Brother Tree Sound
We only play music we love
Some of the pieces we play lay the great foundations of the quartet repertoire and some have been forgotten or lost somewhere along the way. Some are brand new and some have travelled along the paths of time.
Our challenge is to find how each piece of music is relevant to us, to our audiences and also to the music we programme alongside
Below are examples of programmes we have played or are currently playing but we are open to new ideas.
Programmes 2024/25
Curating programmes to shape experiences
Chiaroscuro
Lachrimae - John Dowland
Quintet in G minor - Mozart
Quintet in G major - Brahms
The stark contrasts between Light and Dark in this programme provide a beautiful contrast.
Starting with John Dowland's Seaven Teares - each movement is a dedication to different types of tears; some of sorrow and some of joy.
We then move on to Mozart's deeply moving quintet in G minor which has both dark and light.
The programme finishes with the radiant, soaring and athletic Brahms quintet in G major with it's inexhaustible Hungarian Dance to finish.
This concert is for string quartet and viola.
Paris, Les Six in Monmatre. Jazz and Ravel
Tailleferre- string quartet no 1
Ravel- string quartet
Louis Durey - string quartet no 1
Debussy - string quartet
The inter-war period in Europe was one of fresh approaches and experimental thinking in the arts. Les Six met, revelled and exchanged their ideas with artists, writers poets and musicians such as Satie and Cocteau in Monmatre, Paris. We have included Ravels only string quartet with it's jazzy influences in this programme which we also hear in his pupil Germain Tailleferre's quartet. Tailleferre was the only woman in Les Six.
A much neglected quartet by Les Six member Louise Durey who ws greatly influenced after hearing Debussy's string quartet provides something new for our audiences.
Folk Music of the British Isles
Gustav Holst -British Folksongs for string quartet
Imogen Holst Phantasy Quartet
Folksongs of England, Ireland and Wales from our album 'Maid on the Shore'
For this programme we have chosen music that draws its influence from the wealth of folk music that is part of the heritage of the British Isles. In 1903 Vaughn Williams collected his first folk song 'Bushes and Briars' in Essex.It was sung to him by a local tradesperson. RVW went on to collect over 800 songs.
We have arranged this folksong for string quartet as well as many others which we include in this programme. We delve into the history and heritage exploring stories of love trysts, mythical creatures, legends of old, sailors and mermaids. We have paired our folksong arrangements with Gustav Holst's own arrangement of British Folksongs as well as a stunning pastoral quartet in one movement by Imogen Holst.
Spirit of Eternal Sunshine
Haydn - 'The Lark'
Beethoven opus 18 no 1
Schubert - Quartettsatz
Dvorak - 'American'
This traditional programme takes the audience on a wonderfully uplifting musical journey with music from three of the greatest composers for string quartet.
Starting with Haydn's 'Lark which is such a perfectly balanced work from the father of the string quartet, we then move on to Beethoven's opus 18 no 1, a lyrical early quartet from Beethoven which has a slow movement inspired by Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet. our second half opens with Schuberts all too fleeting but magnificent Quartettsatz followed by the ever cheerful and completely unforgettable 'American quartet .
The Fens - for string quartet and horn
Beethoven 'Serioso' opus 95
The Fens - Peter Fribbins
Glazunov - Idyll
Mendelssohn - opus 13 in A minor
This programme centres around a new work written for string quartet and horn by Peter Fribbins.
We commissioned "The Fens' last year and premiered it in June 2024 at Fenlania Festival with the celebrated horn player Ben Goldscheider joining us.
This programme will include Beethoven's compact and extraordinary opus 95 "Serioso', followed by Mendelssohn's quartet opus 13 no 2 in A minor.
Glazunov's lyrical and seldom heard Idyll and Serenade for string quartet and horn is a precept way to finish this programme.
Sunrise - Sunset
Haydn - 'Sunrise'
Florence Price - 'Folksongs'
Schubert - Death dn the Maiden
Haydn's magical 'Sunrise' quartet from opus 76 is one of his most loved.
Florence Price wrote her folksongs in 1951, although the manuscripts were left untouched in a attic until 2009 so metaphorically this music is once again given a chance to shine. No 5 is based on the well known song 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' in which the text specifically refers to the Prophet Elijah's ascent into Heaven by chariot.
Schubert wrote his quartet 'Death and the Maiden' in 1824, a time when Schubert felt he was near the end of his life. This epic quartet needs no introduction as it is one of the great pillars of the string quartet repertoire