Griller Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Griller String Quartet was a British
musical ensemble
particularly active from 1931 to c.1961 or 1963, when they disbanded. The quartet was in residence at the University of California at Berkeley from 1949 to 1961. It performed a wide repertory, including works written for it by Bloch, Milhaud and Bax.
1st violin: Sidney Griller
2nd violin:Jack O'Brian
viola: Philip Burton
violoncello: Colin Hampton
(a pupil of Ralph Vaughan Williams
), a work which was a prize winner in the London Daily Telegraph Chamber Music Competition of 1933. They performed at Gloucester Cathedral
in the Three Choirs Festival
in September 1934. The Quartet gave the premiere of the Arnold Cooke
first string quartet in 1935. In 1944 they performed the Arnold Bax
quartet no 1 in G major at the Duke's Hall in a special concert with Clifford Curzon
, on behalf of Sir Henry J. Wood. In performance they were sometimes joined by William Primrose
, Max Gilbert or Denis Matthews
.
in the later 78rpm and early LP era. Some examples of their recorded art are as follows:
For a virtually complete list, see DECCA CLASSICAL, 1929-2009.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
musical ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
particularly active from 1931 to c.1961 or 1963, when they disbanded. The quartet was in residence at the University of California at Berkeley from 1949 to 1961. It performed a wide repertory, including works written for it by Bloch, Milhaud and Bax.
Personnel
The personnel included:1st violin: Sidney Griller
2nd violin:Jack O'Brian
viola: Philip Burton
violoncello: Colin Hampton
Origins
Among the Quartet's first recordings was that of the oboe quintet written by Elizabeth MaconchyElizabeth Maconchy
Dame Elizabeth Violet Maconchy Le Fanu DBE was an English composer, most noted for her cycle of thirteen string quartets.-Biography:...
(a pupil of Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
), a work which was a prize winner in the London Daily Telegraph Chamber Music Competition of 1933. They performed at Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
in the Three Choirs Festival
Three Choirs Festival
The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held each August alternately at the cathedrals of the Three Counties and originally featuring their three choirs, which remain central to the week-long programme...
in September 1934. The Quartet gave the premiere of the Arnold Cooke
Arnold Cooke
Arnold Atkinson Cooke was a British composer.-Career:He was born at Gomersal, West Yorkshire into a family of carpet manufacturers. He was educated at Repton School and at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, where he read History, but he was already attracted to a career in music...
first string quartet in 1935. In 1944 they performed the Arnold Bax
Arnold Bax
Sir Arnold Edward Trevor Bax, KCVO was an English composer and poet. His musical style blended elements of romanticism and impressionism, often with influences from Irish literature and landscape. His orchestral scores are noted for their complexity and colourful instrumentation...
quartet no 1 in G major at the Duke's Hall in a special concert with Clifford Curzon
Clifford Curzon
Sir Clifford Michael Curzon, CBE was an English pianist.-Early life:Clifford Michael Siegenberg was born in London to Michael and Constance Mary Siegenberg...
, on behalf of Sir Henry J. Wood. In performance they were sometimes joined by William Primrose
William Primrose
William Primrose CBE was a Scottish violist and teacher.-Biography:Primrose was born in Glasgow and studied violin initially. In 1919 he moved to study at the then Guildhall School of Music in London. On the urging of the accompanist Ivor Newton, Primrose moved to Belgium to study under Eugène...
, Max Gilbert or Denis Matthews
Denis Matthews
Denis Matthews was an English pianist and musicologist.Denis James Matthews was born in Coventry, the son of a motor salesman. He attended Arnold Lodge School, Leamington Spa, from 1927 to 1932 and Warwick School from October 1932 to the summer of 1936, when he left to study at the Royal Academy...
.
Recordings
The Griller Quartet recorded extensively for Decca RecordsDecca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in the later 78rpm and early LP era. Some examples of their recorded art are as follows:
- Beethoven: Quartet op 95 in F minor. (Decca lx 3026 and (78) AK 2185-7). (Before 1950)
- Beethoven: Quartet op 132 in A minor. (Decca LP LXT 2573). (Before 1953)
- BlissArthur BlissSir Arthur Edward Drummond Bliss, CH, KCVO was an English composer and conductor.Bliss's musical training was cut short by the First World War, in which he served with distinction in the army...
: Quartet no 2 in F minor (1950). (Decca lx 3038). (Before 1953) - Bliss: Quintet for clarinet and strings, with Frederick ThurstonFrederick ThurstonFrederick John Thurston was an English clarinettist.From the age of 7 he was taught by his father and he won an open scholarship to the Royal College of Music, becoming a pupil of Charles Draper...
. (Decca K 780-3). (1935) - BlochBlochBloch is a surname.#Jewish : regional name for someone in Eastern Europe originating from Italy or France, from Polish "Włoch" meaning "Italian" .#German and Swedish: Variant of Block...
: Quartets no 1,2,3,4. (Decca LP LXT 5071, 5072, 5073). (EMG review Dec 1955) - DvořákAntonín DvorákAntonín Leopold Dvořák was a Czech composer of late Romantic music, who employed the idioms of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Dvořák’s own style is sometimes called "romantic-classicist synthesis". His works include symphonic, choral and chamber music, concerti, operas and many...
: Quartet no 6 in F major op 96. (Decca LP LXT 2530). (Before 1950) - Haydn: The Seven Last Words from the Cross (with Max Gilbert). (Decca 78rpm, 17 sides, AK 2139-2147). (Before 1950)
- Haydn: Quartet op 3 no 5 in F major. (Decca lx 3087). (Before 1953)
- Maconchy: Quintet for oboe and strings, with Helen Gaskel (HMV 78rpm, B 4448-9). (Before 1936)
- Mozart: Quartet in B flat major K 159. (Decca lx 3087). (Before 1953)
- Mozart: Quartet in C major K 465. (Decca 78rpm, 7 sides, AK 2049-2052). (Before 1950)
- Mozart: Quintet in G minor K 516 (with Max Gilbert). (Decca LP LXT 2515 & 78rpm AX 343-346). (15-16 Nov 1948, West Hampstead Studios)
- Mozart: Quintet in C minor K 406 (with William PrimroseWilliam PrimroseWilliam Primrose CBE was a Scottish violist and teacher.-Biography:Primrose was born in Glasgow and studied violin initially. In 1919 he moved to study at the then Guildhall School of Music in London. On the urging of the accompanist Ivor Newton, Primrose moved to Belgium to study under Eugène...
). (Top Rank LP XRK 504, later Fontana BIG 430-Y). (EMG review June 1959) - Mozart: Quintet in G minor K 516 (with William Primrose). (Top Rank LP XRK 504, later Fontana BIG 430-Y). (EMG review June 1959)
- Mozart: Quartet in d minor K.421
- Mozart: Quartet in F major K 168. (Decca LP LXT 2728). (Before 1953)
- Mozart: Quartet in B flat major K 458 'Hunt'. (Decca LP LXT 2728). (Before 1953)
- Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor K 546. (Decca LP LXT 2530). (Before 1953)
- PurcellHenry PurcellHenry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
: Four-part fantasia no 3 (arr Warlock). (Decca 78rpm, 1 side, AK 2049-52 side filler). (Before 1950) - RubbraEdmund RubbraEdmund Rubbra was a British composer. He composed both instrumental and vocal works for soloists, chamber groups and full choruses and orchestras. He was greatly esteemed by fellow musicians and was at the peak of his fame in the mid-20th century. The most famous of his pieces are his eleven...
: Quartet no 2 E flat major op 73. (Decca lx 3088). (Before 1953) - Sibelius: Quartet in D minor op 56, 'Voces intimae'. (Decca LP LXT 2575). (Before 1953)
For a virtually complete list, see DECCA CLASSICAL, 1929-2009.
Sources
- Decca Supplementary catalogue of 78rpm and 33rpm Long-playing Records April 1949 to September, 1950 (London 1950).
- E. Sackville-West and D. Shawe-Taylor, The Record Year 2 (Collins, London 1953).
- E.M.G., The Art of Record Buying 1960 (London 1960).
- Fontana BIG 430-Y, sleevenotes (for list of personnel).