Welcome to the world of the Lydian String Quartet! We are four musicians with diverse backgrounds who have come together to share with you our curiosity, enthusiasm, and love for some of the greatest music ever written. We have integrated the rich European and American quartet tradition with our own interest and background in the fields of early music, contemporary music, and world music. We hope you enjoy exploring our web site and look forward to playing for you!
To learn more about the Lydians, click on Biography, in the column to the left.
To learn more about the Lydians at Brandeis University, click on Lydians at Brandeis, also at the left.
If you are a presenter looking for information, please go to our FOR PRESENTERS page.
(By the way, The Lydian Quartet is on the New England States Touring Artist roster. To find out about grant opportunities for bringing the Lyds to your community, click here, and then scroll down to the NEST Artists section and follow the "search Matchbook.org" steps. If you have questions, the NEFA people will be happy to answer them.)
We're now on Facebook! To check out our Facebook page and become a fan, click here (also at the left) and join us for frequent updates! You can also view our new Facebook video at our Listen page.
We're also on iTunes! If you have an iPod or iPhone, our Listen page now includes iTunes links for most of our 22 available recordings. Our newest Centaur recording of John Harbison's first four string quartets has already received rave reviews:
And finally, the Lydian Quartet has released a new CD on Centaur devoted to the first four quartets of John Harbison, written over nearly two decades. This is richly conceived, passionately executed music that seems at once steeped in the genre's deep traditions and determined to say something freshly personal. The Third Quartet was actually written for the Lydians but they play with bite and authority throughout this disc, as if they owned the lot of them.
Jeremy Eichler, Boston Globe | Link to full review
The Lydian String Quartet, often recognized for its successful coupling of traditional repertoire as well as new compositions, is perfectly suited for Harbison's works. ... Every detail ... is precisely executed without making for mere technical performances. The Lydian produces a wealth of tone colors and soundscapes, a broad palate of dynamics, and an abundance of articulation variety. Balance within the quartet is superb, allowing for the often active inner voices to be clearly audible while not obscuring the primary melody.
Mike Brownell, All Music Guide | Link to full review
