I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

A friend of mine is getting married and wants a string quartet to play during the drinks/photos and has asked me for some "recommendations"

I'm only beginning to get into classical music and, other than Vivaldi, I'm not sure what to suggest.

The quarter will, of course, be able to advise but they want to listen to as much as possible beforehand so they can have an input.

Any ideas?

A website with samples would be fantastic!!

Thanks,

KB

Try the Mozart quartets, eine kleine is an oldie but a goodie for that sort of event.

Elgar chanson du matin, salut d'amour etc.. Oooh, and pachabel's cannon, that's a must.

Something more, upbeat there's some alright gershwin arrangements about, tend to be a little pricey.

Here's a site that I used to use http://www.mutopiaproject.org/ - Just had a look at it, Haydn and Mozart mostly, there's Vivaldi 4 seasons but depending on arrangement it could be quite tricky. In my experience the audience aren't the most attentive at weddings and as long as your making pleasant noises they are happy so it's best to choose easyish pieces that don't require hours of rehearsal.

hope this helps!

If they are hiring a quartet they will have to work mostly within the repertoire that the group has prepared I suspect. The quartet might learn a few new things for them but will want to stick mostly to what they already know. Vivaldi wasn't really big on String quartets which became popular rather later. For the typical classical string quartet sound where you can imagine the performers sitting with white curly wigs Mozart and Haydn are your main composers. Beethoven wrote several too I would stick to his early quartets for a wedding reception Op 18 might be worth listening to (actually 6 whole quartets in op 18 - perhaps try No6). For a more romantic style maybe Schubert, Brahms, Borodin, Dvorak but actually there are loads of composers who wrote for string quartet and it depends what the particular group have prepared

I think they should find a quartet experienced at this sort of event and ask for advice. The quartet will know which of their repertoire goes down well at such events and will also probably have a range of popular tunes etc in quartet arrangements as well. If the quartet gives them some suggestions and they want to hear them before choosing then www.naxos.com has a vast range of classical music which can be listened to on line.

Or they could book these guys and have the whole history of music in 4 minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG6Ef-NQCi4

Sheep may safely graze is lovely for a quartet

Vivaldi's Autumn, 1st movement
A classic, popular piece, great for a string quartet