Wedding Music: Dorian Mirth
Interview by Grace Sydney

Mellifluous magic from recorders, lutes and a Celtic harp combine in the music of Dorian Mirth to evoke mental images of the Middle Ages and Middle Earth. In our interview with the Salt Lake City-based ensemble, the band's members tell of their memories of "The Lord of The Rings" Oscar parties, their burgeoning fashion line of Tolkien-inspired attire, and how you can walk down the aisle in medieval style accompanied by the sounds of Dorian Mirth.

What was the initial allure of period music which inspired you to choose this particular musical genre?

The instruments of the medieval and Renaissance eras are really interesting and unusual; they look and sound slightly familiar, though they aren't quite exactly what you're used to - we always get lots of questions about them. Basically, they are the precursors to our modern instruments, so they're in a more primitive state.

This can also be said of the actual music we play as well - the conventions of melody, harmony, and even rhythm weren't developed to the state we are familiar with now. The modes and harmonies that were commonly used sound very different - almost exotic - to our modern ears. It's a very distinctive and beautiful sound. This music is hundreds and hundreds of years old, but because of its antiquated elements, it sounds fresh and inventive; it's music that makes people pause and think, "Hey, that sounds different!" - even if they don't know exactly why. The uniqueness of the music was always the draw; we basically said, "We like Medieval and Renaissance music - well hey, let's play it!" and so we formed Dorian Mirth!

Listen to Dorian Mirth online!

Dorian Mirth had the coveted position of performing at the past two Oscar parties for The Lord of The Rings. Could you tell our readers one of your most cherished memories from these events?

There are so many! Playing for such a large crowd of enthusiastic fans, meeting the cast and crew that came to the party, seeing the films win so many Oscars -- they were honestly very surreal experiences. We have very detailed reports posted on our website! One incident that particularly sticks out is that the actors who played elves and hobbits were very impressed by our prosthetic ears and feet. Also, Alan Lee, the famous Tolkien artist and conceptual designer on the films and a man we have admired since childhood, gave us a very generous and sincere compliment on our costumes. He even approached us a second time, asking to take our picture with his personal camera!

You have also performed at Tol-Con, which is a celebration of Tolkien's life and works. Due to the success of the movies, many couples are now choosing a Lord of The Rings theme for their nuptials. What do you feel is the romantic appeal of Tolkien's work and of the movies?

The Lord of the Rings is a story about a time when honor, chivalry, courage, and pure hearts were respected. Good and evil are clearly defined in this tale; life wasn't lived in the gray area. The situations are desperate, people are pushed to their limits and, nearly always, this brings out the best in them. The characters choose to put their very lives on the line for their ideals and for their kinsmen.

These are noble concepts that can often seem rare in modern life. The love stories in The Lord of the Rings have a timelessness about them. It is a revelation that amidst all the horror and danger, characters such as Aragorn and Arwen, and Faramir and Eowyn, were able to find love. People find hope in this -- that we can fall in love and, despite all the problems and tragedies of life, love is something that will endure.

You immerse your audience in another period of time not only with your music, but also through your visual presentation. Could you tell us about the inspiration behind your costumes and give tips to any brides who are looking to incorporate medieval elements into their wedding ceremony?

Our group has a passion for history and every member of our group has a historical specialty, including music (obviously!), literature, art and clothing. Half of our members have degrees in costume design and have worked professionally in the field, while the other half sews and has a general interest in costuming. Apart from The Lord of the Rings, we have designed and drafted all our group costumes.

Authenticity is an important focus, whether it be recreating costumes from a film or reveling in discovering construction details in 700-year-old paintings. Costumes.org is a fabulous website to start any research; they have loads of period artwork pictures, essays on costuming, and links to merchants. We're actually just getting a Dorian Mirth affiliate costuming business off the ground, called Stitches of Mirth (http://www.stitchesofmirth.com), and we would be happy to have any of your readers contact us for discussion, consultation, or for hire!

Dorian Mirth is available for weddings. What can couples expect from a Dorian Mirth wedding performance?

We're willing to work with our clients to provide the atmosphere they want. For instance, we can wear classic black and be unobtrusive background music, or we can be in full period costume and be mainstage entertainment. We have a repertoire list from which couples can pick and choose what we play, or we can make suggestions as to what kind of music might fit the vision of their wedding. We have generally played for weddings in the Salt Lake Valley, but would be willing to travel farther with ample advanced notice and adequate travel compensation.

What baroque or medieval musical pieces would you recommend to couples looking to create a romantic ambiance or to use in their wedding celebration?

Baroque music generally has a kind of dignity that will give your wedding a certain refined feel, and there's a great wealth of it that is superb for weddings. String quartets are especially appropriate for Baroque music. Medieval music is more ambiguous, in that the music which has survived from that era is nonspecific in its notation - for instance, often only a single melodic line exists. This means that one ensemble's rendition of a particular piece can be vastly different than the next ensemble's rendition.

It would be best to find out the repertoire of the musicians you are looking at hiring and getting a demo tape or CD to choose what songs or types of songs you want them to play. Communicate with them. Often, if you give musicians enough notice, they can do an arrangement of a special song you request.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about Dorian Mirth?

Yes -- our CD, Pluck, Rattle & Blow, is available through our website. And if you're local to our area, or willing to pay our travel expenses, please book us!