Collection: GRILLER STRING QUARTET: THE MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY RECORDINGS

The Griller String Quartet was one of Britain's most distinguished chamber ensembles, active primarily from the late 1920s to the early 1960s. Founded around 1928 by talented students at the Royal Academy of Music in London, its original and remarkably stable lineup consisted of Sidney Griller (first violin and leader), Jack O'Brien (second violin), Philip Burton (viola), and Colin Hampton (cello).

Rising rapidly to prominence in the UK during the 1930s, the quartet maintained its cohesion uniquely during World War II by serving together within the Royal Air Force Central Band's "string quartet," allowing them to continue rehearsing and performing for Allied troops and broadcasts. Following the war, they achieved significant international acclaim, embarking on extensive tours across Europe and North America.

The Griller Quartet became renowned for its intense, technically accomplished, and deeply expressive performance style, often described as passionate and sometimes ruggedly powerful. They brought a fiery commitment to the core Austro-German repertoire, particularly Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, leaving behind highly-regarded recordings. Alongside the classics, they were dedicated champions of contemporary music, forging a strong association with the works of Ernest Bloch and promoting British composers like Arnold Bax and Edmund Rubbra.

In 1949, the ensemble accepted a prestigious position as quartet-in-residence at the University of California, Berkeley. This move marked a new chapter, where they significantly influenced the musical life of the West Coast for over a decade through teaching and performance. The quartet ultimately disbanded in the early 1960s. The Griller String Quartet's legacy endures through its distinctive recorded catalogue, its influential residency, and its place as a leading string quartet of the mid-20th century.