FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What
is a string quartet / string trio etc
?
- A string quartet consists of two violins, one viola and one cello.
- A flute quartet consists of a flute, a violin, a viola and a cello.
- A string trio consists of a violin, a viola and a cello.
- A flute trio consists of a flute, violin and cello or flute, viola and cello. (We usually provide both combinations when appearing as a flute trio, with our viola player occasionally swapping to the violin).
- There are a number of string duo combinations - the one we offer is violin and viola.
Will
you play outside ?
Yes, we are happy to play outside, generally between the months of May
and
August, provided it is not raining, overly windy, cold or exposed to
the sun. We do bring clothes pegs with us to secure our music should
the wind be
blowing, but draw the line at
guy ropes to secure our music stands! If the temperature is
below
about 16°C, this impacts the agility of our fingers
and our
tuning as the pitch of
our strings is affected. If the weather
is
sunny, that is nice for us, but not for our instruments which range in
value from being very valuable to being very, very valuable.
In these circumstances we need some shade - either a well
placed
tree or gazebo is ideal. Finally, like the legendary haggis,
we
also
need level ground to be happy, though if the incline is mild we we will
endeavour to make the best of things. (Hopefully this doesn't
all
sound as though we're looking for excuses to stay indoors, and
hopefully the weather will be exactly as you would like it.
However, it's a good idea to have
a fall-back plan in case the weather is less than obliging).
What
do you require at the venue ?
The quartet
requires a space of about 8 feet by 8 feet (a trio requires
slightly less space than this) in a well lit area away from traffic
paths. We require an
armless dining room type chair for each player and a large jug
of
iced water, though some of us may also be tempted by something stronger
if it's on offer. If we have a long break between playing sessions, we
would expect you to provide some refreshment (eg sandwiches).
Do
you take breaks ?
Yes. If
we're playing longer than an hour
we will take one or two short breaks. Naturally we
don't
take breaks
during wedding ceremonies.
Do
we decide where you will be playing ?
Providing it's not impractical we're happy to
accommodate your suggestions. We play from the back of the
room, nearly as often as from the front - it depends both on the
available
space and your preference.
Should
I hire a quartet, trio or duo ? -
The
string or flute quartet is more suitable for larger events. They have a
large and varied repertoire and a full, rich sound. The
repertoire of
the string trio is somewhat smaller than the
quartet, and it
has a more delicate sound. Naturally as there is one less player in the
trio, it costs less to hire.
Do
you need amplification ?
We would recommend
amplification for events with over 100 guests in attendance. It is not
required at wedding ceremonies as there is no background noise when we
are playing. We can recommend a sound engineer operating in your area.
What
is your booking process ?
After you contact
us we will send you an exact quote inclusive of travel expenses. If
you are happy to go ahead, we will then send you our booking agreement
for you to
sign and send back with a deposit which will be 20-25% of the full fee.
On receipt of the deposit you will be provisionally booked.
In
order to fully secure the booking we require the balance to be paid 2
months prior to the performance date.
How
can we be sure that you will play correct tune for the hymn(s)?
All hymn tunes have a unique name aside from the words of the hymn
itself, and many hymns
are sung to more than one tune. (eg 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling'
can be
sung to either LOVE DIVINE or BLAEWERN). We are aware of some of these
options but not
all by any means - the surest thing would be for you to state name of
the tune that you want to hear in addition to the first line of the
hymn. Also, although we have access to very nearly one thousand hymns,
we are not always
able to source every hymn we're requested to play.
Should this be the case, we will request you to provide the
music for the
hymn - what we will need is a single
sheet showing the melody and all harmony parts on a double
stave.
Are
all your instrumental combinations suitable for playing hymns ?
Yes. Hymns are usually harmonised in four parts so our quartet
combinations provide the best fit, but we are expert at
adapting four part harmonisations for trio, and if we were appearing as
a duo the tune would be played on violin or viola with the harmony
being provided by the clarsach (scottish harp).
NB Julian - our viola player -
is also a very competent pianist and
could therefore provide hymn
accompaniments for religious ceremonies on the organ as an alternative
to having them played by the ensemble. (An additional fee
of £15
is charged for this service). If you wish the organ to be
played
during your ceremony, you will need to agree this with your minister
and arrange for them to be available before the ceremony
to open
up
the organ and go through any individual peculiarities that the organ
may have - as you may already realise, no two organs are the
same !
Will
my processional music be the right length ?
Yes, this is generally not a problem. We are very
experienced at
gauging
an appropriate place to stop if the music is longer than you need.
If you have not reached the end of the aisle by the time we have
finished your requested piece, we will repeat a suitable
section
of the music. If we
are situated in a place where we cannot see your entrance, (balcony,
far reaches of church) it is a good idea to have a designated person to
give us a signal.
Listed above are just a few of the most frequently asked questions. If you require further information please contact us and Caroline will be happy to answer any questions you may have.