The English String Quartet was founded in 1902 by a group of students from the Royal College of Music: Thomas F. Morris (1st violin), Herbert H. Kinsey (2nd violin), Frank Bridge (viola) and Ivor James (cello).[1] The name wasn't officially adopted until 1908. Morris left to join the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and was replaced by Marjorie Hayward as leader. Bridge became an occasional player from the same year and was sometimes replaced by Alfred Hobday. Edwin Virgo took over as 2nd violin in 1918. The original group disbanded in 1925.[2]
The Quartet put on its own concert seasons and provisional tours, but also gave recitals at private houses, including the homes of Bridge's friend Marjorie Fass in London (Bedford Square) and Eastbourne.[1] They also played at Edgar Speyer's Classical Concerts Society and at other recital series. Their core repertoire was mostly classical - Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven - but also included the British premieres of the quartets of Debussy (in October 1904)[3] and Ravel.[2] In June 1909 the Quartet played the first performance of Bridge's String Quartet No 1 in London.[4] Other British first performances included works by J D Davis and Percy Pitt.[5]
In the 1930s The New English String Quartet was formed with Winifred Small (1st), Eveline Thompson (2nd), Winifred Stiles (viola) and Florence Hooton (cello).[6] Kathleen Merritt also played violin with the group between 1930 and 1935.[7] During the late 1940s a version of the English String Quartet was touring with Kathleen Washbourne (1st), Belle Davidson (2nd), Jacqueline Townshend (viola) and Kathleen Moorhouse (cello).[8] The English String Quartet re-emerged in the late 1950s, initially with Ruth Pearl as leader and then Nona Liddell (leader 1957–1973), with (variously) Lesley White, Eleanor St George and Marilyn Taylor (2nd), Margorie Lempfert (viola) and Helen Just (cello).[9] In 1982 Diana Cummings took over as leader with her husband Luciano Iorio (viola).[10] At this point it became "a natural extension of the renowned Cummings String Trio", also including John Trusler (2nd violin) and Geoffrey Thomas (cello) from the Trio.[11]
^ abBritish Library Sounds
^ abHindmarsh, Paul. 'Frank Bridge: seeds of discontent', in The Musical Times
Vol. 132, No. 1775 (January 1991), pp. 695-698
^Huss, Fabian. The Music of Frank Bridge (2015), p.44
The EnglishStringQuartet was founded in 1902 by a group of students from the Royal College of Music: Thomas F. Morris (1st violin), Herbert H. Kinsey...
The term stringquartet refers to either a type of musical composition or a group of four people who play them. Many composers from the mid-18th century...
The Lindsay StringQuartet (or The Lindsays) was a British stringquartet from 1965 to 2005. The quartet first performed at the Royal Academy of Music...
The Belcea Quartet is a stringquartet, formed in 1994, under the leadership of violinist Corina Belcea. The quartet was formed while its members were...
The Curtis StringQuartet was an American stringquartet based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The quartet as an entity was formed in 1932 with initial...
The Amadeus Quartet was a stringquartet founded in 1947 and disbanded in 1987, having retained its founding members throughout its history. Noted for...
Coull Quartet is an Englishstringquartet that was founded at the Royal Academy of Music, London in 1974 under the guidance of renowned quartet leader...
The Endellion StringQuartet was a British stringquartet, named after St Endellion in Cornwall. The quartet was formed in 1979 with the following original...
The Arditti Quartet is a stringquartet founded in 1974 and led by the British violinist Irvine Arditti. The quartet is a globally recognized promoter...
The Aeolian Quartet was a highly reputed stringquartet based in London, England, with a long international touring history and presence, an important...
The Fitzwilliam Quartet (FSQ) is a British stringquartet. The group was founded in 1968 by four Cambridge undergraduates. There have been a number of...
Balanescu Quartet is an avant-garde string ensemble formed in 1987. Current members are Alexander Bălănescu (violin), Yuri Kalnits (violin), Úna Palliser...
The Kutcher StringQuartet was founded by its first violinist, Samuel Kutcher (1898-1984), who had by 1922 established himself as an accomplished solo...
The Medici StringQuartet is British stringquartet. The Medici Quartet has been ensemble in residence at the University of Surrey since 1996, as well...
Bloch Quartet recorded the Nielsen StringQuartet No.3 in 1946. 1949-1983 Den Nye Danske Kvartet, known in English media as The Danish Quartet, and in...
The Allegri Quartet is a stringquartet that was founded in 1953 by Eli Goren and William Pleeth. It is Britain's longest-running chamber music ensemble...
The Salomon Quartet was formed in 1982 as one of the first stringquartets playing music of the classical period on authentic instruments and informed...
Global Information