Archive for October, 2009
Beethoven Romance in F for Violin and Orchestra
On Sunday the 4th October I played Beethoven’s Romance no. 2 in F major (op. 50). Traditionally thought of as being written in 1802 or 1803 (when the composer was in his early thirties), there is evidence to suggest that it may have started life in an earlier form as part of Beethoven’s unfinished C [...]
Last Minute String Quartet
Early on Monday morning, we received an urgent phonecall from a professional colleague asking for help. Their quartet had been booked by the European Business Assembly for a corporate function in Oxford Town Hall that evening, but due to sudden illness, their principle violinist had been taken into hospital and the group were trying to find another string [...]
Quick response……
In this age of internet and instant communications, one thing clients are definitely looking for is a fast response to any enquiry or question. When a wedding is being planned (even up to two years ahead), people want to hear back from their service providers within the shortest possible time and feel confident that they [...]
Christmas Party Ideas - String Quartet?
For some of us, it’s rather alarming to see tinsel and packs of Christmas cards appearing in the shops by late October, but for those planning Christmas parties or Corporate Hospitality over the festive season, this is about the time that attention starts to focus on booking entertainers and other suppliers.
For people looking to hire [...]
Wedding at Great Missenden Abbey
After quite a long drive down to Petersfield on Saturday, on Sunday it was nice to be playing at a somewhat more local venue to us - Great Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire. With a journey time of less than 20 minutes, it really is on our doorstep and a very beautiful venue.
In the wedding ceremony, [...]
Wedding at the Tithe Barn
On Saturday we played for a wedding at the Tithe Barn in Ditcham, near Petersfield down in Hampshire. The barn is terrifically spacious with easily enough room for 100 guests to dine and the underfloor heating was a real must for quite a cool October day. With an ambient acoustic, the quartet was able to [...]
Wedding at De Vere University Arms Hotel, Cambridge
Although the violin / viola combination is probably the most popular option people chose when booking a string duo, last week we were asked to perform as a Violin / Cello combination. The ‘cello is a beautiful instrument visually and although all the music we have arranged for duo is available for both combinations of [...]
Wedding at Dodmoor House
Last Thursday we returned once more to Dodmoor House - a wedding venue in Northamptonshire. We provided music for both the reception drinks and for the wedding breakfast until it was time for the speeches. Once again the couple had offered for a string duo, with the popular combination of violin with viola - these [...]
Wedding at Sundridge Park Manor
Last week we played at a wedding in Bromley down in Kent. It was a small gathering so the duo combination of violin and viola was absolutely ideal for the occasion. With in the region of 50 guests and the rooms at Sundridge having an 18th century feel, it was like playing chamber music in [...]
Wedding at Gosfield Hall
Gosfield Hall is a magical venue as it has an authentic feel created by the unspoiled interiors. Paintings, lithographs and all manner of objects are present to instill a feeling of unbroken history. With beautiful courtyards, this is one of the loveliest venues imaginable. It was a perfect wedding for a string duo as the [...]
