What is a String Quartet?

A string quartet consists of a pair of violins, a viola and a cello, roughly corresponding to the soprano, alto, tenor and bass sections of a choir. It is the traditional combination of instruments for which Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and others wrote string quartet music, such as the well-known Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. When composers want more, they reinforce the sound by adding musicians to play along on each of the string parts, add a few double basses, some brass, winds, and/or percussion, and it becomes an orchestra. There are basically three kinds of quartet groups:

Exclusive Quartet

Well-known string quartets, like the Shanghai or the Juilliard, consist of four musicians who devote their lives to practicing and performing quartet literature exclusively. Often sponsored by colleges and universities, the same four musicians rehearse their season’s repertoire for months, and then travel extensively playing it for the enjoyment of others, usually recording part of each concert seasons’ repertoire. Such groups do not play background music for social functions; when they give a concert, people buy tickets to sit and listen, and the concerts are reviewed in major newspapers.

Working Quartet

“Working quartets”, such as Atlantic Aire, play quartets because they love the literature, like being together, and enjoy making music for others. Often they are professional musicians in a major symphony, and while they play together under that umbrella many times each week, it is in orchestra, with many players on each part, and they have no choice in what is programmed. These players are not really in competition with full-time career groups, since they offer a different service. Their performance is usually not meant to be the focal point of a gathering, but instead, serves to enhance an event for special guests who are arriving, talking, eating, or conducting business. Chamber music in these situations still provides an opportunity for players to be their own “boss”, with each person playing separate lines, and allows them to indulge in music-making at a personal level. Nevertheless, when these groups are asked to play, it is usually just to provide ambiance for a special occasion.

Pick-Up Group

The third kind of quartet for hire is often called a “Pick-up” group, which is exactly how it sounds—four people who don’t play together on a regular basis (or who perhaps have never met until the day of the event), but who are routined players, and who trust their skill to enable them to perform the music in a manner which will be acceptable to those who hired them. Pick-up groups can be fine, but are often a bit of a gamble.

Who wants a String Quartet anyway?

Someone looking for that last touch of elegance to help mark a milestone in their private or corporate life will have a string quartet play at their special event, whether a wedding, marriage proposal, reception, anniversary, Baptism, corporate or other gathering. Music says what words cannot convey, and a string quartet provides an ambiance of sophistication that enhances any theme, without being so loud that it distracts from conversation. The group can play indoors or outside, (which is handy when there is no piano or pipe organ) and unlike a single instrument or singer, a quartet offers harmony and a blend of sounds with a range that far exceeds that of any human voice.

Why not have Atlantic Aire play for YOUR special day? Call today for availability – (757) 286-1542.

What do I get for my money if I hire your String Quartet?

With the Atlantic Aire Quartet, in addition to artist/performers, you get a customized musical palette from which you may pick as much or as little as you wish to reflect your mood and intentions for the event. The versatility and wide variety of repertoire played on a unique blend of wonderful antique instruments played by the Atlantic Aire String Quartet always enhances any gathering.

Talk is cheap. How do I know you're any good?

One way you can find out more about us by checking our references. If you’re interested, we’ll send you some from the past year, including phone numbers so that you can contact them directly and ask anything you like about our performance for them. Or, you can attend a performance of the Visual and Perfroming Arts Academy Orchestra and judge us for yourself.

How would a String Quartet fit into a wedding ceremony?

While the guests arrive, the Atlantic Aire String Quartet would play music to enhance your theme, reflect your personality or philosophy, or create the type of ambiance you wish. We would then play your selections for seating parents, bringing in the Bridal party, and the Bride’s processional. If it fits with your plans, the Atlantic Aire String Quartet could also play during the ceremony. We have often been asked to provide music during communion, or while Unity candles are lit, doves or butterflies released, or roses presented to parents. Following the ceremony, the quartet would play whatever buoyant music you select for the recessional, followed by a postlude selection while the guests depart, so the ceremony has balance—starting and ending with music for your guests.

After the parents have been seated, the music must come to a musical a stopping point so that it sounds finished, and not like someone poked “STOP” in the middle of a CD! The group then changes music and restarts with different music for the wedding party, comes to another musical stopping point when the last member or flower girl has reached the front, and must quickly change again to the music for the Bride. An organist can handle that easily, since there are no other players to communicate with about when to stop or start. The most difficult aspect for a group of musicians is in making a smooth, seamless performance despite the quick sequence of events during the ceremony. (This is more readily achievable indoors, where we don’t have to attach clothespins to the music to prevent it from blowing away!)

Atlantic Aire understands that every wedding is unique. A Bride may be an hour late in arriving because she didn’t like the way her hair looked; the Groom’s mother, a rather independent lady from out of town, can get lost trying to find the church on her own; the Groom could leave the marriage license at home, half an hour away from the church. The Atlantic Aire String Quartet always has enough spare music to keep playing for the guests, and tries to be prepared for the unexpected.