Hampton String Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Hampton String Quartet considered by many to be one of the founders of the "alternative music" genré of chamber music is a string quartet
specializing in rock music
and other popular styles, playing serious chamber music
arrangements of songs using classical composer influences and frequently quoting or paraphrasing snippets from their works. For example, their arrangement of "Earth Angel" is a paraphrase of Johann Pachelbel
's Canon in D
, and Reed's "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" quotes Schubert's "Erlkönig."
According to the liner notes of their 1986 debut album, "What if Mozart wrote 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
,'" the quartet was formed specifically for that album in response to RCA's desire to record chamber music arrangements of mostly-secular Christmas music. That album went on to sell close to a million copies and together with their following albums and CDs have made HSQ one of the largest selling string quartets in history.
Their debut album was followed in 1988 by "What if Mozart Wrote 'Roll Over Beethoven'"and "What if Mozart Wrote 'Born to Be Wild'" in 1989 and then "What if Mozart Wrote 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.'"
Following the "What if Mozart . . ." series, little was heard from the quartet until 1993, when they released an album featuring the Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil
as its title track, first on EastWorld/Toshiba-EMI in Japan, then re-releasing it on Dolphin/Allegro in 1994 in Europe and then making it the debut album on the cellist's own, then newly formed sheet music publishing company's label, Mona Lisa Sound (http://www.MonaLisaSound.com) in 2000.
Since then, the quartet has released three additional albums through Mona Lisa Sound, "HSQ Rides Again" (2004), "HSQ Does Christmas (Again)" (2004) and "Take No Prisoners" (2005). Their most recent releases include an all-Beatles CD, "The Off-White Album," as well as "All Zeppelin," the content of which is self-explanatory. The quartet has also collaborated with a number of rock bands.
Their current roster consists of Regis Iandiorio, first violin, Abe Appleman, second violin, Richard Maximoff, viola and John Reed, cello.
Mr. Reed is their principal arranger with over 75 arrangements to date, although they all arrange. Together they have over 100 arrangements and are still working.
Mr. Reed's publishing company, Mona Lisa Sound has sold thousands of HSQ arrangements worldwide.
Webpage
http://www.monalisasound.com/
Youtube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea6p7MrP_Yk
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...
specializing in rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and other popular styles, playing serious chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
arrangements of songs using classical composer influences and frequently quoting or paraphrasing snippets from their works. For example, their arrangement of "Earth Angel" is a paraphrase of Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel was a German Baroque composer, organist and teacher, who brought the south German organ tradition to its peak. He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most...
's Canon in D
Canon in D
Pachelbel's Canon is the most famous piece of music by German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel. It was originally scored for three violins and basso continuo and paired with a gigue in the same key. Like most other works by Pachelbel and other pre-1700 composers, the Canon remained forgotten for...
, and Reed's "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" quotes Schubert's "Erlkönig."
According to the liner notes of their 1986 debut album, "What if Mozart wrote 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics, which has become more common than the original. The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane...
,'" the quartet was formed specifically for that album in response to RCA's desire to record chamber music arrangements of mostly-secular Christmas music. That album went on to sell close to a million copies and together with their following albums and CDs have made HSQ one of the largest selling string quartets in history.
Their debut album was followed in 1988 by "What if Mozart Wrote 'Roll Over Beethoven'"and "What if Mozart Wrote 'Born to Be Wild'" in 1989 and then "What if Mozart Wrote 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.'"
Following the "What if Mozart . . ." series, little was heard from the quartet until 1993, when they released an album featuring the Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil
Sympathy for the Devil
"Sympathy for the Devil" is a song by The Rolling Stones which first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It was written by Mick Jagger credited to Jagger/Richards...
as its title track, first on EastWorld/Toshiba-EMI in Japan, then re-releasing it on Dolphin/Allegro in 1994 in Europe and then making it the debut album on the cellist's own, then newly formed sheet music publishing company's label, Mona Lisa Sound (http://www.MonaLisaSound.com) in 2000.
Since then, the quartet has released three additional albums through Mona Lisa Sound, "HSQ Rides Again" (2004), "HSQ Does Christmas (Again)" (2004) and "Take No Prisoners" (2005). Their most recent releases include an all-Beatles CD, "The Off-White Album," as well as "All Zeppelin," the content of which is self-explanatory. The quartet has also collaborated with a number of rock bands.
Their current roster consists of Regis Iandiorio, first violin, Abe Appleman, second violin, Richard Maximoff, viola and John Reed, cello.
Mr. Reed is their principal arranger with over 75 arrangements to date, although they all arrange. Together they have over 100 arrangements and are still working.
Mr. Reed's publishing company, Mona Lisa Sound has sold thousands of HSQ arrangements worldwide.
Webpage
http://www.monalisasound.com/
Youtube videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea6p7MrP_Yk