Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Balanescu Quartet

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Years active
  
1987 (1987)–present

Active from
  
1987

Website
  
www.balanescu.com

Balanescu Quartet httpsiytimgcomviN7CkQ2398hqdefaultjpg

Past members
  
Sian Bell Jonathan Carney Clare Connors Nick Cooper Caroline Dale Bill Hawkes Paul Martin Anthony Hinnigan Kate Musker Andrew Parker

Members
  
Alexander Balanescu, Bill Hawkes, Caroline Dale, Sian Bell, Chris Pitsillides, Stephen Bentley-Klein

Record labels
  
Decca Records, Universal Music LLC

Albums
  
Maria T, String Quartets 1–3, A Man in a Room - Gambling, Cyclorama, Angels & Insects

Profiles

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The Balanescu Quartet is a string quartet founded in 1987 by Alexander Bălănescu that achieved fame through the release of several complex cover versions of songs by German experimental electronic music band Kraftwerk on their album Possessed.

Contents

The quartet are mainly notable for their very distinctive style of music, which encompasses odd time rhythms, sound dissonances and complex arrangements. They have performed multiple works with a variety of other artists, including Philip Glass, David Byrne, Gavin Bryars, Michael Nyman, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Kevin Volans, Hector Zazou, Un Drame Musical Instantané, Spiritualized, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Stateless and Pet Shop Boys. They performed the current version of University Challenge's title music (since 2000) on BBC2 in the UK.

Their early albums were on Mute Records and Argo Records (UK).

The Quartet was initially formed by Alexander Bălănescu (violin), Clare Connors (second violin), Bill Hawkes (viola), and Caroline Dale (cello). It currently consists of Alexander Bălănescu (violin), James Shenton (violin), Katie Wilkinson (viola) and Nick Holland (cello).

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Recordings

Group:

  • Possessed (1992)
  • Luminitza (1994)
  • Angels & Insects (1995) (soundtrack)
  • East Meets East (1997)
  • Maria T (2005)
  • This Is The Balanescu Quartet (2011)

    • Featured:

  • Michael Nyman - String Quartets 1-3 - featuring the Balanescu Quartet (1991)
  • Balanescu Quartet Play Byrne/Moran/Lurie/Torke - featuring David Byrne, Robert Moran, John Lurie and Michael Torke (1992)
  • Geoff Smith - Gas • Food • Lodging - featuring the Balanescu Quartet (1993)
  • Kevin Volans - String Quartets Nos. 2 & 3 - performed by the Balanescu Quartet (1994)
  • Gavin Bryars - The Last Days - featuring the Balanescu Quartet (1995)
  • Spiritualized - Pure Phase (1995)
  • Rabih Abou-Khalil - Arabian Waltz - featuring the Balanescu String Quartet (2002)
  • Optimo - How To Kill The DJ (Part 2) - featuring music by the Balanescu Quartet (2004)
  • Michael Torke - Six - featuring the Balanescu Quartet (2005)
  • Stateless - Matilda featuring the Balanescu Quartet (2011)
  • Ada Milea & Alexander Balanescu - The Island - featuring the Balanescu Quartet (2011)
  • Teho Teardo - Diaz - featuring the Balanescu Quartet (2012) (soundtrack)

    • Songs

    ModelPossessed · 1992
    Computer LovePossessed · 1992
    Pocket CalculatorPossessed · 1992

    References

    Balanescu Quartet Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA