Wedding in Orchardleigh, Somerset

Congratulations to Layla and Jonathan.

After a short time off between weddings, it was fantastic to be enjoying the warm sunny weather outside in March. We were set up and admiring the grounds of Orchardleigh House when the bell from the neighbouring church signalled that the guests were on their way.

Playing on one side of the terrace always seems to be the best option here, and this was especially so with all of the group and family photos being taken just below us. Layla and Jonathan had chosen a mostly classical selection to draw upon the formal and stately setting that the house (often used for period dramas on tv) provides. There were a few Beatles and jazz tunes thrown in as the guests started to make their way inside for the line-up, including one request from one of my cello pupils who surprised me by being there as a guest.

Every day something different

“How can you play at so many weddings? Surely they’re all the same?” is a question I’m frequently asked by friends, colleagues and pupils as they realise that I play at in excess of sixty weddings each year. The answer they receive is probably not one they’d expect…

Firstly, let me introduce myself – I’m Dury. As well as being the cellist of the Ardeton String Quartet since it began in 2001 I’m also the webdesigner, music arranger, chauffeur (I have the biggest car) and general carrier of stuff. I thought it would be interesting for prospective clients to be able to get more of a feel for who we are as well as some tips on getting the most out of having a string quartet at their wedding or event – so welcome to the first in a series of blog posts on such things.

The truth is I never tire at playing at weddings – after more than 400 in the last 8 years I can still say, honestly, that every single one is unique. I don’t just mean the dresses, flowers and table decorations, but the feeling of the day. The conversations with guests will never cease to surprise me. Sure, there’s often a request for Pachelbel’s Canon but if I enquire further there’s always a different reason why they’ve asked for it. Then there are the musical guests, with tales ranging from amusing anecdotes of playing twelfth euphonium in their school orchestra to the accomplished concert pianists who’ve played all over the world.

Then there’s a special requests. We already have an enormous repertoire of pieces (I’ve never counted, but I’d guess we’re nearing 200 tunes) which can mean we’re still playing something new after 5 solid hours of playing, but it’s being added to all the time by couples requesting something special to them. Even 2 years on I can still remember the first time we played ‘It Must Be Love’ and ‘Me and Mrs Jones’, and a booking in the last few weeks will mean the Shostakovich Violin Duo will always find me reflecting on a Friday afternoon in Hereford.

And I haven’t even mentioned how I genuinely enjoy playing in a quartet. I’ve been playing music since I was 5, and playing the cello for nearly two decades now and I’m always grateful that I can make a living from playing music to people. Not just any people, but people who’ve chosen to have us play at their wedding, special event or anniversary party. Plus, every weekend I get to travel somewhere with 3 very good friends (including a fiancee) and play music. Yes, we’ve played Pachelbel’s Canon thousands of times, but there’s always some fun to be had somewhere with a different phrasing or raised eyebrow at an unusual change of note.

If I haven’t convinced you I’m genuine yet, let me close my argument with one final thought: Every weekend I’m asked to go out and play to anywhere between 50 and 500 complete strangers who, having heard us online or elsewhere, are looking forward to hearing what we can add to their day, and I will always feel privileged to do so.

Dury.

Wedding at Kings Weston House, Bristol

Congratulations Jody and Rob – married at Kings Weston House

It’s rare these days that we find ourselves in a new venue, especially so close to home, but today the String Quartet found ourselves in the lovely Kings Weston House in Bristol.

Looking out on the frosty grounds from the relative warmth of the entrance hall, lined with portraits of previous owners of the house, we played for 45 minutes to provide classical music to greet Jody and Rob’s guests. Just 5 minutes before the ceremony, the quartet retraced the steps that many famous visitors will have taken (including the composer Vaughan-Williams) to the Great Hall for the ceremony itself.  Our first Bride of 2009 walked in to 2008’s most popular piece the Canon in D by Pachelbel. The couple signed the registers to ‘Concerning Hobbits’ from The Lord of the Rings, and walked out to a very stately and atmospheric version of Hoppipolla (the theme to the BBC’s  Planet Earth).

After this we moved with the guests back to the entrance hall, complete with roaring fire, for some light jazz to get the atmosphere ready for the meal and speeches.

Mozart in Memorium

It’s not often that the String Quartet are asked to play at funerals, but on Friday we were asked to play in Hereford for a gathering of those from the world of Theatre as they gave their respects to a dear friend.

For us, every event is special but when you are asked to play a person’s favourite piece of music at their funeral it goes without saying that it will be a moving performance. Today we were asked to play the Trio from Mozart’s ‘Cosi fan Tutte’, and I’m sure it will have a special meaning every time we play it.

Music for Formal Dinner – String Quartet in Cheltenham

It may have been a frosty start to 2009, but the Ardeton String Quartet don’t let a little snow get in our way.

It was a frosty Tuesday evening when we set off for Faithfull House in Cheltenham. The car thermometer may have said it was -3 centigrade, and the snow still on the ground seemed to confirm this, but we soon warmed the hearts of the residents at the retirement home.

At 6pm the guests arrived for dinner and were met by a gentle backdrop of classical music. As dessert was served, however, we had quite a few people around us singing along to Cole Porter and Frank Sinatra hits, with others running an informal version of ‘name that tune’ in the corner of the room. In the end the guests kept us playing so long there was no time for the raffle!

Congratulations to Caroline and Robert

We played for the wedding of Caroline and Robert in the Octagon Room of the Bath Assembly Rooms. The couple had chosen a special arrangement of the Praeludium for Two Violins by Shostakovich for the bride’s entrance, and it certainly created a beautiful atmosphere to start the celebrations. We also played for the couple’s drinks reception, when we entertained guests with lively jazz. The delicious smell of mulled wine filled the air and many guests were seen tapping their toes or singing along to the music – even though they thought we couldn’t see!

Another wedding at Manor by the Lake!

We made our third visit of the year to Manor by the Lake in Cheltenham for the wedding of Claire and Craig. Claire had chosen to walk in to ‘Trumpet Voluntary’ by Jeremiah Clarke, and the couple had comissioned a special arrangement of ‘One’ by U2 for us to play whilst they signed the registers. After the ceremony we sat by the fireplace to play a mixture of our jazzier numbers, along with several pop arrangements – and a few Christmas carols! – to enhance the black-and-white themed beautiful pre-Christmas wedding.  Congratulations to the happy couple!

Congratulations to Lee and Jane

The weekend before Christmas is often one of our busiest, and 2008 is no exception! The first wedding of the weekend saw us at Miskin Manor near Cardiff, for the wedding of Lee and Jane. From the splendour of the Minstrels’ Gallery we entertained guests before the wedding with a selection of classical repertoire, and the couple had chosen traditional wedding marches by Wagner for the bride’s entrance and Mendelssohn for the couple’s departure. After the ceremony we provided a mixture of music for the drinks reception – many guests enjoyed dancing to the jazzy pieces which seemed very popular!