Our top 20 songs for string quartet
We have put together a list of our top 20 requested pieces of music for string quartet or trio (our most popular bookings!) to give you a bit of background on your favourite tunes. A few of these of these are showcased BEAUTIFULLY by our wonderful in-house, MSH Quartet and Trio…
MSH string trio
MSH string quartet
Have a browse of our full strings repertoire list here.
If you’re looking for a string ensemble for your event, send us an enquiry to find out just how affordable they can be!
Contemporary
Christina Perri - ‘A Thousand Years’
By far the most requested song from our Contemporary range, ‘A Thousand Years' was written for the film, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 , about Edward and Bella’s whirlwind romance. It was such a hit, Perri rerecorded the song as a duo with Steve Kazee with a full orchestra for Breaking Dawn, Part 2.
Elvis Presley – ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’
Originally written for the 1961 film, Blue Hawaii, the melody of ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ is based on ‘Plaisir d’amour’ - a french love song composed in 1784 by Jean-Paul-Egide Martini. Perhaps surprisingly, many successful pop songs derive their inspiration (or just their bare tunes) from centuries-old classical music.
Etta James – ‘At Last’
Written for the musical film, Sun Valley Serenade, the one and only Beyonce sang this at Barack Obama’s first inaugural ball as president for his dance with first lady, Michelle Obama.
Alan Menken – ‘Beauty and the Beast’
A real tale as old as time! The original French fairy tale was written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740, although according to research the story originated about 4,000 years ago!
The Beatles – ‘All You Need is Love’
Famously featured in Love Actually, a hidden band flash mobs Juliet and Peter’s wedding with this ageless 60s favourite.
Beach Boys – ‘God Only Knows’
This particular song works really well for string quartet - a live string section is used in the original recording. Mentioning ‘God’ was very unusual at the time in pop music, although the reference isn't especially religious in this context…
Bruno Mars – ‘Marry You’
Describing a spontaneous decision to get hitched, and famously covered in the Glee series (don’t hate me for that reference), this one is popular for both proposals and weddings!
Coldplay – ‘Yellow’
Coldplay’s breakthrough hit, Chris Martin is quoted as saying “‘Yellow’ refers to the mood of the band. Brightness and hope and devotion.” He wrote the line ‘Look at the stars, look how they shine for you’ after looking up at the night sky in Wales.
NB. Martin’s favourite colour is blue. What a curveball.
Craig Armstrong – ‘Portuguese Love Theme’ (Love Actually)
Camilli String Quartet
This song was actually written in Portugal, how authentic. Armstrong also worked on the music for Moulin Rouge! And Romeo + Juliet which are both favourites for weddings. Neatly segwaying into…….
Des’ree – ‘Kissing You’
Featured in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. Eyes famously meet across the ballroom… cue some top quality musical longing.
Classical
Pachelbel - ‘Canon in D’
Quartet Volute
As timeless as it seems, this piece was written between 1680 and 1706 and quickly faded into obscurity until the 1960s when it abruptly achieved wide popularity. Its influence has trickled into popular culture through the decades, including Kylie’s ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ and Oasis’ ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, which uses Pachelbel’s same chord progression.
Wagner – Bridal Chorus (Lohengrin)
Otherwise known as ‘HERE COMES THE BRIIIIDE, ALL DRESSED IN WHIIIITE’. This one was made popular after HRH Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter used it for her wedding music.
Mendelssohn – Wedding March
Originally written for Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, this was also played at Queen Victoria’s daughter’s wedding.
Schubert – Ave Maria
Setting of a song from Walter Scott’s epic poem, The Lady of the Lake, this song is a plea to the Virgin Mary to save the heroin from an evil goblin, obviously.
Delibes – Flower Duet (Lakme)
Perhaps best known for its frequent use in adverts, a lady and her servant sing together as they gather flowers by the river. The rippling of the water is mirrored in the intertwining sung lines.
Bach – Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
Frequently used for weddings and festive occasions, Bach has not escaped the covers trend, recorded by ‘Apollo 100’ in 1972.
Elgar – Nimrod (Enigma Variations)
An old favourite which is often used to symbolise British patriotism. It was played at the 2012 London Olympics and every year at the Cenotaph Remembrance Service. Elgar was inspired by his friend, Jaeger, which is German for ‘hunter’ (‘Nimrod’ is described as a hunter in the Old Testament).
Mozart – Eine Kleine Nacht Musik
Written as light entertainment for social occasions, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik wasn’t published until after Mozart death and one of its sections has been sadly lost over time.
Offenbach – Barcarolle (Tales of Hoffmann)
Sung here by the STUPENDOUS Elina Garanca and Anna Netrebko (look them up, I dare you). A couple is singing in a gondola (hence the lilting tempo) and the lady is trying to seduce her companion so she can steal his reflection from a mirror in exchange for a diamond, classic!
Puccini – Nessun Dorma (Turandot)
The legend that is Pavarotti, we STAN LUCIANO!
Triumphantly expressing his love for a princess as he attempts to win her heart (if he loses he will be beheaded so the stakes are pretty high), Nessun Dorma was made particularly famous by Pavarotti singing at 1990 World Cup.
‘Vincero’ translates as ‘I will win!’ so maybe now he football references will make a little more sense…