A new way to entertain guests with this orchestra performing at the Samantha Bridal’s Event in Nairobi. Couples can hire ensemble from Sh50,000 to Sh250,000. PHOTO | COURTESY
According to wedding planners in Nairobi, an interest in music played live from violins, violas and cellos has always existed, but the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has further drawn brides to the sensation.
Grace Anyetei, the head of the bridal unit of Zuri Bridals, says in the past, Kenyans barely listened to orchestra music, but right it is starting to gain an appreciation especially in Nairobi.
Music speaks when words cannot and according to the wedding planner, orchestral music is attractive especially to a type of bride she calls the ‘Caroline.’
Some brides listen to music from a violin for the first time and know that they want it to serenade their wedding. Some brides fall in love with a John Legend song or an Elani song or Taarab music and decide they want a whole orchestra to reproduce it at their wedding. Still, some listen to Canon in D major and decide they want a string quartet ensemble playing it at their wedding.
According to wedding planners in Nairobi, an interest in music played live from violins, violas and cellos has always existed, but the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has further drawn brides to the sensation.
Grace Anyetei, the head of the bridal unit of Zuri Bridals, says in the past, Kenyans barely listened to orchestra music, but right it is starting to gain an appreciation especially in Nairobi.
“When brides request for orchestras, they are aiming for a whimsical feel. It is a fairy tale that they really want to bring out,” she says.
“A bride is emotionally attached to her wedding from the time she was a very little girl. Little girls have always imagined their wedding and how their prince charming is going to come, how they are going to walk down the aisle to the type of music,” says Ms Anyetei.
Music speaks when words cannot and according to the wedding planner, orchestral music is attractive especially to a type of bride she calls the ‘Caroline.’
“We have three kinds of brides; there’s Caro, Carol and Caroline. The Carolines have an acquired taste and are well-travelled. They have gained an appreciation for string music, horned music,” she says.
Fred Pessa, a violinist who is also a teacher at St. Andrews Turi and Banda School says interest in orchestra music has shot up in recent years.
“I do a lot of presentations at the Samantha’s Bridal expos. Initially, I used to do it as a soloist so it was me and a pianist playing and now our last presentation was as a full orchestra with 35 instrumentalists,” he says.
“After a bridal presentation, I give out more than 1,000 cards in a weekend because many people are interested,” says Mr Pessa.
“The only catch is that it is not easy to afford a classical musician so out of 1,000 cards only about 15 people hire us to play at their wedding,” he adds.
As the industry grows and spending increases to Sh2.5 million on average for a wedding in Kenya, multilingual comedians, orchestra groups and ballet dancers are benefiting.
Mr Pessa says besides income from teaching, weddings earn musicians the most money followed by corporate events.
Hiring an orchestra ranges from Sh50,000 to Sh250,000.
Play Genge
Even as a few couples spice up their wedding ceremonies, some are hesitant because their guests may not appreciate that kind of music.
“Many Kenyans have not acquired that taste for orchestral music so when it comes to weddings, most of the time you will have a DJ and some traditional music to dance to,” says Ms Anyetei.
However, Mr Pessa says orchestras can arrange songs that play to Kenyan tastes. The violinist says the instrumentals can morph into anything from Genge or Kwaito or Nigerian music.
“I have a bride whose wedding is in March and she requested to have the orchestra play as she walks down the aisle. The couple has picked a song and the orchestra composer will reproduce the music in a classical way,” says Ms Anyetei.
To give the couple a classy décor that matches with the orchestra music, the wedding planner will play around with many flowers such as peonies, roses and ivy as well as crystals and glass.
For Eva Mahogo, both she and her husband contributed to the play-list.
‘‘I had an orchestra comprising a violinist, saxophonist, pianist and cellist. They played ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri and ‘Canon in D’. My husband picked the first song and I picked the second,’’ says Ms Mahogo, whose sister-in-law helped in picking the ensemble because she sings in an orchestra.
“I always wanted a saxophonist but when the orchestra came, the violinist was a pleasant surprise. The sounds of the violin were simply to die for,” she says.
According to Ms Mahogo, orchestral music lends itself well to great aesthetics for the wedding.
Orchestral music comes in different configurations at weddings. It could be a soloist who is a violinist accompanied by a pianist. You could have a singer. You could have a string quartet ensemble. You could also have over 30 musicians playing.
“In a garden ceremony, the orchestra blends in with the outdoors because most of the instruments are made of wood and brass and that rustic look fusions in well with nature,” says Ms Anyetei.
Mr Pessa agrees there is an aesthetic element to hiring a musical ensemble.
“Sometimes when we are called to play at weddings it is not because people want to listen to classical music; it is because they want to see us there. It looks good when you have a shiny instrument and a singer,” he says.
