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The Philharmonic Quartet was an English string quartet musical ensemble founded during the period of the First World War and remaining active until the early 1940s, by which time none of the original members were present in the group.

Original members

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1st violin: Arthur Beckwith

2nd violin: Eugene Goossens

viola: Raymond Jeremy

violoncello: Cedric Sharpe

Early history

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The quartet championed works by British composers, giving the first performances of works by Arnold Bax, Cyril Rootham and Arthur Bliss. They also performed several works by Eugene Goossens, including his String Quartet op.14, which dedicated each of its movements to a member of the group. In addition to performances of standard repertoire by Beethoven and Mozart, the quartet played contemporary works by Ravel, Stravinsky and Debussy.

Some of the players were conscripted into active service during the First World War. When the quartet reappeared in 1918, Goossens had been replaced by 'F. Holding'.[1] The following year, Arthur Beckwith was replaced by 'Mr Peatfield'.[2]

Recordings

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The Philharmonic Quartet made a number of recordings for HMV:

  • Coates: Valse
  • Coates: Bouree
  • Boccherini: Minuet, G275 (Recorded 12th July 1915)
  • Bridge: Cherry ripe
  • Bridge: Sally in our alley (Recorded 25th March 1918)
  • Bridge: Irish melody (Recorded 25th March 1918)
  • Bridge: Idylls, string quartet (Recorded 9th January 1920)
  • Glazunov: Oriental, op.15, no.2 (1st June 1920)
  • Holbrooke: Piano Quartet No. 2 in G minor Op. 21
  • Holbrooke: Folksong suite no.1 (Recorded 25th March 1918)
  • Mendelssohn: String quartet no.1 (Recorded 27th March 1916)
  • Mendelssohn: Spring song (Recorded 27th March 1916)
  • Mozart: Minuet in D minor (Recorded 9th January 1920)
  • Ravel: String quartet, F major (Recorded 25th March 1918)
  • Schubert: String quartet no.14, D810, D minor. Andante con moto (Recorded 12th July 1915)
  • Schubert arr. Scott: Marche Militaire
  • Schumann: String quartet, op.41. no.3 (Recorded 14 February 1918)
  • Tchaikovsky: String quartet no.1 Andante cantabile (Recorded 12th July 1915)
  • Thomas: Mignon. Gavotte (Recorded 27th March 1916)

References

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  1. ^ 'Two String Quartets',The Times, 9th March 1918, p.9
  2. ^ 'A Programme of New Works',The Times, 28th March 1919, p.18