 51 or 58 – 67;

Tobit 7: 6 – 14;

Tobit 8: 4 – 8;

Song of Songs 2: 8 – 10; 14; 16; 8; 6-7;

Ecclesiastics 26: 1-4; 13 – 16;

Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34;

2. The New Testament

Romans 8: 31 – 35; 37 – 39;

Romans 12: 1-2; 9-8;

Corinthians 6: 13 – 15; 17 – 20;

1 Corinthians 12: 31 – 13;

Ephesians 5: 2; 21 – 33;

Colossians 3: 12 – 17;

1 Peter 3: 1 – 9;

John 4: 7 – 12;

3. The Psalms

4. The Gospel Readings

Matthew 5: 1 -12; 13 – 16;

Matthew 7: 21; 24 – 29;

Matthew 19: 3 – 6;

Matthew 22: 35 – 40;

John 2: 1 – 11;

John 15: 9 – 12;

John 15: 12 – 16;

John 17: 20 – 26.

Choose the music for your wedding very carefully as your wedding songs will forever be in your mind, videos and in your memory. Sit down with pen and paper and recall all the hymns you have sung from your childhood, youth, middle youth and as an adult. Which ones pulled at your heart? Which ones changed your life? Which ones are meaningful to you?

Once you have chosen them and depending on your overall budget, you have several option open to you on how they will be performed.

1. You may choose to have just an organist or pianist playing at your wedding, making the music purely instrumental;

2. Choral singers usually accompany the celebration of Holy Mass and they perform with four voices, namely soprano, alto, tenor and bass;

3. Alternatively, you could have one or two singers to accompany the organist or pianist;

4. Acapella singers come in groups of four or eight people and they create music all their own without instruments;

5. You can choose to have a band of instruments including a piano, guitar, drums, violin and flute to make beautiful music at your wedding;

6. Last of all, if your budget is sufficient, you can include all of the above at your Catholic Wedding Mass Ceremony to create music that will accompany the liturgy to remember for a lifetime.

Here, we have worked out music that you can use for an Agikuyu Wedding Mass. We have tried to incorporate as many links for you to listen.

The Readings are as follows:

The First Reading, taken from Genesis 1: 26 – 28

“God said: “Let us make man in our own image; in the likeness of ourselves; God created man in the image of Himself in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Be fruitful, multiply; fill the earth and conquer it.”

The Second Reading, taken from Romans 12: 1 – 2 and 9 – 18

“Think of God’s mercy, my brothers and sisters and worship Him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.”

Psalm 100 - Invitation to Praise God

Acclaim Yahweh, all the earth. Serve Yahweh gladly, come into his presence with songs of joy!

Know that He, Yahweh is god, He made us and we belong to Him, we are his people, the flock that He pastures;

Walk through his porticoes giving thanks, enter his courts praising Him, give thanks to Him, and bless His name;

Yes, Yahweh is good, His love is everlasting, His faithfulness endures from age to age.

The Gospel taken from Matthew 5: 13 – 16

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing and can only be thrown out to be trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to set it under a tub, they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.

In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.”

Prelude: As the Guests Arrive

1. Ni Ngai We Woigire - ATM

2. Ni Tukunguire Muhiki - ATM

3. We Niwe Rubaru Rwakwa - ATM

4. Ngemi Ciumaga Naku? – AG - 469

Entrance: Kuingira

Ni Tuingiree Na Gikeno Kiingi (13 E ATM)

Kyrie: Mitha Kahira–ini

Mwathani Utuigure Tha - ATM

Gloria: Mitha Kahira-ini

Ukumio (ATM)

Psalm:

Anirirai Mwathani Thaburi 100 (ATM)

Proclamation of the Gospel

Mugambo wa Ngai (14-C)

The Creed: Mitha Makongeni

Ni Ngwitikia

The Exchange of Vows:

Ni Ngai we Woigire & We Niwe Rubaru Rwakwa

The Collection:

Ngai ni Arathimaga (16-N)

Presentation of the Gifts

Wi Mukumie wee Mwathani (16-U)

The Mystery of Faith

Mitha Makongeni Hitho Ya Witikia

The Hosana

Mitha Makongeni Mutheru

The Lord’s Prayer

Mitha Makongeni Ithe Ngai Witu

The Sign of Peace

Mitha Makongeni Ngeithi Cia Thayu

Holy Communion

Mugate wa Utuuro (17 – G) and Ukai Murii (17 – K)

Ikari Riri

Signing of the Marriage Register

Ngukinyukia Kahora (AG – 315)

Dismissal / Recessional / Exit

1. Igogona ni Riariika (19 – H)

2. Maria Mutheru Tuhoyagire (33 – C)

3. Nitukenera Muhiki (AG 442)

Other Songs:

Exchange of Vows Kikuyu Song Wendo Wakwa , Kwame Rígíi

Ni Ngwendete , Kwame Rígíi

Ritwa Riaku, Eric Wainaina

ATM - Aruhukai Twinirei Mwathani Hymn Book

AG - All Glory To Jesus Hymn Book