Edinburgh Quartet

news item posted: 12 December 2006

INTRODUCTION TO THE STRING QUARTET

One of the great developments of the classical era, the string quartet quickly became the dominant genre of chamber music. This study day traces its origins through the works of Haydn, its development in the 19th century and looks at one of the most influential composers of the string quartet in modern times; Dimitri Shostakovich. The day concludes with a performance of works studied by the Edinburgh Quartet. "Introduction to the String Quartet" with Rowena Smith, BMus 10:30-16:30 Saturday 17 March 2007 Glasgow University Department of Adult and Continuing Education <enrolment details>

 

news item posted: 25 November 2006

THE COLD DANCER CD RELEASE

The Cold Dancer: Contemporary String Quartets from Scotland has now been released on CD, featuring music by Kenneth Dempster, James Clapperton, Judith Weir and William Sweeney. You can find out more in our recordings pages and also listen to some exerpts in this site.

 

news item posted: 9 October 2006

INSTITUT FRANÇAISE D'ECOSSE

The Edinburgh Quartet and Friends introduce their 2006-07 concert series, presenting music which reflects the 'Auld Alliance' theme of Scottish and French quartets in their Edinburgh concerts. The French Institute 13 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh www.ifecosse.org.uk Thursday 12th October 2006: 5.30 pm for 6 - wine to follow

 

news item posted: 26 April 2006

A RUSSIAN BALLROOM

After too many years the Edinburgh Quartet returns to Hopetoun House ("Scotland's Finest Stately Home") on Sunday June 18th for a stirring concert of music by Tchaikovsky (No. 2), Prokofiev (No. 2) and Beethoven ("Rasoumovsky" No. 2). The ticket price (£12.50, concessions £10.50) includes a pre-concert visit to the house and the tearoom will be open until 5.30pm. The concert will be in the beautiful Adam Ballroom and begins at 6pm - tickets can be booked in advance by phoning 0131 331 2451 during office hours. http://www.hopetounhouse.com

 

 

THE EDINBURGH QUARTET PLAYS HAYDN

After last year's Fringe sell-out, the Quartet returns to Valvona and Crolla, Elm Row, on August 22nd and 23rd. The featured works will be Haydn's ebulliant "Tost" quartets Opus 54 and Opus 55, written for the legendary violin virtuoso Johann Tost (see concert diary for details). http://www.valvonacrolla.co.uk

 

 

MATTHEW HARDIE - THE SCOTTISH STRADIVARI

Saturday August 26th, 6pm.
In Edinburgh University's historic St Cecilia's Hall, the Edinburgh Quartet will present a feast of British string quartets from the 18th century to the present day. In association with the British Violin Making Association and as part of a special exhibition to be mounted at St Cecilia's Hall during the 2006 Edinburgh Festival, they will be playing on a quartet of instruments created in the late 18th/early 19th centuries by the fine Edinburgh-based maker Matthew Hardie.
http://www.music.ed.ac.uk/euchmi/uer/
http://www.bvma.org.uk

 

news item posted: 27 January 2006

NEWSLETTER 01/2006

 

Happy New Year and welcome to the first newsletter of 2006. It looks to be an exciting year for the Quartet with several new projects emerging. Read on for more information on past and future movements.

Future Tours

When are we in your area?

Next years series 2006/07 "the Auld Alliance", will celebrate Scottish and French music, with works by Debussy, Fauré, Ravel, Chausson, Milhaud, McEwen, D'Albert, Earl of Kelly and many others..

Recent Performances

 

The Quartet continue their 05/06 series - presented by Napier and Glasgow University - featuring works by Mozart, Shostakovich and Schumann.

The past few months have seen many performances throughout the country. The Quartet replaced the Australian String Quartet at the last minute and delivered three very exciting concerts in Aberdeen, St Andrews and Kirkcaldy. The Quartet also enjoyed a tour of Argyll & Bute which was very well received.

 

sound 2005

 

November saw the Quartet premier Naresh Sohal's 2nd String Quartet in Aberdeen as part of the North East of Scotland's new contemporary music festival sound. During the festival they also played Kenneth Dempsters String Quartet No. 4 The Cold Dancer and a selection from the forthcoming album by haftor medbøe group which the quartet feature on.

 

Recordings

 

Hans Gál - A new CD featuring Gál's 1st and 4th String Quartets has now been released on Meridian Records. The 2nd and 3rd will follow shortly.

 

Contemporary Scottish Quartets - The Quartet are busy recording pieces by five Scottish composers - Judith Weir, James Clapperton, Edward Harper, Bill Sweeney and Kenneth Dempster - with the Edinburgh based label, Delphian.

 

haftor medbøe group - Last year saw the Quartet recording with the jazz based haftor medbøe group. This is an album that combines classical and jazz disciplines and is due for release on Linn Records in February.

 

Spring & Summer 2006

 

Loch Shiel Spring Festival runs from 15th - 20th May 2006. The Quartet will be returning to the lovely surroundings of the Scottish Highlands to perform a selection from their current repertoire.

Along with the usual concerts during the Edinburgh Festivals season, this summer sees the Quartet taking part in the Dartington Summer School, NYOS Variations Summer School and the Langholm & Eskdale Festival.

 

The Cold Dancer

 

The Quartet have been involved in this schools educational project led by composer Kenneth Dempster since November. The first workshops took place in Aberdeenshire where they were a great success. Similar projects will now take place in Edinburgh and Fife with plans underway with schools in Lothian, Orkney, Inverness, Ross and Comarty, Caithness and Nairn.

 

 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would be interested in booking the Edinburgh Quartet for a concert.

news item posted: 17 January 2006