The Silk String Quartet 

New in its style and unique in its instrumentation, the Silk String Quartet is an exciting professional Chinese string group based in the UK. The Quartet profiles four classically trained virtuosi rich in Chinese and Western musical experience and with international reputations. The Silk String Quartet plays new music – some specially commissioned – as well as their own interpretations of traditional pieces. They also enjoy experimental and collaborative projects across a range of musical cultures. Their debut performance was well received in April 2006 at the Royal Academy of Arts during the “China – the Three Emperors” exhibition  (see picture).

Established in 2006, the Quartet has been invited to shine on the prestigious stages of world music at WOMEX 2006 (www.womex.com) in Spain, and at WOMAD 2007 (www.womad.org) both in the UK and in Gran Canaria. In addition to performing widely in Europe (Holland, Germany, France, Spain and Ireland), the Quartet’s UK appearances have included such venues as London’s Royal Opera House, Southbank Centre and Duke’s Hall, St George’s in Bristol and the Manchester, Brighton and Guildford Festivals.

The Silk String Quartet’s debut CD (published by ARC Music) has been highly acclaimed and was featured by BBC Radio 3. Other projects have included shows with the acclaimed 2007 opera-circus spectacular “Monkey: Journey to the West” (with Blur/Gorillaz singer Damon Albarn), in Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet and further tours. The Quartet’s 2008 projects will include a 12-concert UK tour in the spring, and appearances at festivals in Europe as well as a tour with the cellist Matthew Barley (www.matthewbarley.com) featuring Peter Wiegold’s (www.wiegold.co.uk) compositions, and concerts with the Chamber Music Company.

Click to hear sample audio tracks: “Waterscape Silhouette”     “Three and Six”

CD reviews

In August 2007, the Quartet released its first CD, The Silk String Quartet - Contemporary and Traditional Chinese Music.

“…the idea of combing these stringed instruments is as new as silk is ancient… amazing timbres and playing techniques… evokes all the nuances of human emotions…”
November 2007, Ethnotempos, France

“… this beautiful CD of four excellent performers… flows brilliantly…with an interesting timbre and a rich sound…”
November 2007, World Music Magazine, Italy

Profile highlights

• Winner of PRS Foundation (for New Music) Awards for Performance Groups 2007
• Winner of PRS Foundation British Music Abroad Awards 2006
• WOMAD Festivals: Canary Islands, November, and Charlton Park, UK, July 2007
• WOMEX 2006 in Sevilla, Spain – one of only two UK groups chosen for this international showcase
• Canary Islands tour in Tenerife and Las Palmas November 2007
• Opera “Monkey: Journey to the West” (with Blur singer Damon Albarn).
• Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris, September/October 2007 and Manchester International Festival, July 2007
• BBC Radio 3 Late Junction, broadcast 2 August 2007
• CD publication – ‘The Silk String Quartet’ under the ARC Music label, August 2007
• Europe – Ruigeland, Holland (June) and Masala, Germany (July) Festivals, 2007
• Brighton Festival (May 2007) and Guilford Music Festival, March 2007
• Royal Opera House, Linbury, St George’s, Bristol and Early Music Centre, York, February 2007

Main activities and projects for 2008

• Brunei Lecture Theatre, SOAS, University of London SOAS 12 February
• Tour/performances in January and February Chinese New Year with 12 concerts in the UK.
• British Museum – several concerts and educational work in conjunction with The First Emperor – China’s Terracotta Army, October 2007 – April 2008
• The Sound of China – Ancient and Modern, British Museum, 22 February 2008
• Tour in the Canary Islands and major cities in Spain. March/April 2008
• Looking East Festival – Newcastle, the Sage Gateshead, April 2008
• Second Glance Festival (contemporary music) – Chinese Music Special, June 2008
• Spitalfields Festival, 6 June 2008
• Opera – “Monkey: Journey to the West” – (with Blur singer, Damon Albarn) Berlin and London shows including the Barbican Centre, July and Autumn 2008
• The Yin Yang Collective Project – China-West mixed ensemble (with the Chamber Music Company)
• The Silk String Quartet and Matthew Barley (cellist) Project – tour/concerts, including well-known British composer Peter Wiegold’s new work, 6-16 November 2008

For details, please see the News and Events page.

The Musicians

Cheng Yu – pipa (4-stringed lute) and guqin (7-stringed zither)
Founder of the quartet, now teaches the pipa and guqin at SOAS, University of London; former soloist in the China Central Orchestra of Chinese Music, Beijing, and holds BMus., MMus. and PhD degrees. She toured Europe with the “World of Strings” group in Autumn 2005 and won three major British awards in 2003-4 for recreating the lost Tang 8th century 5-stringed pipa with a new CD release in 2006.

Sun Zhuo – guzheng (21-stringed zither)
Gained BMus. and MMus from the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing and now a PhD candidate at the University of London. She is in demand as a guzheng player in China and London with two recently released CDs of traditional and new music. She was invited to give recitals of contemporary and cross-cultural compositions at Sheffield University in 2006 and 2007.

Qiu Zenghui – erhu and jinghu (2-stringed fiddles)
A specialist in Beijing Opera music in the UK, former lead musician on the jinghu and erhu in the National Beijing Opera Troupe and a graduate of the China National Beijing Opera School. She recorded music for the soundtrack of Zhang Yimou’s film Raise the Red Lantern and has performed at such venues as the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Zhou Jinyan – yangqin (hammered dulcimer)
Former member of the Beijing Plucked Strings Ensemble, gained a BMus. Honours degree in 2004 from the China Conservatory of Music. Performed on the stage when she was 8 and toured China, Hong Kong, Macao, Korea, France and the UK. Her talents brought her music to the 2002 Modern Music Festival in France, the 2003 Beijing International Music Festival and to many venues in Britain.

For more information or a promotional CD, please contact Cheng Yu.
The Silk String Quartet is supported by the PRS Foundation for New Music.