Any good and fun quartet pieces you know?

February 24, 2005 at 04:56 AM · Find Three Dances (or Three Pieces on Folk Songs) by Sulkhan Tsintsadze (Georgian composer) for string quartet. The titles of dances are: 1) Lale; 2) Indi-Mindi; 3) Sachidao. Lots of fire and rhythms...

February 24, 2005 at 06:18 AM · Buri, I think this is another one of your spelling students.

I think most of the people on this site would agree that classical music just isn't fun. :-(

February 24, 2005 at 06:26 AM · Greetings,

I think we need Carl to explain to us what the difference is between fun and enjoyment again.....:(

Miserably,

Buri

February 24, 2005 at 08:55 AM · Buri,

It's simple. If you're miserable, you know you're enjoying yourself.

Carl.

February 24, 2005 at 11:34 AM · Greetings,

Carl the prophet- you have shown me the way.

I was mistakenly thinking more along the lines of 'behind the bike sheds is fun...but playing with your grandchildren is enjoyable.'

Cheers

Buri

February 24, 2005 at 02:12 PM · Por una cabesa (sp?) or anything tango? Have you heard of the Music for Four compilations? They have certain editions that contain ragtimes, waltzes, jigs, jugs, and centerfolds. Oops... wrong thread!

February 24, 2005 at 04:06 PM · Buri,

That'll do too.

Carl.

February 25, 2005 at 08:14 AM · Hahaha... give the Ginastera a shot. It's probably not what you're looking for, but just check it out for the heck of it :-P.

February 25, 2005 at 08:32 PM · thanks, i'll look for all of those pieces you mentioned

one more thing-we're playing mostly in weddings and events such as parties, but not "too" classical, something modern perhaps. we've played through some of the hadyn and the mozart quartets, they're pretty fun, but too classical for people.

February 25, 2005 at 09:50 PM · Will,

Make it your job to introduce great music to philistines. Don't pander to popular taste just because most people make uninformed listening choices.

You seem to have a great fear of classical music yourself. It seems odd to me that you have a string quartet and you are deliberately avoiding classical music. What music do you want to play that has been (or arranged) for string quartet yet isn't classical???

Carl.

Want something 'modern'? I highly recommend Alban Berg's Op.3 string quartet.

February 25, 2005 at 10:36 PM · try the gershwin lulluby.

it's short, mostly harmonics, but very sweet.

but revvying up some classical music and trying to convert people?? some scherzo movements of classical quartets could lend themselves well to today's pop-loving ears..

i'm convinced that most people just think they don't like classical music because their parents (or grandparents) listened to it. they've probably never even been exposed to live classical music.

if all else fails, there's always bond.

February 25, 2005 at 10:48 PM · Sharon,

Bond is perhaps the most heinous crime to music that has been committed in recent years. I would say what I really think of them but I would have to use words that aren't appropriate in this forum.

Carl.

February 26, 2005 at 01:04 AM · My knowledge of string quartets is strictly classical.

If you have a good first violinist, Haydn's string quartets usually can be played by relatively inezperienced string players- he didn't always have four virtuosi.

Mozart often played the viola in quartets and is of great importance for persons learing the viola.

The Tchaikowsky quartet -it's a song melody - perhaps 'none but the lonely heart' might be enjoyable even if you aren't a world champion player so to speak.

Borodin's string quartet also is much loved with a sweet melody in the slow movement.

On Haydn - his Emperor Quartet is much loved, and the slow movement became the Austrian national anthem saluting the Kaiser. Apparently he got the idea on his visits to England, where orchestra's played 'God Save the King'. So in 1979 he wrote an Austrian equivalent.

Did Charles Ives write string quartets?

Try the classics - don't be afraid of them!

February 26, 2005 at 02:45 AM · Will,

It sounds like if you're going to play for weddings and parties... then you DO need a variety. Classical is wonderful... and you should play it well.. and often. However I think you're right... you need a variety. Just for fun... go to www.google.com and do a search on the 4 words: beatles string quartet arrangement You'll find some choices... and perhaps some good ones! Do some searching.

Quite a few years ago... I saw a professional string quartet perform for an afternoon "light" concert. They played some classical... a great Beatles arrangement... and for an encore.. they all put down their instruments.. pulled their chairs in a line.. and performed a body percussion ensemble that was a HIT!

Glad you'll planning on having fun with your music!

Katie

(Consider adding a fiddle tune arrangement to your list also! :)

February 26, 2005 at 03:25 AM · Check out some stuff by the Turtle Island String Quartet. They arrange a lot of jazz pieces for quartet, and there's a lot of improv, if you're into that sort of stuff.

February 26, 2005 at 10:28 AM · Piazzola--good stuff! And by "non-classical" do you mean *non-Classical,* as in mozart-[early]beethoven? First off, there's some fun stuff in all of that. If you suspect that your audience has a prejudice against it, then it's your [fun] job as performers to leave them with very few reasons not to have enjoyed it--bring it to life! But of course, to do that, you've gotta believe in its magic yourself first. Anyhow, try the Debussy too. I just played it myself recently, it's a kick! Also, for fun, get some beatle's arrangements--can hardly go wrong [popularity-wise] with those. I think there's a good one of eleanor rigby, for one. I did one recently of Yesterday that people seem to like.

What I'm really waiting for is someone to request Shost. 4-tet #8 at their wedding... that would be something quite singular... =)

February 26, 2005 at 06:37 PM · James,

When I get married, I'll request a Shosty quartet (maybe Berg and Bartok too!).

Carl.

February 27, 2005 at 02:55 AM · I'll be looking forward to hearing from you Carl! Shall I start practicing for it now? =)

February 27, 2005 at 04:15 PM · My quartet plays a variety of classical, ethnic, jazz, show tunes and rag pieces. Rags for instance are liked a lot, they're easy to learn and perform.

If you want more suggestions, please e-mail me at mitica100@aol.com and we'll take it from there.

February 28, 2005 at 06:20 AM · carl,

i wasn't being entirely serious about the bond thing, but even they admit they're not a classical string quartet- they're a string quartet that plays pop. don't hate them! just let them do their thing.

-sharon.

February 28, 2005 at 07:36 AM · Sharon,

Of course I hate them. They're a bunch of non-musicians who are able to sell their music on the single basis that they look good in short skirts. It's virtually prostitution.

Carl.

PS I know this is offensive enough to be demerited... but it's time someone said something about this particular evil of the music world.

February 28, 2005 at 08:57 AM · I really like the Radiohead string quartet transcriptions, although it seems that i'ts not published.

Yes, Ives did write string quartet. His first one is actually very romantic and tonal. His second one is more, er, Ivesian? If I remember correctly one movement is something about politicians arguing. It's very interesting.

February 28, 2005 at 01:25 PM · Decent fun stuff is hard to find. Often what's fun for the audience is not fun for the players!

Here's a couple of sites for you to try:

www.cacophonix.com - great arrangements - esp the piazzollas. Would cover the bases if you need to build a gig book.

www.monalisasound.com - good selection of rock classics (but a bit pricey).