Stephen Bingham  - violin             Marina Gillam - violin             Brenda Stewart - viola             James Halsey - cello

The cutting edge of today’s music-making is to be found at the point where tradition and innovation collide. Out of the potential chaos of this collision come exciting and dynamic soundscapes, reworking our understanding of "classical" and "contemporary" music and blurring accepted boundaries.

"...a magnificent performance..."    The Times

The BSQ takes innovative programming - premieres, cross-cultural and multimedia works, electronics and new technology - and combines it with many years experience and familiarity with the great classical string quartet repertoire, thereby fusing together the fragments of these colliding worlds.

"...bridging the gap between producers and consumers of music"    The Independent

A varied discography, radio and television appearances on three continents, extensive international touring, popular educational work and an approachable style have led to wide critical acclaim.

"...a dark and delicious exploration of textures played with explosive brilliance..."    The Strad

The BSQ has worked extensively with other musicians, performing some of the tremendous quintet repertoire available. They have given concerts with, among others, clarinettists Jack Brymer, Michael Collins and David Campbell, cellist Raphael Wallfisch, pianist Nigel Clayton and guitarist Jason Carter.

"If this group’s luxuriant playing vividly illustrates the Brahms quintet’s warm romanticism, their fine blend of solo skills and alert ensemble is no less effective in unfolding the transparent classical lines of Mozart’s clarinet quintet."
BBC Music Magazine

LINKS

Online shop

Steve's site

I'm delighted to say that I've finally found the time to update the quartet website information! 'About time' I hear you mutter.....

Following Anna leaving the Quartet last year to have more time with her baby daughter Rosie, we're delighted to welcome Marina Gillam back as 2nd violin. Marina played in the Quartet from 1992 to 1995, but then left to join the CBSO under Simon Rattle. We discovered that she was back freelancing again and asked her to join. As soon as we started rehearsing it felt as though it had only been five minutes since she was playing with us before!

Over the next few weeks I'll be adding more information to this part of the site, including some sound clips. Meanwhile please do browse the online shop, which has several Quartet CDs and, exclusively, downloads of our Haydn opus 33 recordings.

I've joined the Quartet mailing list to my own, so that I only have the one list to keep up to date! As always I will only send out the occasional email, so please do join the mailing list if you'd like to, by either filling out the simple form found here, or by emailing us at bsq@binghamquartet.net.

I hope you enjoy browsing the site, and I hope to see you at one of our concerts or courses soon....

Best wishes,
Steve Bingham

                      FEBRUARY to JULY 2008

For full details of all concerts and events please phone 01842 828424 or email bsq@binghamquartet.net.

Wednesday 12th March, 7.30pm
"Minimal Fours!" - a programme of minimalist works for quartet, including 'Different Trains' by Steve Reich, 'Fratres' by Arvo Part, and 'Company' by Philip Glass
Swinburne Hall, Colchester Institute, Sheepen Road, Colchester. Tickets available on the door.

Saturday 5th April, 7.30pm
Programme includes; Haydn op.77 no.2, Reich 'Different Trains'
St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury. Tickets available on the door.

Saturday 5th April to Sunday 6th April
Bingham Quartet Chamber Music Weekend
Two days of coaching for groups of all ages and standards. For an application form please contact us.
The Priory School, Shrewsbury

Saturday 17th May, 8pm
Concert with David Campbell, clarinet. Programme TBA.
Benslow Music Trust, Ibberson Way, Hitchin, Herts

Saturday 19th July, 7.30pm
Programme TBA.
St. Mary's Church, Feltwell, Norfolk

Saturday 19th July to Sunday 20th July
Bingham Quartet Chamber Music Weekend
Two days of coaching for groups of all ages and standards. For an application form please contact us.
Feltwell Primary School, Feltwell, Norfolk

The Quartet has always been committed to educational work and has been involved in numerous projects involving the presentation of a wide variety of quartet repertoire, alongside improvisation and composition. Described as "natural communicators", the members of the Quartet interact with students of all ages and abilities in a friendly and approachable way.

The Bingham Quartet were Artists in Residence at Radley College, near Oxford, for five years. There they not only gave concerts, but directed masterclasses and workshops and undertook both ensemble and chamber music coaching. The Quartet was also involved in composition workshops with both GCSE and A level musicians as well as contemporary music projects featuring music by composers such as George Crumb and Aulis Sallinen.

The Quartet has given educational workshops worldwide, from the Shetland Isles to Australia and Dubai, and has developed a range of presentations and projects to suit all age and abilities. Further details on all aspects of education work are available on request. 

BSQ programming is tremendously varied, making use of its vast range of repertoire, and aims to defy the perceived barriers of the string quartet by juxtaposing differing musical styles and languages to provide an "edge of the seat" experience.

Core repertoire from the BSQ covers many of the great classical and romantic works of the 18th and 19th centuries and extends forward to include many 20th century pieces including George Crumb’s seminal work for electric quartet, "Black Angels"; all the quartets of Benjamin Britten; major American works by Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Samuel Barber and Stephen Montague; the Lutoslawski quartet; quartets by Béla Bartók and Michael Tippett; other cross-cultural and extended works by John Mayer, Odaline de la Martinez, Priti Paintal, Richard Allain, Peter Sculthorpe and Piers Hellawell; the complete quartets of Elizabeth Maconchy - and many more...

Several premieres are available for 2002/2003, including works by Janet Owen-Thomas, David Stoll, Anthony Gilbert and Roger Marsh. The BSQ is also planning commissions from various composers including Simon Speare, Piers Hellawell and Robert Keeley.

Broadcast performances by the BSQ have included works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Benjamin Britten, Anthony Gilbert, Martin Butler, Norman Hay, Carl Vine, Luminita Spinu, Dmitri Shostakovich, Peter Sculthorpe, Elizabeth Maconchy, Leos Janácek, Philip Cashian, David Nicholls and Béla Bartók.

BSQ recordings include CDs for labels such as ASV, NMC, Meridian and Cambridge Recordings. Some of the recordings are available from Steve's online shop. The Quartet's recordings of the complete Haydn opus 33 set are exclusively available for download from the shop as well.

Other Quartet recordings include:

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