What instruments are in a string quartet?
A string quartet comprises four instruments: 2 violins, a viola and a 'cello.
Can you provide other ensembles?
We regularly perform as the Thistle Street Trio, and can also provide duos (viola and 'cello, voice and piano or violin and piano) and solo instrumentalists (violin, 'cello or piano). As a quartet / trio we also routinely accompany singers.
What do you require in order to perform?
Each performer requires one armless, wheel-less non-revolving chair in a playing area that is sufficient in size not to interfere with their playing posture. If the venue does not have adequate lighting, please notify us in advance and we will bring our own lights.
Can you play outside?
We are very happy to play outside, weather permitting. We do, however, reserve the right to refuse in the case of conditions we deem unsuitable on the day. This can be any degree of precipitation, winds, or extremes of temperature. With prior notice we can provide our own cover in the form of a gazebo (3m x 4.5m), though it is the responsibility of the customer to clear this with the venue.
What do you wear?
Our normal dress is all black, with jackets for the men. Alternatively, we can wear DJs / cocktail dresses. If your event is themed, we are more than happy to dress appropriately, hiring costumes (costs to be covered by the customer) where necessary.
How far do you travel?
We are based in Edinburgh, and routinely perform all over Scotland and the North of England. We would be happy to consider requests for performances further afield.
Do you have a demo CD?
We have sound clips available on the audio page of our website. If you have problems accessing these, send us your postal address and we'll send you a copy of our demo CD in the post.
Do you have public liability insurance?
Yes, we have public liability insurance.
How do I go about booking the quartet?
Please complete our online enquiry form and we will endeavour to reply with a quote within 2 working days. If you decide to go ahead with the booking, we will send you a booking form which we would ask you to sign and return along with a deposit (for quartet bookings, 20% performance fee, for trios 25% performance fee). We then ask that the balance be made available on or before the day of the event at the customer's discretion.
What do you charge?
As a basic guide, our current rates for string trio and string quartet are below, though these are subject to change:
Monday to Friday:
Quartet: first two hours £450, each additional hour or part thereof £100
Trio: first 2 hours £360, each additional hour or part thereof £80
Weekends
Quartet: first hour £450, each additional hour or part thereof £100
Trio: first hour £360, each additional hour or part thereof £80
Travel is currently charged at £0.40 per mile round trip from EH11 1HX for every four performers.
How far in advance do I need to book you?
We frequently take bookings for events (particularly at weekends) 18 months prior to the event date, so we would encourage you to book as early as possible. However, thanks to our large pool of exceptional musicians we are able to accommodate most requests, even those at the last minute.
Can we meet you in person?
We are more than happy to meet up with customers in person, should you so wish. In our experience however all details can be dealt with via email or over the phone.
Rose Street Quartet / Rose Street Ensemble