Yes, Sarah is very happy to have found a new love in her life.  It happens to be a beautiful violin bow made by the maker Ludwig Bausch, a German bow maker who became known as the "German Tourte", named after Francois Tourte who was considered to be the most important figure in the development of the modern bow.  Francois Tourte has been called the Stradivari of the bow and so to be known as the "German Tourte" is a great thing, it means that his bows are exceptional and indeed this one certainly is. She was drawn to this bow by its resonance.  Yes bows do really alter and effect the tone quality of the violin!  They are really more important than the violin itself!  It is made of  pernambuco, silver mounted with a shiny tortoiseshell frog which has an extra band of silver on the inside.  It is also fairly light and does everything asked of it including up-bow staccato and ricochet. It is a delight to use as it feels like an extension to Sarah's right arm.  She says, "I will very much look forward to using it for years to come." 

More about our instruments in forthcoming blogs... We will keep you posted!

Here we are playing in the beautiful and famous Hall of Pillars in Crewe Hall, Cheshire.  Crewe Hall was built by Sir Ranulph Crewe between 1616 and 1636 and it was the first brick building to be built in the North of England.  Built during the reign of James I it boasts opulence and wealth.  The great Hall of Pillars is surrounded by increadble oak carvings and a beautiful marble floor with a Jacobean staircase going up two floors.  The acoustics are perfect for a string quartet and our dulcet tones wafted among the wedding guests who were enjoying canape's and champagne by the open fire.

It was a real pleasure to play in the Hall of Pillars and an honour to have been invited.  We hope we will get the chance to play there again soon.