String quartet

Bowfiddle Strings

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About Bowfiddle Strings

Bowfiddle is a string ensemble which specializes in classical and light music entertainment. Duo, Trio or the classic string Quartet.
String quartet
Kings Langley
Public liability insurance of Β£10000 million
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Bowfiddle is a string ensemble which specializes in classical and light music entertainment for weddings, functions, corporate events, parties and concerts. The group can be hired as a String Quartet, a Trio (violin, viola and cello), a Duo (violin and cello) or can be expanded into a small string orchestra comprising of eight musicians. Presentation can be formal or more relaxed; co ordinated ball gowns, evening wear or smart casual. Bowfiddle has performed at a wide range of prestigious venues such as Buckingham Palace, Blenheim Palace, Goodwood House, Spencer House, Wallace Collection, Claridges, Woburn Abbey and many top London hotels. The players have worked with the likes of Joan Armatrading, Take That, Alesha Dixon, Spice Girls, Shirley Bassey, Madonna, Peter Gabriel to name a few; and on another note The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Opera, Moscow City Ballet; plus West End shows Matilda, Ghost, Les Miserables and Lion King again to name a few. β€œYou sound brilliant” Gordon Ramsay

Encore badges
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
Member of the Encore community forum
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
Top 10 booked musician of 2022
7th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 7 years
50 gigs
Veteran: 50 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Christmas, Contemporary Christian, Military, Traditional church music, Classical, Baroque, Classical crossover, Contemporary classical, Early music, Fanfare, Film / TV music, Medieval music, Musical theatre, Opera, Renaissance, Electronic, Ambient, 1920s era music, 1930s era music, 1940s era music, 1950s era music, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Folk, Traditional Irish folk, Jazz, Cabaret, Swing, Ragtime, Easy listening, Light music, Pop, Acoustic, Ambient pop, Vintage, Rock, Jewish music, Italian music, Tango
See all genres
Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types

Bowfiddle Strings' Song list

Quartet repertoire (there are separate lists for the duo and trio)
CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE – Composers in alphabetical order
Belle of the Ball Waltz – Anderson
Adagio – Albinoni
Air on a G String – J.S. Bach
Double Violin Concerto – J.S. Bach
Brandenburg Concertos nos 2 and 3 – J.S. Bach
Badinerie – J.S. Bach
Sheep May Safely Graze – J.S. Bach
Minuet in G (Anna Magdalena) – J.S. Bach
Arioso from Cantata no 156 – J.S. Bach
Bist Du Bei Mir – J.S. Bach
Cantata no 140 – J.S. Bach
Two Chorale Preludes – J.S. Bach
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring – J.S. Bach
Violin Concerto mve. 1 in E major – J.S. Bach
Ave Maria – Bach/Gounod
Adagio for strings – Barber
Rumanian Folk Dances – Bartok
Adagio Cantabile from the Pathetique Sonata – Beethoven
5th Symphony, mve 1 – Beethoven
Fur Elise – Beethoven
Ode to Joy – Beethoven
Selection from Carmen – Bizet
Prince Igor – Borodin
Hungarian Dances – Brahms
O Sole Mio – Capua
Selection of Waltzes – Chopin
Polonaise – Chopin
By the Sleepy Lagoon – Coates
Dambusters March – Coates
Sailors Hornpipe – Coates
Hoe-down from Rodeo – Copland
Saturday Night Waltz from Rodeo – Copland
Christmas Concerto – Corelli
Clair de Lune – Debussy
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair – Debussy
Cake-walk – Debussy
Copelia Medley – Delibes
Flower Duet from Lakme – Delibes
Funiculi Funicula – Denza
Toccata – Dubois
Humoresque – Dvorak
Largo from the New World Symphony – Dvorak
Waltz from Symphony no. 8 – Dvorak
Chanson de Matin and Nuit – Elgar
Salut d’Amour – Elgar
Nimrod – Elgar
Pavane – Faure
Panis Angelicus – Frank
Prelude no. 2 – Gershwin
Morning from Peer Gynt – Greig
Gavotte from Holberg Suite – Greig
Norwegian Dance no 2 – Greig
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen – Greig
Ave maria – Gounod
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba – Handel
Water Music – Handel
Largo – Handel
Violin Sonata in D major – Handel
La Rejouissance – Handel
Serenade – Haydn
Gypsy Life – Herbert
Anniversary Waltz – Ivanovici
Allegretto – Kreisler
Caprice Viennois – Kreisler
Liebesfreud – Kreisler
Leibeslied – Kreisler
Midnight Bells Waltz – Kreisler
Schon Rosmarin – Kreisler
The Old Refrain – Kreisler
Merry Widow Waltzes – Lehar
Adagietto from Symphony 5 – Mahler
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana – Mascagni
Meditation from Thais – Massenet
Sinfonia and Final Duet (L’incoronazione di Poppea) – Monteverdi
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Mozart
Divertimeni in D, Bb and F – Mozart
Marriage of Figaro (wedding march) – Mozart
Allelujah – Mozart
Figaro Overture – Mozart
Symphony in G Minor – Mozart
Wedding March – Mendelsson
Cavatina – Myers
Barcarolle – Offenbach
Canon – Pachelbel
Che Gelida Manina from La Boheme – Puccini
Musetta’s Waltz – Puccini
Chacony – Purcell
Trumpet Tune – Purcell
Trumpet Voluntary – Purcell
Two Rondeaux from The Fairy Queen – Purcell
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini – Rachmaninov
Vocalise – Rachmaninov
Bolero – Ravel
Menuet from Le Tombeau de Couperin – Ravel
Pavane pour une infante defunte – Ravel
Selection of Waltzes – Richard Rogers
Barber of Seville – Rossini
William Tell Overture – Rossini
The Swan – Saint Seans
Romanza Andaluza – Sarasate
3 Gymnopedies – Satie
Ave Maria – Schubert
Standchen – Schubert
Traumerei – Schumann
Romance – Schostakovich
Two Hearts in Three-Quarter Time – Stolz
Czardas from Die Fledermaus – Strauss
Blue Danube Waltz – Strauss
Die Fledermaus Waltzes – Strauss
Pizzicato Polka – Strauss
Radetzky March – Strauss
Tales from the Vienna Woods – Strauss
Trish Trash Polka – Strauss
Wiener Blut Waltzes – Strauss
Der Rosenkavalier – Strauss R.
Cantabile – Tartini
Amazing Grace – Traditional
Greensleeves – Traditional
Golden Earrings – Traditional
Russian Dance – Tchaikovsky
Selection from the Nutcracker – Tchaikovsky
Waltz from Sleeping Beauty – Tchaikovsky
Four Seasons – Vivaldi
Concerto Grossi in A and D minor – Vivaldi
La Forza del Destino – Verdi
Bachianas Brazileiras – Villa Lobos
Ride of the Valkyries – Wagner
TannhΓ€user Overture – Wagner
Bridal Chorus – Wagner
LIGHT REPERTOIRE
All I Ask of You from β€œPhantom”- Lloyd Webber
America from β€œWest Side Story” – Bernstein
An American in Paris – Gershwin
Angels – Robbie Williams
Annie Highlights – Strouse
Anything Goes – Porter
Ashokan Farewell from β€œThe Civil War” – Ungar
As Time Goes By – Hupfield
A Thousand Years – Perri
At Last – Etta James
Bad Romance – Gaga
Bass Vile Blues – Devinez
Beatles Selection – Beatles
Beautiful Day – Evans/Clayton/Hewson/Mullen
Begin the Beguine – Porter
Blue Tango – Anderson
Beside the Seaside – Glover
Beethoven’s Five Secrets – Beethoven
Bittersweet Symphony – Jagger
Bohemian Rapsody – Queen
Cabaret – Kander/Ebb
Can’t Help Falling in Love – Clapton
Can You Feel the Love Tonight? – Elton John
Charlie Brown – Coldplay
Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
Chicago – Fisher
Chi Mai – Morricone
Clocks – Coldplay
Cock Linnet – Collins/Leigh
Come in From the Rain – Manchester
Come What May from Moulin Rouge – Baerwald
Country Medley – Trad.
Czardas – Monti
Dances with Wolves – John Barry
Danzas Argentinas No 2 – Ginastera
Dark Eyes – Trad
Dexter’s Tune (Awakenings) – Newman
Do It Again – Gershwin
ELO – Mr Blue Sky
El Choco Tango – Villoldo
Embraceable You – Gershwin
Evergreen – Streisand
Everlong – Foo Fighters
Every Time we say Goodbye – Porter
Everything I Do – Adams
Everywhere – Mc Vie
Faulty Towers theme – Wilson
Feelings – Albert
Fields of Gold – Sting
Forgotten Dreams – Anderson
For Just a Moment – Foster
Gabriel’s oboe – Morricone
Game of Thrones – Djawadi
Get Lucky – Pharrell Williams
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme – Andersson
God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
Goldfinger – Barry
Goodbye to Love – Carpenters
Happy – Williams
Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison
Hawaii Five 0 Theme – Setzer
Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter – John Williams
Hey Soul Sister – Train
Hoppipolla (Planet earth theme)
Hotel California – The Eagles
How Long Will I Love You – Ellie Goulding
Hushabye Mountain (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) – Sherman
I Don’t Know How to Love Him – Lloyd Webber
I Feel Pretty from β€œWest Side Story” – Bernstein
I got Rhythm Variations – Gershwin
I Love Paris – Porter
I’m Yours – Jason Marz
Inspector Morse Theme – Pheloung
Irish Sherry – Trad./Carolan
If You Could Read My Mind – Lightfoot
In the Mood – Garland
It Don’t Mean a Thing – Ellington
James Bond Themes – Norman/ Barry
Jalousie Tango – Gade
Jeeves and Wooster Theme – Dudley
Jurassic Park Theme – Williams
Just Another Rhumba – Gershwin
Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
King and I selection – Rogers
Kiss From a Rose – Seal
La Bamba – Trad.
Ladies in Lavender – Hess
Laura – Raskin
La Vie en Rose – Louiguy
La Cumparsita – Rodrigez
La Paloma – Iradier
Leaving on a Jet Plane – Denver
Lets Do It – Porter
Let’s go Fly a kite – Sherman
Let’s Stay Together – Green
Libertango – Piazzolla
Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
Londonderry Air – Trad.
Looney Tunes Fugue – Naughtin
Love Theme from β€œThe Godfather” – Rota
Love Yourself – Justin Beiber
Loyko – Trad.
Make you Feel my Love – Adele
Makin’ Whoopee – Donaldson
Mamma Mia – Anderson
Manha de Carnaval from β€œBlack Orpheus” – Bonfa
March from Star Wars – John Williams
Maria from β€œWest Side Story” – Bernstein
Marry You – Bruno Mars
Memory from β€œCats” – Lloyd Webber
Mission Impossible – Schifrin
Misty – Garner
Moondance – Van Morrison
Morenita do Brazil – Fragrant
Music of the Night from β€œPhantom” – Lloyd Webber
Music to Watch Girls by – Velona
My Funny Valentine – Rogers
My Girl – The Temptations
My Heart Will Go On from β€œTitanic” – Horner
Natal Variations (Happy Birthday) – Naughtin
New York New York – Xander
Noites Cariocas – Bandolim
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
One Day Like This – Elbow
One Hand One Heart from β€œWest Side Story” – Bernstein
Orange Blossom Special – Rouse
Over a Rainbow – Arlen
Palladio – Jenkins
Paradise – Coldplay
Pennies From Heaven – Johnson
Poirot Theme – Gunning
Portuguese Love Song from Love Actually – Armstrong
Por Una Cabeza Tango from β€œScent of a Woman” – Gardel
Pride and Prejudice Theme – Davis
Purple Haze – Hendrix
Ragtime Dance – Joplin
Raiders March (Raiders of the Lost Ark) – John williams
Red Sails in the Sunset – Williams
Romeo and Juliet Love Theme – Rota
Rule the World – Take That
Say Something – McCartney
Scarborough Fair – Trad./Bowles
Selection of Christmas Music/Carols – Various composers
Selection of Hymns – Various composers
Selection of Rags – Joplin
Send in the Clowns – Sondheim
Someone to Watch Over Me – Gershwin
Somewhere from β€œWest Side Story” – Bernstein
Stormy Weather – Arlen
Suddenly – Diamond
Sunrise Sunset – Bock
Sway/Cherry Pink – Beltran
Sweet Child O’Mine – Guns and Roses
Take the A train – Strayhorn
Tale as Old as Time (Sleeping Beauty) – Menken
The Folks who Live on the Hill – Kern
The Greatest Day – Take That
The Gremlin Rag (Gremlins) – Jerry Goldsmith
The Harry Lime Theme – Karas
The Magnificent Seven – Bernstein
The Prayer (Quest for Camelot) – Sager/Foster
The Throne Room (Star Wars) – John Williams
Theme from β€œSummer of 42” – Legrand
Thunderbirds Theme – Gray
Tanguedia – Piazzolla
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
Tico-Tico – Abreu
Tonight – Bernstein
Truely – Richie
Viva la Vida – Berryman
What’s New? – Haggart
What are you Doing for the Rest of Your Life? – Brooks
When I First Saw You – Krieger
Wonderful Tonight – Clapton
Without You – David Guetta
You Make me Feel Like a Natural Woman – King
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
You’re the Inspiration – Foster
You’ve Got a Friend in Me (Toy Story) – Newman
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

We have a flexible line up and can play a wide mix of music including special requests. We love what we do and I am on hand to help in any way in the build up to your wedding/event.

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

Buckingham Palace, Blenheim Palace, Wallace Collection, RAC Club, various military establishments, TV, Radio, Air Studios, Angel Studios, many top London hotels and small bespoke ones, Leeds Castle, Micklefield Hall...the list goes on.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

Burt Bacharach, Shirley Bassey, Bach, Classical composers, Joan Armatrading, Amy Winehouse...too many to name

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

As individual members of Bowfiddle there are many. We have worked with high profile artists, conductors, composers. I guess the most high profile would be down to personal taste as we cover different styles of music.

Do you have different line-up options?

We offer string quartet, trio (violin, viola & cello), duo (violin & cello), Solo cello and a small ensemble of 7/8 players.

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

No problem, we are flexible.

How much time do you need to set up?

About 15 minutes, but we arrive an hour before our start time.

Can I pick the pieces you play from the set list?

Yes and I am happy to look for requests.

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Yes, apart from an armless chair per person.

Can you learn specific pieces before the event?

Absolutely. I just need to acquire the sheet music if I don't already have it. There may be an additional cost price charge for the music.

Bowfiddle Strings' Prices

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click β€œCheck availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Up to 1 hourΒ£825
Up to 2 hoursΒ£825
Up to 3 hoursΒ£825
Bowfiddle Strings
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5
26 verified reviews
Satisfaction
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9
Professionalism
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9
Communication
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
4.9
Punctuality
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5.0

Bowfiddle Strings' Reviews

From Encore customers:

KB
Kat B
15 days ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Just fantastic. Helpful, played beautifully and such a huge success!!! Thank you ❀️

Reply from Bowfiddle Strings
15 days ago

Hi Kat, thanks so much. It was such an amazing day. Lovely friendly guests. Was our pleasure to play for you :-)

EJ
Edward J
3 months ago
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5 out of 5

They were fantastic, absolutely no stress on our wedding day. My only regret is I didn't get chance to listen to them as much as I would have liked due to people talking to me! Fantastic, really happy !

Reply from Bowfiddle Strings
3 months ago

Thanks Ed, we really enjoyed playing for you and your wedding guests. Lovely atmosphere and restaurant staff were very relaxed making our job very easy.

MV
Maria V
5 months ago
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5 out of 5

The music made our celebration of life service very special. Thank you so much.

Reply from Bowfiddle Strings
5 months ago

Hello Maria, thank you for having us to play for such a special celebration, it was our privilege to be able to perform for you, your family and friends. I'm very pleased that you were happy with our performance. All the best from us all.

TD
Todd D
5 months ago
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Amazing from start to finish. Very accommodating for our needs, turned up with plenty of time beforehand and were extremely professional. Thank you so much for everything!

Reply from Bowfiddle Strings
5 months ago

Thanks Todd. We really enjoyed playing for you. Glad you were happy :-)

Read all 19 reviews

From other customers:

R
Richard H
5 years ago, for a Wedding in Bentley
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5 out of 5

Laura, I would like apologise for missing you at the end of your session, I was so sorry that I did not thank you all in person, but the day seemed to go in a daze. I did run out to the car park, but according to the band I had just missed you. Julia, Amelia and I would like to thank you so much for making the day, your playing was wonderful and our guest commented on your superb performance, definitely raise the tone! So once again, Thank you Richard and Julia Holloway

JK
Jenni K
5 years ago, for a Wedding in Kirton Holme
Full starFull starFull starFull starFull star
5 out of 5

Dear Laura Sorry for the delay in emailing you but I seem to have lost 6 days this week. The wedding and subsequent days were a complete blur. My husband and I :-) would to thank you and the artists who played at our wedding on Saturday 20th October 2018. I did not get a chance to meet and greet and introduce myself to them as I was banished to my hotel room as Mark was practising standing in his Exkso skelenton in the wedding room so I couldn't come down and then we didn't get a chance again. I'm sure you experience this all the time but I felt a bit rude. We only got to hear Sweet child O' mine properly, which is a sentimental tune for us, as we insisted on sitting down to listen but even then were ushered away by wedding planner as people wanted us announced so they could eat their meal.....how very rude we were trying to listen to you guys :-). Everyone said they enjoyed the music and how lovely to have live music. Not what they expected us to choose at all. We had such a fab day that went far too quickly. We have decided to have a first anniversary party next October and would really like BowFiddle to play again and this time we might get to hear you. I will be in touch once we have a date to see if you're available. Kind Regards The new Mr & Mrs Mark Kane-Stacey

Read all 13 reviews