Brodsky Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Brodsky Quartet is a British
string quartet
, in existence since 1972, though only Ian Belton and Jacqueline Thomas are original members.
In addition to performing classical music, and in particular the classic string quartet repertoire of Haydn
, Beethoven
, Schubert
, Bartók
and Shostakovich
, they have collaborated with such rock and pop
figures as Björk
, Elvis Costello
and Paul McCartney
. They perform the "Strings" on Björk's "Family Tree" collection.
The quartet used to perform standing up. Jacqueline Thomas had her cello fitted with an extra-long spike and she used a small stool under her left foot so that the instrument could rest against her bent knee.
In May 1998 the Brodsky Quartet was presented with a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for an outstanding contribution to the world of music
.
As well as their performance and recording work, the Brodsky Quartet are currently the visiting quartet at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
, where they regularly tutor young chamber music ensembles who attend the academy.
The Brodsky Quartet is not the first quartet of that name. Violinist Adolph Brodsky
led two separate quartets under that name. In 1918 Edward Elgar
dedicated his String Quartet in E minor
, Op. 83 to the 2nd Adolph Brodsky quartet
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
, in existence since 1972, though only Ian Belton and Jacqueline Thomas are original members.
In addition to performing classical music, and in particular the classic string quartet repertoire of Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
, Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
and Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
, they have collaborated with such rock and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
figures as Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
. They perform the "Strings" on Björk's "Family Tree" collection.
The quartet used to perform standing up. Jacqueline Thomas had her cello fitted with an extra-long spike and she used a small stool under her left foot so that the instrument could rest against her bent knee.
In May 1998 the Brodsky Quartet was presented with a Royal Philharmonic Society Award for an outstanding contribution to the world of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
.
As well as their performance and recording work, the Brodsky Quartet are currently the visiting quartet at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
, where they regularly tutor young chamber music ensembles who attend the academy.
The Brodsky Quartet is not the first quartet of that name. Violinist Adolph Brodsky
Adolph Brodsky
Adolph Davidovich Brodsky was a Russian violinist.He enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a performer and teacher, starting early in Vienna, going on to Moscow, Leipzig, and New York City and finally Manchester. During its course he met and worked with composers such as Tchaikovsky and...
led two separate quartets under that name. In 1918 Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
dedicated his String Quartet in E minor
String Quartet (Elgar)
The String Quartet in E minor, Op. 83, was one of three major chamber music works composed by Sir Edward Elgar in 1918. The others were the Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82, and the Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84. Along with the Cello Concerto in E minor, Op...
, Op. 83 to the 2nd Adolph Brodsky quartet
Brodsky Quartet (Adolph Brodsky Manchester)
The Brodsky Quartet was the second String quartet established and led by violinist Adolph Brodsky.It was established on 1895 in Manchester, after Brodsky left New York and came to the English city to teach at the Royal Manchester College of Music, and direct the Hallé Orchestra.Brodsky played...
.
Members
- Daniel Rowland, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Ian Belton, violin
- Paul Cassidy, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
- Jacqueline Thomas, celloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...