I tend to stay very involved with my clients when it comes to selecting music, especially if it is a wedding. The other day a client of ours (we are to have a string trio at her wedding  in April) requested, or rather asked if we could play “Adagio for Strings by Barber “for her processional. Many people, including my husband, know the tune from the movie “Platoon”. It is a slow, solemn piece, funeral – like. In fact, our string quartet had played it at the Pittsburgh County Courthouse on April 6, 2009 where the bodies of  three Pittsburgh Police Officers were laid for viewing after they were shot and killed on April 4th… We played there all day, alternating musicians. Some of us stayed late into the evening. “Adagio for strings” was the piece that we played several times throughout the night. It is also a piece that was played by different orchestras throughout the country after 9-11 attack. For some, it became a symbol on 9-11. It is a wonderful piece and the bride told me  she absolutely loves it. However, I can’t imagine playing it as she is walking down the isle towards her future husband! At first, she seems let down, but after I e-mailed her several videos of where that piece was played – she thanked me, saying she didn’t realized what the piece meant and how people can perceive it.  We finally settled on a piece a bit more upbeat and suitable for a spring day wedding. The point is: you might love a certain piece, but be careful in your decision on where you want the piece to be heard. You n ever know how it might affect those around you, especially if it is a wedding, supposedly a happy occasion.