FAQ

Frequently asked questions


What is a string quartet / string trio etc ?



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.