Zorian Quartet Explained

Zorian Quartet
Origin:	UK
Genre:	Classical, string quartet

The Zorian Quartet was an English all-female string quartet ensemble. It was founded in 1942 by and named after violinist Olive Zorian. It gave the premiere performances of, and made the first recordings of, several compositions for string quartet by English composers, including Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett. It also gave the premiere English performances of quartets by Ernest Bloch and Béla Bartók.^[1]

The original members were Olive Zorian (191665, violin I); Marjorie Lavers (violin II); Winifred Copperwheat (190576, viola); and Norina Semino (cello).^{[2] [3] [4]}

Some sources say that the quartet disbanded in 1949. Other sources say that it continued to perform for at least another ten years.^[5] The later date is supported by evidence that the violinist Frances Mason and the cellist Eleanor Warren were members of the Zorian Quartet in the 1950s.^{[6] [7]}

Notable performances and recordings

• 27 March 1943Tippett, String Quartet No. 2; premiere, Wigmore Hall, London; 1947, premiere recording^[8]
• 3 July 1944Priaulx Rainier, String Quartet in C; premiere, Wigmore Hall^[9]
• 5 March 1945Doreen Carwithen, String Quartet No. 1; premiere, Duke's Hall, Royal Academy of Music^[10]
• 23 July 1945Ralph Vaughan Williams, song cycle On Wenlock Edge for voice, piano and string quartet, with Benjamin Britten (piano) and Peter Pears (tenor); Decca 78rpm recording^[11]
• 21 November 1945Britten, String Quartet No. 2; premiere, Wigmore Hall;^[12] 1946, premiere recording His Master's Voice 78rpm C.3539^[13]
• 1946Henry Purcell, Fantasia upon One Note Z.745 for string ensemble, with Benjamin Britten (second viola); His Master's Voice 78rpm recording C.3539
• 19 October 1946Tippett, String Quartet No. 3; premiere, Wigmore Hall
• 1948 at the first Aldeburgh Festival: Tippett, String Quartet No. 2; Purcell, The Golden Sonata (Trio sonata in four parts in F major Z.810, realized by Britten); Frank Bridge, Phantasy Quartet, with Britten (piano)

Notes and References

1. Book: Letters from a Life: 19521957: The Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten, 19131976 . 4 . 310 . Donald . Mitchell . Donald Mitchell (writer) . Philip . Reed . Mervyn . Cooke . 1991 . . 9781843833826 .
2. Web site: BBC Home Service . . 27 July 1942 . 19 March 2016 .
3. Book: Keller, James M. . Chamber Music: A Listener's Guide . 133 . 10 December 2010 . . 978-0195382532 . 6 March 2016 .
4. Web site: Reid Chamber Concert, Thursday, November 30, 1944 . . 15 March 2015 .
5. Book: George, Joan . Merchants in Exile: The Armenians in Manchester, England, 18351935 . 2002 . Taderon Press (Gomidas Institute). 978-1903656082 .
6. Web site: Frances Mason . . 16 March 2016 .
7. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=hJc8afOZV0QC&q=palgrave+dictionary+of+anglo-jewish+history+eleanor+warren&pg=PA1005 . The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History . William D. . Rubinstein . William Rubinstein . Michael A. . Jolles . Hilary L. . Rubinstein. Hilary L. Rubinstein . Warren, Eleanor Catherine . 1005–1006. 22 February 2011 . . London . 978-1403939104 .
8. News: Remembering Tippett: Fantasy Sonata; Concerto for Double String Orchestra; String Quartet No 2; Tallis: Spem in Alium, Sellick/ Goehr/ Zorian Quartet/ Morley College Choir/ Tippett . . Edward . Greenfield . Edward Greenfield . 14 January 2005 . 15 March 2016 .
9. Web site: Rainier, Ivy Priaulx . 16 March 2016 .
10. Book: Wright, Adrian . The Innumerable Dance: The Life and Work of William Alwyn . 18 September 2008 . Boydell Press . . 978-1843834120 . 15 March 2016 .
11. Web site: Britten on Record: Vaughan Williams – On Wenlock Edge. 29 January 2014 . 16 March 2016 .
12. Book: Carpenter, Humphrey . Benjamin Britten: A Biography . Humphrey Carpenter . . 1992 . 0-571-14324-5 .
13. Web site: Search Results for Zorian String Quartet . . 6 March 2016 .