Massive Violins

The Massive Violins are a musical ensemble of singing cellists. They play music from a variety of musical genres, all using the cello and voice.

Massive Violins
Massive Violins, North London's Got Talent 2016
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresVaried musical styles
Years active2010–present
Websitemassiveviolins.com
Members
  • Ricky Chatto
  • Grace Chatto
  • Matthew Hammett Knott
  • Camilla Farrant
  • Guido Martin Brandis
  • Jess Chandler
  • Saul Berkowitz

History

Founded in 2010, the Massive Violins have performed concerts in venues across the UK and internationally, including a biannual concert at Cecil Sharp House,[1][2] a residency at Hornsey Town Hall[3] and regular appearances at festivals including the Isle of Arts Festival,[4][5] Ventnor Fringe, Lawnfest and Frinton-on-Sea.[6] The ensemble were also crowned winners of North London's Got Talent in 2016.[7]

The ensemble was created as a cello alternative to the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, with whom they performed in September 2017.[8]

Repertoire

A typical concert comprises songs from a variety of musical genres: favourites with audiences include Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire where the cello is played side-ways like a guitar, a live performance of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, The Sound of Music medley featuring impersonations of Julie Andrews and Gretel, Michael Jackson's Thriller and a rendition of The Beatles' When I'm Sixty-Four.[9]

Performances

The ensemble performs in cities around the UK, France and the Netherlands. As well as regular concert performances at Cecil Sharp House, Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre and many UK festivals, the Massive Violins have provided entertainment at launch parties and including Channel 4's Random Acts, Bradley Cooper's The Elephant Man at the Haymarket, Christie's Auction House, at the Okura Hotel Amsterdam, at the 20th Century Theatre, supporting Fascinating Aida,[10] and at the London Olympic's pop-up cinema Films on Fridges.

The Massive Violins have a wide following of loyal concert-goers with numerous celebrity fans as regular audience members, including Neil Morrissey, Simon Amstell, Jemma Redgrave, Alison Steadman, James Norton, Marina and the Diamonds, Jennifer Saunders and Helena Bonham Carter. They have performed at private functions for Shirley Bassey,[11] Pierce Brosnan, Joan Collins and Bradley Cooper.

The ensemble frequently perform for charity fundraisers; they are winners of North London's Got Talent 2016[7] in aid of North London Hospice, and perform at International Animal Rescue[12] as well as 'Lots of Charity'[11] events. In September 2017 they performed at the Jazz Cafe with the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain as part of the Art on a Ukulele fundraising event.[8]

Albums

The first album, entitled Bowing 24/7 was recorded in 2014 at Priory Road Studios and features 11 tracks of their most popular interpretations of songs.

The Christmas Album, recorded in 2015 at Priory Road Studios, features a mix of vocal and instrumental tracks.

Video and audio clips
  • The Sound of Music Medley video on YouTube
  • All I want for Christmas video on YouTube
  • Album tracks available on Spotify or iTunes

Current members

The ensemble has had a varying line-up since its foundation, but since 2010 have performed as a septet or quintet of singing cellists, occasionally including one bespoke drum-cello. The members are renowned for wearing gold sequinned outfits in their performances.

gollark: > buying expensive grass
gollark: If your neighbourhood doesn't like you, orbital-laser-strike everyone else in it.
gollark: BRB, enriching uranium.
gollark: Well, the places which would benefit more from nuclear power are factories and datacentres and such, which need large amounts of power all the time.
gollark: Also not caring about long-term things generally.

References
  1. fourleaf12 (30 December 2014). "Gig review: Massive Violins at Cecil Sharp House, 17 December". Sights, Sounds & Senses. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  2. "News: Jazz in the House, The Massive Violins, Barbara Hannigan and Emmanuel Despax | Camden Review". www.camdenreview.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  3. "Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre". Hornsey Town Hall Arts Centre. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  4. "Isle of Arts Festival bring The Massive Violins to Ventnor – Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight". Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  5. "More acts for Isle of Arts". iwcp.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  6. "Frinton Festival". Beach Hut Life. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  7. "North London's Got Talent champions: "It does help to be different from everyone else"". Times Series. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  8. Mallalieu, Huon (16 September 2017). "Own an original handpainted ukulele by a top British artist". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  9. fourleaf12 (30 December 2014). "Gig review: Massive Violins at Cecil Sharp House, 17 December". Sights, Sounds & Senses. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  10. romillyschallenge (20 November 2012). "Romilly's Concert – Fascinating Aida and Massive Violins 3rd December". Romillys Challenge. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  11. "Lotsofcharity.com dinner". Tatler. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  12. "International Animal Rescue – winners of the JustGiving 'Charity of the Year' award". joninbetween.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  13. "Massive Violins". massiveviolins.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
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